Metal Embossing (cool ornaments)

Use a 20-ton hydraulic press to emboss a design made from 16 gage wire into 22 gage sheet metal. The embossing designs can then be pressed into many different sheet metal projects. This instructable was created by Hyde Middle School students as an instructional aid during their metal shop classes.

Step 1 What you will need

20 ton press
card stock paper
scotch tape
pencil
16 gage wire (galvanized steel)
22 gage sheet metal (steel)

Comments

[thartman3]

If you don't have a hydraulic press, but would like to do something similar, you can use soda cans that you have opened and flattened, and work on them with clay tools, as you back the piece with foam core. The edges are EXTREMELY sharp, and don't fold easily, but I made a piece and attached it to a driftwood frame after "pewtering" it with black acrylic paint. It was really pretty.

[gerry_49]

Great stuff.

I'd like to try that with the pressing wire made into a name.

I don't have a press but I'm thinking that if I leave it under my cars tire overnight  it might do the trick.

[pogi09]

nice i like metal most of elective ever//././/./

[amakerguy]

ha what are the odds of someone having a 20 ton press?!?!

[falcotheimpaler]

Very good, actually. maybe not 20 tons, but your car jack (and car) can be jury rigged to do this same thing.

[LevartStudio]

What type of rusting solution would you use? And a top coat - what is appropriate for a metal topcoat finish? Thanks and GREAT Instructable - I will look for more from you!

[halfwaythere]

Great job. Very helpful.

[ashwinhyde]

I think that this Instructable was very detailed and thorough. I particularly liked how each step was short and easy to follow. This Instructable is very clear and easy to use but it would be nice if you also included how to spray paint your project. People would probably want to know about the back and forth motion as well as who to clean up runs and sand down your project. Most people probably don't have a 20,000 pound press in their house but I still think this was a very constructive and informative Instructable.

[eventingbabe121416]

i like how easy and simple the directions were. easy to follow and understand how to press a project.

[atwo2]

it looks cool and it's actually cool too!!! I've done it in class, it was AWESOME! and it's useful too! like you can do it on lots of things!

[T3h_Muffinator]

Wow! That looks awesome! I wish I had a hydraulic press in my school..... Perhaps I'll have to try and make a pseudo-press using a really heavy thing (like a dumpster?) and a car jack!

[smokehill]

I suspect you could weld or bolt together some steel channel as a frame, and create enough pressure with a bottle jack -- sort of like a bearing press. Wouldn't have the nifty pressure gauge, so making exact duplicates wouldn't be easy, but .... it's possibly a cheap alternative to the big-money equipment. Would still need some substantial chunks of metal for the plates, and some hard rubber, but most of that stuff should be scroungable. An old book press (with a screw-type press plate) might suffice for doing softer metal pressings, like copper or brass. I used to have one I picked up at an auction for 50 bucks, and I could press some really neat designs into paper and soft wood.

[sk8er_4_life147]

i dont think u could use a dumpster O_O

[hpmetalfreak]

This instructable was really cool! I already did a press project, but to be honest, i think i should have watched this video the first time around. it was very descriptive and super easy to understand. it had some useful tips i wish i knew i about, because here i was struggling to make the Deathly Hallows sign, and trying to get the circle part round with NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS, when i could have just checked this out and used some tips like USE OTHER THINGS IN THE SHOP TO HELP YOU =). It was a spectacular, neat video, and it is going to help a lot of people on their press projects, Mr. Nolte, including me i bet. Now that i saw this video, it's making me feel like i should make another press project after the ring... hmm... anyway, i really hope we win that laser cutter! Good Luck!

[Spartan S80]

This projectis so cool. You might even win the contest.

[d(T.T)b CHRIS d(o.0)b]

Ahhhhh!

[hella_cool_rachel]

nice i made this in class already though... still this is hella sick

[KeanAssasin]

interesting, easy and a great ordimant

[4304sha]

It's cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brodie643]

thats awesome, now I have gift to give to my family

[TrOgDoRwUzHeRe]

eh.....it wuz awsome-ish, jk it pwned 4 a skewl projwect lolol

[jhMUFC]

the press project idea is really good idea for ornaments or anything as a gift, also the designs you used are cool,

[twilight123]

OMG!!!!! o.0 thisss isssss realllllyyyyy good!!!!! it would be perfectttttttttt for Christmas gifts. veryyyyy kewwllll ornaments. :3 looks like very easy steps too. I'm going to try this at home. lol. greatttttt jobbbbb!!

[monkeyrules]

hey mr.nolte!!!! you explanied how to do the press really well!!!!!! i'm from your first period!!!

[Anikan]

This is a great instructable. Mass pruduce press projects and sell them at another school. - 31337 m4n, |-|4x0|2

[Anikan]

OMG. my sis has the same name as u - 31337 m4n, |-|4x0|2

[lorrainek]

Nice intructable Mr.Nolter. It really helps.

[Algore]

Wow this is amazing i wish my school had the tools to do this and i also wish they had a metal shop, i think this is a great idea to help kids in metal shop.

[Predator S80]

That's a wonderful Press Mr.Nolte. Im in your class Period 1 Axle.

[TheAlchemist]

hehe pretty cool..... you pump that thing pretty fast!

[Mr.Jaymoon]

Wow thanks for telling me that , it's pretty useful for holiday ornaments

^.

[martin123]

wow, this is amazing, now can I can make quick and easy presents for any occasion, i hope you win the contest, EVERYONE COMMENT AND RATE HIS!!!!

[harrisonfarnum]

wow this is amazing if i get those tools im sure ganna make a press ornament ill make sure i rate it and i hope u get more rating from other viewers

[sk8er_4_life147]

this is my homework Mr.Nolte........ it's a great way to learn a way to make a press project.......... if people want and the have the right tools they could make it at home........ i think every school should have a metal shop(but ours will be the best......lol jk)

[Patrik]

Looks great! Wonder if you could do metal business cards, using a thinner gage wire and metal plate... Next instructable: how to make a 20-ton hydraulic press! :-D

[hydemetals]

we are working on it.

[hydemetals]

Check out the instructable "How to make a 30-ton press"Make a 30-ton press

[jtobako]

Like this?

[hay_jumper]

You gotta love the Bonny Doon! For those that don't want to shell out the money (and there's a lot of it) for this piece of equipment, you could build your own, or, as I've done in the past, just use a bench vise and cinch it down as tight as you can. I sandwich the metal, rubber, etc between two sheets of steel, and use a pipe extender to get more leverage on the crank. There's a cheap-o way around every problem. Also, your shop and the student work on your site is great!

[supherfast]

Mr Nolte here is my homework. I think that this is a good project that inspires learning. _ Sarah I.