How to Make Your Own Hydraulic Jewelry Press

Richard provides instructions for building an affordable hydraulic press to create tasteful three-dimensional forms. You will learn how to size metal and anneal it before pressing. He also shows ways to add depth using rubber inserts.

Hydraulic presses such as these can form metal up to 16 gauge thick. Thicker metals require higher hydraulic pressure and more intricate molds.

1. Frame

Utilizing a hydraulic press allows you to complete multiple repetitive tasks quickly and efficiently - it's like mass production in a smaller workshop!

While there are various kinds of hydraulic presses, most employ the same general design. They consist of two cylinders connected by a plunger; one cylinder serves as the ram, while the other acts as the plunger; hydraulic fluid is stored within each of these chambers, and when pushed against by the plunger against the ram it causes compressive forces which form metal sheets.

Frames of hydraulic presses are typically constructed by welding them for maximum strength and stability, but you don't have a welding machine you can still create a bolt together frame. By searching through your junk pile for U or L steel channels cut to length with scissors for your press frame height and screwing two washers and nuts onto each stock piece you now have yourself an easily assembled hydraulic press frame!

Hydraulic presses offer many tools for hollow-form forming, but silhouette dies are by far the most effective when it comes to hollow-form production. Made of metal, epoxy-steel or fiberglass material, silhouette dies can be used for piercing, shaping and embossing operations.

Melissa Muir is an exceptional metalsmith who offers this engaging online course in working with hydraulic presses. Beginning with safety and care considerations, students learn exciting form possibilities for jewelry and vessels using hydraulic presses. Melissa shows how to create custom forms using anticlastic or synclastic methods of forming. Plus she shows students how to create embossing/silhouette dies on their own!

2. Ram

Hydraulic presses are machines used to compress items with the use of a hydraulically driven ram. The press' cylinder contains hydraulic fluid that drives its movement; you can control how you want the ram to move by changing pressure settings on it. Hydraulic presses can be dangerous machines that require special training and safety precautions when used safely.

A ram press is used in metal forming to cut, form, draw, punch and coin items. Additionally, it can create blanks from coil, strip or sheet metal using its upper half of a die lowered over its lower part and pressurised by ram pressure - compressing and shaping it with each stroke of its piston ram press.

Hydraulic presses consist of several metal pipes connected to pumps and hydraulic accumulators that house hydraulic fluid, each equipped with two ports to enable input/output of this fluid. One cylinder typically houses the ram while the other features a plunger; when its plunger is depressed it causes hydraulic fluid production that in turn creates pressing force.

Due to fewer moving parts in a hydraulic press, noise levels are reduced and ram movements can be precisely controlled. Furthermore, tonnage (power) for each task can easily be adjusted as opposed to mechanical presses where tonnage may remain static for their lifetime. Finally, for even greater precision and control over ram movements is available with servo hydraulic presses using precision motor control of their ram.

3. Hydraulic Pump

On this five-day course, you will explore the amazing design and form possibilities offered by a hydraulic press. You will learn to make embossing dies for embossing or silhouette forming as well as 3" deep draw tools suitable for vessels, boxes and seamless rings. Richard will share the proper technique of using a hydraulic press as well as providing inspiration from his collection of irresistible designs.

This machine operates according to Pascal's Principle, which states that pressure applied to confined fluid is transmitted without alteration throughout. It includes a mainframe, power system and hydraulic control system - whereby hydraulic fluid from the pump flows through a small piston (plunger cylinder) before flowing it onto an even larger piston in a ram cylinder - creating a continuous exchange of pressure which creates mechanical force with applications from low force up to 100 tons of thrust.

Pump reservoirs contain hydraulic fluid that is transferred directly to ram cylinders through pipes and valve assemblies. A control valve manages both direction and quantity of hydraulic flow for each tilt box position.

Hydraulic pumps use materials like aluminum and stainless steel in their cylinders, pistons and gears that will outlive their work environments, including harsh chemical environments or the elements. Furthermore, anti-corrosive finishes may help shield these hydraulic pumps from further corrosion in harsher environments like chemicals. Unfortunately, hydraulic pumps may become susceptible to heat build-up & leaks over time; to mitigate this potential hazard it should be kept out of high-temperature environments or provided with a cooling system.

4. Press Plates

The hydraulic press is an amazingly versatile tool, enabling you to emboss, texture, pierce and form metal in just minutes - it is an indispensable addition to any workshop! Learn to master its power with expert instruction from Bonny Doon as she leads you through its basics operations using embossing dies; anticlastic and synclastic forming techniques; 3" deep draw tools for vessels and boxes as well as many more techniques!

Commercial-sized hydraulic presses can be very costly, but you can build one yourself for far less than half the price. To begin building, cut all necessary steel parts for construction of the frame of your press. Weld two 700 mm pieces together before attaching the bottle jack with welding on its base platen.

Once your frame and ram have been constructed, it's time to construct the pressing plates themselves. Two plates equal in size to the dies that you plan on using can then be secured using rubber inserts to provide sufficient depth impression when pressing. Richard utilizes old inner tubes by layering them smaller than dies themselves for this task.

Once you have created your dies, the fun starts! For starters, try creating simple silhouette dies to craft chic pierced shapes for earrings or bracelets with this technique. Next, challenge yourself by trying more advanced forms with anticlastic or synclastic pressing techniques. Additionally, explore various methods of adding texture before pressing. Roller printing or etching provide excellent ways to create interesting textures which can then be stamped into metal surfaces.

5. Safety

Hydraulic presses are essential components of any machine shop, helping make work more efficient while performing metal forming tasks not possible with other types of machinery. Unfortunately, like any piece of heavy equipment, hydraulic presses can become dangerous without proper care or maintenance; fortunately there are simple things you can do to maintain them and ensure maximum uptime for years.

To stay safe while operating a press, it is wise to wear both gloves and eye protection - particularly when crushing hard materials such as bones or rocks. Furthermore, avoid touching either the ram or die while operating the press as doing so can result in injuries.

An effective way to ensure that your press is in good condition is through routine inspection and maintenance, which will help avoid major problems that can cause costly repairs or even death. Common problems include oil leaks, overheating and damaged ram or die.

Along with regular inspections and maintenance, be sure to use the right type of oil in your press. A quality hydraulic press should use a blend of high-pressure oils designed specifically to maximize performance; using incorrect types could damage the machine as well as pose safety threats to yourself and employees.

Be it an experienced metalsmith or just starting out, hydraulic jewelry presses provide the tools to craft striking designs with unique touches to add flair to any piece. By following these simple steps, safely and efficiently set up your press at home so it can deliver maximum effectiveness for your projects.