Making a Ring Using an Impression Die, Part 1

Kevin Potter of Potter USA demonstrates how to use an impression die of a T-shank ring to make a ring. He uses the 20 ton hydraulic press, a jeweler's saw and files to finish 1/2 of a ring. More videos will follow.

[@dragonbone5000]

Thanks. Where is part 2 please?

[@GHM_Flowers]

Thank you so much Kevin for taking the time to make these videos!!

[@Jewelrymaker]

Love your videos and THANKS for saving all those dies! It's hard to beat the old world fabrication techniques for a quality piece. That ring is going to wear very well due to all the work hardening. A cast ring would wear out much quicker.

[@LightKatchurs]

I want to do them for the pure joy of it!! Yes!!

[@gawni1612]

that is a thickass piece of metal! Dang!

[@beaddemon2572]

Thanks Kevin. Know I have an idea how my grandmother ‘made’ her wedding ring. She told us kids that she mage while she was in the hospital.

[@Annie59G]

Thank you for showing us that great older technique! I loved learning about the process.
However, lost wax casting was already used thousands of years ago for jewelry, when strong presses like yours didn't exist. The probable reason for die stamping jewelry might have been a desire for increased productivity through the use of machinery in opposition to lost wax casting which is a slower process. Just like silverware is die stamped.
About your piece, if the metal piece had been thinner at the start, probably just thick enough to not protrude from the die, stamping it once might have been enough. Because most of your sawing and filing has been to remove the excess metal that had been extruded on the sides by the pressure of the press.
However, if the die was deeper at the shank than at the bezel, maybe at the time this process was used, the cutting die took this into account by by cutting the bezel area a tad smaller than the stamping die.

[@mrllblasi]

Excellent!

[@KayGasnerKGDESIGNS]

Awesome, thank you Kevin ;-)

[@vanhassen]

Kevin, Have you publish the second video to this?