Last summer I was sooo lucky, after selling off some unused tools, to take the plunge and buy my hydraulic press. I researched and researched...Will it be the Shark Bite? The Bonny Doone? Then I stumbled onto the Potter USA website. I first I dismissed it, was it for ceramics(potters?)? I went around and asked others questions..read up on building my own. I do tend to obsess over the details when I am making a big decisions like this one. Then with more searching I found the Potter USA site again and this lead to Kevin Potter's You Tube channel. The videos of this guy totally enjoying his job..cutting and welding metal won me over. I then ask him a bazzillion questions which he patiently answered. So my order was placed...once it arrived...It was Love at first site! Or should I say first squeeze! I thought of making a video showing you how they work. But how much better could it be to see Kevin himself explaining how a blanking die (or pancake die) works with a 20-ton press. The press can do a multitude of tasks. Cutting metals blanks is just one of them. Thus the term "blanking die". This is a sample of what a pancake die looks like:Here is Kevin demonstrating how to cut with the die:
This is a necklace I made using this very die. I first cut it out of copper, shaped it with some reposse and dapping tools. Then I enameled it:
More about the press later.
Michelle Mahler Teka and Zoe and Fundametals.net
I have been selling and using these great little disposable brushes for years. Not many people now about them but I think they are GREAT. They are great because you can use them with a yucky product for a quick applications and then just pitch them in the trash. I really like it when I can put a bit of patina were I want it to go instead of all over a piece. They come in 3 sizes and 1 brush size. 1 pack of 10 brushes of: The Ultra Brush, Regular size microbrush, Fine microbrush and Super-Fine microbrush. The originated for the Dental industry and the manufacturer packs them for hobby users too. The benefits of the patented design with a bendable neck that facilitates precise placement in difficult areas Non-absorbent, non-linting fibers suspend solution as small as 1/8 of a drop No dripping or spilling Minimum waste of material applied. Usage: Paints, Adhesives, Powder, Lubricants, Solvents, Patina...so many more. If you want to give them a try you can find them on my ArtFire site Textures.
I thought of making a video showing you how they work. But how much better could it be to see Kevin himself explaining how a blanking die (or pancake die) works with a 20-ton press. The press can do a multitude of tasks. Cutting metals blanks is just one of them. Thus the term "blanking die". This is a sample of what a pancake die looks like:
Here is Kevin demonstrating how to cut with the die:
This is a necklace I made using this very die. I first cut it out of copper, shaped it with some reposse and dapping tools. Then I enameled it:
More about the press later.
Michelle Mahler Teka and Zoe and Fundametals.net
