Odin And Sleipnir Pair Hydraulic Press Impression Die

Metal Maven Hydraulic Press Impression Die Usage Guidelines

This Hydraulic Press Impression Die is for hydraulic press use only. We tested it with an electric 20-ton hydraulic press and it performed extremely well. 

We tested lots of different metal gauges with this die and found that 18-gauge provided us with the best pressing. We recommend that you apply a thin layer of some kind of oil like CorrosionX or 3 in 1 Oil to the engraved areas and the surface of the die each time you use it so your metal will release from the die.

The die provides an image that stands up on the surface of your copper, silver, or brass. To get a good image with a 20 ton press, it is necessary to lightly oil your die before each use and use a 1" x 1" x 1/4" piece of urethane for the first pressing. After the first pressing, use smaller pieces of urethane on any places that need better definition and press again. Continue doing this until you are happy with the pressing. The back of your component will not be flat, so if you prefer a flat back you will need to saw it out with a jeweler's saw and solder it to a backplate.  When pressing this die we recommend using a steel pusher as a force tool to focus the pressure of the ram directly on the die along with your urethane to help reveal the details in the lower areas of the engraving. You can get a steel pusher on Potter USA. Here is a link to the pusher.

The pressings in our photos were done using 18-gauge copper at 20 tons of pressure.  We used dead soft copper and did not need to anneal, but annealing might help if you are not sure if your metal is soft.

To release your pressing, use a chisel or something similar like a knife edge to gently pry around the edges of your pressing until it pops loose. Also, be aware that although we vibrate, and then wash and scrub the dies with a fine brass brush after engraving them, sometimes there are tiny particles of debris left in the crevices of the engraved areas that are caused by the heat of the laser. So please oil your die and use a scrap of 20 or 18 gauge copper to do your first test pressing. The first pressing will usually remove any leftover debris from the crevices.

After pressing we used Liver of Sulfur to patina our copper and then we used a fine grit Nail Salon buffing sponge to buff the surface.  Some of the details of the design will bottom out when pressed, which was intended.  The areas that bottom out can easily be rounded and smoothed with the buffing sponges. 

Your die will arrive lightly oiled with a lubricant called CorrosionX.  It can be found at most auto supply stores.  We highly recommend you use it or some kind of machine oil to protect your investment, especially if you live in a humid climate.  We use it to keep rust from forming on our steel pieces, dies, rolling mill rollers and other tools.  It also helps your silver or copper release from the die.

Please check the sizes carefully when ordering, as we do not accept returns or exchanges.

Please note that we check the quality of each die carefully before we send them out. 

We offer shipping via USPS. Your shipping options will appear in your shopping cart. Shipping Insurance is included on all orders.