Saw a lot of new smiths using 3D printed jigs at a craft fair in Portland

I was at the Portland Saturday Market a few weeks back, checking out the metalwork booths. I noticed at least four different smiths, all younger folks, using bright orange plastic jigs to hold pieces while they did decorative filing or punching. One guy making bottle openers said he prints a new jig for each design, and it saves him about 15 minutes per piece on setup. He showed me a simple one for holding a railroad spike at the perfect angle. It got me thinking about how accessible this tech is now. A basic printer costs less than a good anvil. I'm curious if this is just a local thing or if more people are bringing printers into their shops. What's the general feeling on using plastic tools to help make metal ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesleyw461mo ago

Totally get that feeling! It's wild how a simple plastic tool can save so much time on metalwork. Makes the craft more about the skill and less about the setup hassle.

rowanf641mo ago

My buddy Nate, who does custom iron railings, printed a jig to hold all the little scrolls for welding. He said it was a total game changer for batch work. That bright blue plastic looked so out of place next to his old forge, but he cranked out like twenty identical pieces in an afternoon. He's not even a "tech guy," he just downloaded the file.

robert2751mo ago

Used to think 3D printing was just for toys, but hearing how it helps real trades like that totally changed my mind.