Making Multiples with Blanking Dies

February 9 – 12, 2023
Online hosted by Silvera Jewelry School,
Berkeley, California

SKU: February 9 - 12, 2023 Category:

 Register at: Silvera Jewelry School

Take your designs from flat to three dimensional with this in-depth workshop from Jayne Redman. Learn the innovative design and assembly concepts that Jayne has developed over 40 plus years of metalsmithing. Jayne will teach you the principles behind centrally radiating forms, properly nested forms, spacing for slotted forms, faux hinge assembly, and tab construction. She will show you how to use your computer as a design tool and how to duplicate the same steps manually.

Learn how to make blanking (pancake) dies to quickly cut out the shapes you develop in class and get lost in the process of experimenting with forming and assembly. Make custom forming tools and learn new finishing techniques. Speed up your production or incorporate identical shapes in one-of-a-kind pieces.

Techniques taught:

  • Developing flat patterns used for three dimensional forms
  • Prototyping with heavy aluminum foil
  • Using your computer as a design tool or creating the same design manually.
  • Layout for a correctly designed blanking die
  • How to correctly use a saw frame and choosing saw blades for sawing tool steel
  • How to determine rotational angle of your bench pin relative to thickness of tool steel and saw blade
  • How to saw a blanking die out of tool steel
  • How to use a hydraulic press or bench vise to blank out metal with blanking dies
  • Tips and tricks using flex shaft accessories
  • How to make your own forming tools
  • How to make and use finishing tools

 

Additional information

Student Tools and Materials

Bonny Doon Hydraulic Press or Harbor Freight bench press or large bench vise
If using a bench vise: two 1/2” thick pieces of cast acrylic and a length of pipe at least 1.5 feet long, or (as one student suggested) cut off the small end of an aluminum baseball bat!
Flex shaft or Dremel
Center punch or 1.5mm ball bur
Dividers
Bur life
Drill bits: #58 or #60
5" or 6" deep saw frame
Flat or half round hand file (#0 or #1 cut) or belt sander
Medium snap-on-discs
Snap-on-disc mandrel
22 gauge or thinner copper or brass sheet
18 gauge or thinner copper or brass sheet

Joyce Chen Shears or Pro Shears
Rubber cement or Scotch Permanent Glue Stick
Scissors
Ruler
Double stick tape
Paper, including tracing paper and white printer/copier paper
Drawing materials including rulers, Sharpie markers, pencils and erasers, compasses, and plastic circle and oval templates
Apron
Dust mask
Safety Glasses and eye magnification if needed

A rotational bench pin and magnetic protractor is necessary to make blanking dies. You can order them from Jayne’s Student Shop or rent one($130) for 30 days.
Jayne Redman Rotational Bench Pin: Dovetail Base with Aluminum Surface, $135
Jayne Redman Dovetail Mounting Plate, $25.
Magnetic Protractor, $15.
Jayne’s Bench Pin Dovetail System is compatible with GRS mounting plates. If you have a GRS Mounting Plate you will not need to order one from her.

Optional:
A computer with Adobe Photoshop installed
Silver or gold sheet: 23 gauge or thinner to use with blanking dies 1/32” thick – 19 gauge or thinner to use with blanking dies 3/64” thick
Silver or gold wire for finished pieces – assorted gauges. I use 20 gauge for ear wires.
Online Metals, Round bar pack natural acetal – Discount price for Delrin rod assortment
Wolf Wax High Speed Cylinder Bur: Rio Grande – 25mm x 6.3mm, 25mm x 4.7mm, 25mm x 3.3mm
Additional saw blades 2/0 or 3/0,
Super Pike Saw Blades: Otto Frei
Pike Platinum Saw Blades: Otto Frei
You will receive 2 dozen of each brand in your kit, but you may want more!

Related products

Making Multiples with Blanking Dies

February 9 – 12, 2023
Online hosted by Silvera Jewelry School,
Berkeley, California

SKU: February 9 - 12, 2023 Category:

 Register at: Silvera Jewelry School

Take your designs from flat to three dimensional with this in-depth workshop from Jayne Redman. Learn the innovative design and assembly concepts that Jayne has developed over 40 plus years of metalsmithing. Jayne will teach you the principles behind centrally radiating forms, properly nested forms, spacing for slotted forms, faux hinge assembly, and tab construction. She will show you how to use your computer as a design tool and how to duplicate the same steps manually.

Learn how to make blanking (pancake) dies to quickly cut out the shapes you develop in class and get lost in the process of experimenting with forming and assembly. Make custom forming tools and learn new finishing techniques. Speed up your production or incorporate identical shapes in one-of-a-kind pieces.

Techniques taught:

  • Developing flat patterns used for three dimensional forms
  • Prototyping with heavy aluminum foil
  • Using your computer as a design tool or creating the same design manually.
  • Layout for a correctly designed blanking die
  • How to correctly use a saw frame and choosing saw blades for sawing tool steel
  • How to determine rotational angle of your bench pin relative to thickness of tool steel and saw blade
  • How to saw a blanking die out of tool steel
  • How to use a hydraulic press or bench vise to blank out metal with blanking dies
  • Tips and tricks using flex shaft accessories
  • How to make your own forming tools
  • How to make and use finishing tools

 

Additional information

Student Tools and Materials

Bonny Doon Hydraulic Press or Harbor Freight bench press or large bench vise
If using a bench vise: two 1/2” thick pieces of cast acrylic and a length of pipe at least 1.5 feet long, or (as one student suggested) cut off the small end of an aluminum baseball bat!
Flex shaft or Dremel
Center punch or 1.5mm ball bur
Dividers
Bur life
Drill bits: #58 or #60
5" or 6" deep saw frame
Flat or half round hand file (#0 or #1 cut) or belt sander
Medium snap-on-discs
Snap-on-disc mandrel
22 gauge or thinner copper or brass sheet
18 gauge or thinner copper or brass sheet

Joyce Chen Shears or Pro Shears
Rubber cement or Scotch Permanent Glue Stick
Scissors
Ruler
Double stick tape
Paper, including tracing paper and white printer/copier paper
Drawing materials including rulers, Sharpie markers, pencils and erasers, compasses, and plastic circle and oval templates
Apron
Dust mask
Safety Glasses and eye magnification if needed

A rotational bench pin and magnetic protractor is necessary to make blanking dies. You can order them from Jayne’s Student Shop or rent one($130) for 30 days.
Jayne Redman Rotational Bench Pin: Dovetail Base with Aluminum Surface, $135
Jayne Redman Dovetail Mounting Plate, $25.
Magnetic Protractor, $15.
Jayne’s Bench Pin Dovetail System is compatible with GRS mounting plates. If you have a GRS Mounting Plate you will not need to order one from her.

Optional:
A computer with Adobe Photoshop installed
Silver or gold sheet: 23 gauge or thinner to use with blanking dies 1/32” thick – 19 gauge or thinner to use with blanking dies 3/64” thick
Silver or gold wire for finished pieces – assorted gauges. I use 20 gauge for ear wires.
Online Metals, Round bar pack natural acetal – Discount price for Delrin rod assortment
Wolf Wax High Speed Cylinder Bur: Rio Grande – 25mm x 6.3mm, 25mm x 4.7mm, 25mm x 3.3mm
Additional saw blades 2/0 or 3/0,
Super Pike Saw Blades: Otto Frei
Pike Platinum Saw Blades: Otto Frei
You will receive 2 dozen of each brand in your kit, but you may want more!

Related products