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  1. #1
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    Default An Arbor Press is useful

    I started this thread rather than hi jacking Nick's thread about collets. Caroline asked what size press I have, well I use the smallest one as it is mounted on my bench to the right of my working area.

    The photo shows some of the punches I have made over the years to fit the arbor press, they were mostly used when shaping small flower parts, spheres and pendant easter egg halves. I also have another piece of kit which fits it for blanking out discs, this also fits my fly press.
    This is the arbor press I bought from Warco, I bought the No 1 size, which was under £50 when I bought mine and is £66 now, but if it is only for jewellery pieces the size 0 is a decent press; http://www.warco.co.uk/sheet-metal-f...bor-press.html

    I also make small dies in brass blocks and press tiny decorative items like the leaf groups shown below using a flat fitting in the press.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    James
    Last edited by Goldsmith; 01-11-2014 at 12:14 PM.

  2. #2
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    Default

    I also have another useful tool for adding to a press of any type, it is called a Hunton Bolster Outfit, this is not cheap but if you want to cut hundreds of shapes they pay for themselves quickly, I have cutting dies that fit this tool so that I can cut discs up to 50mm. diameter without any distortion. Earlier on in my career I made British and foreign regalia and badges and needed many sizes of discs for badge backs.
    This is the Hunton system; http://www.hartleige.com/product/fly...ts-and-tooling

    James

  3. #3
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    Thanks for that James, very helpful. The problem I would see for me would be making the punches. Oh the possibilities though. Would my understanding be right that it could be used as a more mechanical form of repousse work? I did a bit of repousse many years ago and really enjoyed the process but never got round to buying the necessary equipment.
    So many questions! How would one go about making the brass dies?
    Last edited by CJ57; 01-11-2014 at 01:08 PM.

  4. #4
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    This post comes so timely for me! I have been toying wiht the idea of getting a quicker way of cutting some small shapes that I need lots of for a ring that sells really well, especially with the Xmas trade coming up. I was considering having the shapes laser cut, but the other option is to die cut of course. I have been wanting to try/get a press for ages was wondering how well these small cheap ones compare for e.g. the blanking presses you can get from jewellery supplies companies for hundreds of pounds as opposed to £60-ish.

    So James, how do you get your dies cut, or do you make them yourself too? This is where I think I might fall down, but I guess there must be someone out there who can cut them for me. I want to cut a small heart shape that is about 6-7mm in each direction, from 0.7 or 0.8mm sterling, 9 and 18ct gold sheet. So I guess I need a (blanking?) die cut for doing this, but then would the little arbour press be a good tool for doing this? Any restrictions on thickness of metal to punch through? Smallest sizes possible to cut etc.?

    I like the idea of doing it myself and not be reliant on a third party when you need them quickly etc.

    I think the bolster outfit would also be a good thing, as you say when you need to cut a lot of these they will pay for themselves. There are also other shapes I could really do with die cutting for increased speed in making certain ranges. I would again have to find someone to cut the round dies to use in a bolster.

    Would really appreciate feedback on this! Should I go this way, or should I consider laser cutting?.... Also, are these arbour presses any good for using to make freeform hollow shapes, or does that really require a hydraulic press?

    Carin
    Carin Lindberg

    Camali Design
    www.camalidesign.com

  5. #5
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    Default

    Carin, you may find a fly press less work for blanking out .8mm. thick items, it really depends on your arm strength with an arbor press. Check out these previous postings on another thread; http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3027

    Also check out the "pancake dies" videos on youtube.

    James

  6. #6
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    James,

    The brass rod photo that you posted on this thread thats egg shaped, am I correct in thinking that this could easily be shaped using a high speed lathe?

    As per previous comments, the struggle for me would also be in shaping the brass rods. I guess that if you were using such a system for bezels, then you'd potentially need several different sized marquise shaped ones, pear shaped ones and so on so that you could utilise several sizes of stone right?

    Not sure if you're in the market for such things, but is shaping these rods potentially something you'd be willing to undertake as work ( I.E. paid to do? )

    Fascinating subject!

    Nick

  7. #7
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    Apr 2014
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Goldsmith View Post
    This is the arbor press I bought from Warco, I bought the No 1 size, which was under £50 when I bought mine and is £66 now, but if it is only for jewellery pieces the size 0 is a decent press; http://www.warco.co.uk/sheet-metal-f...bor-press.html
    Just in case anyone wants to get one of these arbor presses, Axminster Tools have them for less; the 0.5 tonne http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-arbor-press-ap0 for £34 inc VAT and the 1 tonne http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-arbor-press-ap1 for only £48 inc VAT. No idea if they are any good, but they have good reviews...

    Carin
    Carin Lindberg

    Camali Design
    www.camalidesign.com

  8. #8
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    Nov 2014
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    Hello James,
    When using the brass small Easter egg punch in your arbor press did you use contained urethane resting on the baseplate to form the metal around the punch? I can understand how the punch itself can be made on a lathe but am a little puzzled how - without using urethane - I would go about making the female form to precisely match the male punch.
    Many thanks.
    Ramsay

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by tzam View Post
    Hello James,
    When using the brass small Easter egg punch in your arbor press did you use contained urethane resting on the baseplate to form the metal around the punch? I can understand how the punch itself can be made on a lathe but am a little puzzled how - without using urethane - I would go about making the female form to precisely match the male punch.
    Many thanks.
    Ramsay
    I used a lead block as the female forms when using those punches in my arbor press.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    James

  10. #10
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    This may be a really dumb question James, but here goes.......is it best to preform the lead block with the punch before putting the silver between punch and lead block, or do you just go for it with the press and metal in place. Also do you buff the side of the formed shape that has been in contact with the lead block to ensure that there are no traces of lead present, before going onto any further work with the formed piece??

    Many thanks,
    Jill (aka Tabby)

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