This hydraulic press die features a Sea Turtle design with tropical flowers and leaves on it’s shell, and optional hanging loops on each fin. It is 1-1/16" wide and 1" tall excluding the hanging loops. This die is considered 2.5D due to the depth of the engraving and is made with heat treated steel.
The measurement of the die is 2" X 2" X 1/4" thick.
The mirror image of this die for use as earrings is available here.
The die provides an image that stands up on the surface of your copper, silver, or brass. To get a good image, it is necessary to lightly oil your die before each use and use a small pile of small pieces of urethane when 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.
This impression die is made with heat-treated tool steel and is for hydraulic press use only. It will work best with a press that is at least 20-tons. The design can be used for making earrings, pendants, or any other components for your jewelry making needs.
The sea turtle pressings in our photos were done using 20-gauge copper at 20 tons of pressure. They were first pressed with a small pile of small pieces of cut up urethane laid on top of the copper over the entire design area and we used a steel pusher. We then laid small pieces of urethane on the head, the fins and the hanging loops and pressed a second time to get those areas to press fully. 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.
DEEP Floral Sea Turtle Right Hydraulic Press Impression Die
Usage
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 20-gauge or 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, it is necessary to use a small pile of small cut up pieces of urethane when pressing. After 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 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 sea turtle pressings in our photos were done using 20-gauge copper at 20 tons of pressure. They were first pressed with a small pile of small pieces of cut up urethane laid on top of the copper over the entire design area and we used a steel pusher. We then laid small pieces of urethane on the head, the fins and the hanging loops and pressed a second time to get those areas to press fully. 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 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 gauge copper to do your first test pressing. The first pressing will usually remove any leftover debris from the crevices.
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.
Return and Refund Policy
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.
Shipping Info
We offer shipping via USPS. Your shipping options will appear in your shopping cart. Shipping Insurance is included on all orders.
