What Gauge of Metal Works Best For Hydraulic Press Silver Jewelry?

Hydraulic presses enable users to emboss, texture, bend thin or thick metal accurately while shaping it into 3D forms.

Most machine shops and metal fabricating businesses can supply the parts necessary for creating a home-made hydraulic press that will work effectively for small-scale production, including threaded stock pieces, tubing and jack.

Gauge

A die for impressing metals depends on its thickness. Thicker metals require heavier gauge metal, as thinner gauge can tear, krinkle, or crimp under pressure. When using a 20 ton hydraulic press, thicker materials like fine silver or brass work best; other suitable choices may include aluminum and annealed titanium; less ductile metals, such as copper or nickel may not work as effectively with these presses.

Metalsmiths typically measure their hydraulic pressure with a dial pressure gauge with a round case and threaded process connection, designed specifically to monitor and test system pressure for hydraulic presses, cylinders and tool holding systems. Furthermore, dial pressure gauges offer dual scale measurement to detect both internal and external loads simultaneously.

Machinists can create a hydraulic pressure gauge for their hydraulic press by welding together a frame from scrap metals. First, search out cheap sources of steel such as junk steel or used truck jacks; next locate pieces of "U" or "L" steel channel that resemble the parts shown in Diagram 2, with at least three-eighths inch diameter side pieces and end pieces for Diagram 2. Secure these pieces to each other using washers and nuts threaded onto them and tighten with wrench.

Once your frame is assembled, it's time to build your hydraulic press. Locate a 2'' or greater hydraulic ram at an industrial supply outfit or hydraulics dealer - one with larger dimensions will help reduce pumping pressure requirements as its force proportional with diameter.

Hydraulic presses are powerful tools for creating forms and textures not possible with other methods. But before beginning work with one, it is essential to understand its limits. In this video from Hydraulic Press Channel's 150-ton hydraulic press test, various metals were put through extreme pressure; soft ones like tin and aluminum flattened under this intense pressure just like they would when left to sit in a kitchen pan, while harder metals like iron and tungsten barely changed shape at all under this massive hydraulic force.

Thickness

Conforming die process (also referred to as hydraulic pressing) employs a 3-dimensional model or pattern to create male and female dies that match. Metal is placed between these dies before hydraulic pressure is applied, forcing the dies together and forcing it into shape through their contact points. This technique has become popular throughout industry for producing metal handles, spouts and other difficult-to-make forms; artist metalsmiths also utilize this process on smaller scale to craft hollow forms which can then be soldered together later.

To adapt this process for use in a home workshop, a basic press and dies setup can be assembled for under $1000. A welded steel frame and hydraulic jack can be purchased from local metal fabricators or automotive supply shops; while springs, nuts, and bolts are readily available at hardware stores.

Shearing dies are an efficient and cost-effective way of using hydraulic presses. They allow users to punch out flat sheets or rods of metal with minimal work and minimal material loss; additionally they allow large numbers of identical pieces to be produced more rapidly than sawing by hand.

Before using a shearing die in a hydraulic press, it is imperative that metal be dead soft. Hard metal can make annealing, pickling, and rinsing difficult; without being annealed first it may not adhere to the shearing die and cause too large of holes for its shearing pins. In extreme cases it may even require rolling through a rolling mill or using a hammer to thin and work-harden it further.

When using the shearing die, make sure that it is placed on a clean surface and that silicone or another form of lubrication has been applied to its pins. Also helpful is placing a piece of sandpaper over the top to protect from shears or other tools being damaged while shearing; avoid placing another shearing die directly next to a currently active die or its shears may cause irreparable damage.

Temperature

Hydraulic presses are tools designed for embossing patterns and designs onto gold bars and coins, creating intricate patterns on them. There are various models of these presses on the market; popular examples are PotterUSA press, modded Harbor Freight press, Etsy listing or Pinterest ideas under "jewelry pressing." To use any type of hydraulic press effectively it should include an impression die - a steel puck containing your chosen pattern/design that has depressions - to which metal should be placed between platen and impression die before closing hydraulic ram - creating your desired pattern on metal and making jewelry ready to sell!

Your metal thickness and size dictates your temperature adjustment requirements. Softer metals (such as silver) typically require lower temperatures in order to avoid warping or melting of the metal, while harder ones like copper, brass or bronze require higher temps in order to avoid overheating and burning of your workpiece.

Pressure requirements to press metal vary based on its type and gauge. For optimal results, always start with 16 or thicker gauge metal to ensure optimal results when making coins from thinner gauge metals such as copper. However, for coin production from thinner gauge metals it may require multiple attempts before finding one with ideal texture, size, texture, tonnage (depending on which metal) as well as tonnage that matches that metal's desired results are found - for instance silver and steel tend to require different tonnage amounts than others to produce coins that meet those desired results - for those attempting to make coins using thinner gauge metals it may require multiple attempts before you find success making coins from thinner gauge metals such as copper than 16 gauge (16 gauge metal is required). When trying to create coins using thinner gauge metals it may take multiple attempts before finding the desired texture, size and results when trying to create coins from thinner gauge metal it requires several attempts before you get the desired texture size and size while trying different thickness required when creating coins from thinner gauge metal may require several attempts before you achieve results similar to what silver and steel require different tonnage requirements to create coins!

Pressure

Hydraulic press machines are utilized in industrial settings for producing everything from pots and pans to car bodies, but metalsmiths also utilize hydraulic presses for creating intricate forms that cannot be created using traditional means such as hammering. By stacking silver onto a matrix die with your desired impression and pressing together under hydraulic pressure, desired forms can be created.

To ensure the success of your piece, it's crucial that a high-grade impression die made of heat-treated steel is used. Specifically, thick enough so as to withstand the pressure from a hydraulic press can withstand its pressure; additionally, lightly oiling it before every use may further ensure success.

It is also crucial that the die "sandwich" be centered and balanced; otherwise, an uneven piece may develop weak spots that compromise strength. Finally, make sure both die and matrix have been annealed before pressing.

Quality hydraulic presses should come equipped with both a temperature gauge and pressure release valve, both of which can help make production faster by monitoring and controlling how much pressure each piece receives individually and helping prevent burns or injuries.

Different metals react differently when exposed to hydraulic pressure, so it's essential that when using an impression die, you understand your options. Soft aluminum and tin flatten quickly when subjected to hydraulic pressure; according to one commenter from Hydraulic Press Channel's video, "like Play-Doh." However, tungsten proves far more resistant and barely alters shape even at 149 tons of pressure.

At home, a 20-ton hydraulic press should suffice for most projects. Easy to assemble and requiring minimal maintenance, its lightweight portability makes it great for working in tight spaces; and comes with a six-month warranty from date of purchase. For something more durable and versatile, consider investing in an arbor press instead of C-frame clamps or cylinders; its removable cylinders allow mounting on virtually any surface while applying higher pressure than C-clamps can.