Stamp 1-2mm copper blank - arbor/hydraulic or hoofing great big hammer

[DanHSW]

Hi again,

I'm fairly ok belting out circa 1mm thick copper discs using a 2lb brass mallet with my Indian disc cutter. In a previous thread I stated I might like to use custom dies to make imprints on one or both sides of these blanks, like a coin but not as thick as a coin.

I realise a 1 ton arbor press might help me with disc cutting but is it too weak to imprint a copper blank if said blank were sandwiched between an upper/lower die? I've seen the x ton hydraulic presses do this on Youtube demos but wonder if these 20 ton jobs are overkill?

The other idea I quite liked, as I enjoy belting things with a hammer, is this type of affair I saw on Etsy, a 'coin minting tool' that you whack with a sledgehammer:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/614780473/custom-coin-minting-tool-coinage-coin

That's exactly the kind of thing I would like to create but it looks like you're tied in to that company's dies...I like the idea of the tool though!

Thanks

Dan

[Dennis]

Don't know about the arbour press. It might not be strong enough. Some here use their hydraulic press, but I find it rather slow to set up for each press (pumping and releasing), so I favour hammers.
That said, choose a hammer you are able to control. Dennis.

[china]

Do you want to cut and stamp at the same time if so you will be pushing it even with a 20 ton, cutting the blank then imprinting the design it a separate operation then 20 ton would most likely be suitable with copper annealed, although as Dennis said it would a slow procedure for any type of quantity. Bare in mind than a coin press at a mint operates in the vicinity of 200 tons with an already produced blank.

[DanHSW]

Thanks for the replies!

I was hoping the cutting and stamping as separate processes. I do wonder with the hammer strike tool thing method that you can get reliably consistent imprints with a hammer. Not sure how hard he is striking it in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs64imX-QXU

but wonder if one can get a consistent 'feel' for a mallet requiring a big swing! They are 2mm blanks though, literally coin thickness, my requirements are half that thickness I reckon.

[china]

By the look of the hammer I would say it is a 6Kg, you would probably be surprised at the impact weight, there would a mathematical formula to estimate it ( don't ask me), I have mate who uses a 50 ton power hammer to make Gold medals, they also have edge decoration, his dies and die holder were made locally and were very expensive

[Dennis]

Looks like a job for a drop hammer, but ouch. Dennis.

[ps_bond]

...but wonder if one can get a consistent 'feel' for a mallet requiring a big swing! They are 2mm blanks though, literally coin thickness, my requirements are half that thickness I reckon.

There's a similar system detailed in the book "Numismatic Forgery" that has been used to create coins. Yes, it's perfectly feasible to swing a sledge consistently. Thickness of the blank isn't the issue when forming them - surface area (and depth of impression) are the main factors.

[DanHSW]

Thanks for all the replies, I probably need to do a bit of experimentation with a hammer before I commit to any kind of press!