[Jewelry making - Article 00330] - Re: [Orchid] Rectangular draw plate

[John Burgess]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

G'day

    You can make a rectangular wire die to your own size and/or shape.
    Take two pieces of 3/8inch thick flat steel about an inch by three
    quarters and file two edges dead square so they meet perfectly.    
    Clamp the pieces edge to edge and using a drill which is the tapping
    diameter for the size of the small bolt you will use to bolt the
    pieces together, edge to edge. 

    Drill a hole right through both pieces.  Take them apart, and
    enlarge the hole in one piece to the exact size to clear the bolt. 
    Tap a thread right through the second piece. Now bolt the two
    together with a single bolt and hold in a vice. 

    Drill a tapping hole through both pieces opposite the previous edge
    hole, separate the pieces and drill the clearance hole, and tap a
    thread in the hole in  the other piece.  Bolt the pieces together.
    Mark out the profile  of the required wire on each piece accurately
    on both sides of each piece, and carefully file a slot the size and
    thickness of the required wire in the edge of one of the pieces and
    round the edge of the slots of both pieces to make wire insertion
    easier;; (note the trumpet profile of the holes in an ordinary wire
    drawing die, and imitate this on the flat slot you have filed.. 
    Don't file the slot in the other piece of the die,  but curve the
    entrance like the first piece.  Now curve the slot edge in the back
    of both pieces to make a small emergent curve for the wire to be
    drawn. Clean up the slot with 200 grit paper. followed by finer
    paper until the slot has a polish. When drawing a wire treat this
    die exactly as though it were a normal single piece die. 

    Note that you may change the distance between the two parts of the
    die so as to reduce the flat wire gently.  Use wax on the wire as a
    lubricant, and anneal frequently. 

    Sounds complicated and difficult?  It isn't difficult at all.  Just
    think about what I have said, and if you  like, make a sketch of
    each step to help visualise it.  It works; I have made and used such
    dies myself.  Note that you can make dies for wedge shaped wire or
    anything you like.   Even using ordinary mild steel the die will
    last for quite a number of drawings.   To make it last longer use a
    surface hardening technique, using Kasenit case-hardening powder or
    similar.  (Ask  about this later if you really need it.) 

Cheers for now,
JohnB of Mapua, Nelson NZ

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________