have you tried Monsterslayer? I am sure Rio Grande has anything you could want in that department.

Hi there!

I've never tried this myself, but I've heard that you can use the base from an old clothes iron as a substitute for a bench block. Just make sure its nice and clean, and free of any marks so that it won't mar your precious metals.

I can't remember where I came across this tip though, so unfortunately I can't give credit to the resourceful mind who came up with the idea! Sorry about that if you're out there!

Anyway, hope this helps!

Niquita

There must be an industrial metals supply in/near Chicago - try there, look for a block of stainless steel with no dents or gouges.  You will probably have to polish it yourself using several grits of sandpaper and tripoli (last step), it's not hard - just a little dirty.

 I have heard of people using pieces of railroad track too.

  Normal 0 21 For many years I use an about 40 x 40 cm large and approx. 10 cm thick, polished granitic-slap as straightening worktop. One can often receive such slaps for little money with a stone-cutter. He has often remainders of smal broken polished stone slaps which he cannot use furthermore.

Edmund

www.emailkunst.de 

Yes, Perkins Jewelery Supply has them starting at 2.5" square for $8.00 or so.    

  Normal 0 21 Don’t buy a to cheap Jewlers block. These blocks often are from unhardened steel. The polished surface can be destroyed very fast!

em

You could use almost any chunk of steel to make a jeweler's block out of but like Edmund said some would be a waste of time. Hot rolled mild steel would be one and so would be cold rolled. Even though you can get a very nice finish on the steel it just won't stand up to repeated heavy blows. Mild steel can not be hardened very well if at all. The next level up is tool steel and  this is what well tools are made of and it can be hardened. I have seen some use the the face of a hammer cut off as a jeweler's block. They go and buy the cheapest, biggest ball peen hammer the can get, new or used, and cut the round cylinder end off and use that. One problem though and that is it is hard and being hard if you hit it just right it can damage you good striking hammer or send a ship flying off to strike you in the face. Truck or car axles are good steel and tough but you have to scrounge for them so in the long run it is almost easier to just buy a good quality one unless scrounging is a fun pastime for you.

 Even though I recommend Rio Grande's steel block, I have also found another solution.  Awhile back, Tandy's had a sale on a small anvil.  Since I mostly work in wire, I find my little anvil perfect for work hardening and hammering wire.  It has a nice flat surface and is lightweight-- important for me.  It only cost me about $4.  I know that larger anvils can be gotten for more money.  You might check for leather supplies near you to find all kinds of similar solutions.

IN CANADA WE HAVE PRINCESS AUTO IN THE US I THINK THERE IS A HARBOUR FREIGHT, THEY ARE DISCOUNT TOOL SUPPLIERS.  I GOT A AUTO BODYWORKERS KIT WITH ABOUT FIVE POLISHED CHROME SHAPED BLOCKS FOR  ABOUT $15.00.  THEY DONT DENT EITHER.  HOPE THIS HELPS

I had need of an oval shaped stake and took a chance on the Harbor Freight football shaped dolly. It is of good quality but it will dent. Any anvil will dent if it is struck by an object harder then it is. I did a righteous job of polishing up the HF dolly and all it took was on careless blow from my hammer and it it had a big dent in it. It will take a long time to polish that dent out. So be very careful and don't sy it won't dent because it will.

 Over in BeadStyle forum when  you asked this question  I suggested a chunk of railroad rail. Harbor Freight body tools might be just as good but maybe not so easy to lie flat on a bench. Their flat blocks are not very good steel but they are reasonable.

I started beading in Alaska and I was unaware there even was such a thing as a Jeweler's Block.  However, I used a circular saw blade that was left in the garage of the place I lived.  I don't know if it was hardened properly, etc. I just know I happily pounded away on it and it served me for many years, I still have it even though I now have a "real" jewelers block.  "Making Do" is a way of life that is inexpensive and very satisfying.

The one I use (and sell on my site) is sweet. It leaves the hammered finish looking like satin as long as you don't gouge up the surface with dings. I keep one side smooth and then flip it over when I want to be more daring. In other words I use one side for shaping and the other for finishing.

www.magpiegemstones.com under tools.

Szarka