The world of die forming has changed a lot since the book was first published in 1993. The process was dismissed by many Metalsmiths who associated it the mass production of boring jewelry. They didn’t yet realize the creative possibilities of die forming for studio artists. Today, thousands of makers all over the world are making dies and using their hydraulic presses for bending, blanking and forming metal. There’s no longer any doubt that a press can be used in a million ways. Getting the most out of this tool requires skill in die making and learning the different ways a die can be used. This book explains the principals of die forming and has been used as a text in schools with metalsmithing and jewelry programs throughout the country. It is suitable for beginners with a basic understanding of metals and jewelry making processes as well as an introduction for experienced metalsmiths.
Today there are multiple press designs available and new sources for materials and equipment. A few accessory tools described in the book are no longer made, but there are hundreds of new ones that add more versatility to metal forming with a press. It's not within the scope of this book to cover the many new tools and accessories that have become available and there are numerous online videos that explain and demonstrate their use. The book offers practical advice on hydraulic equipment, basic information about the materials and processes, and step-by-step directions for making and using dies. Lists of jewelry and metalsmithing books, craft organizations, local guilds and other resources have all been updated in the Fifth Edition. It also has larger photos, updated illustrations and an enlarged gallery section of work produced by different artists .
Susan Kingsley is an independent studio artist, metalsmith and photographer who has taught numerous workshops in die forming throughout the United States and Canada. She earned a Liberal Arts degree from the College of Wooster and an MFA from The Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work has been published and exhibited widely and is in private and museum collections. Her metalsmithing and photography can be seen on her website, SusanKingsley.net
What’s inside?
• processes designed for small shops and studios
• step-by-step instructions for making and using dies
• instructions for unique pieces, editions or prototypes
• directions for building a press without welding
• list of suppliers suppliers for presses,
hydraulics, materials and tools
• directions for making steel blanking dies
• info about accessories for bending and tube making
• info about urethane, acrylic, delrin, epoxy and tool steel
• beautiful examples work by successful artists
• more than 140 photos and illustrations
• tables of calculations, measurements and ratios
• a list of jewelry and metalsmithing organizations
• list of new and classic jewelry & metalsmithing books
• an index to find what you are looking for
• a glossary of terms used in dieforming
What a few Amazon customers have said:
"If you are looking for this book, you already know that this is "Da Book" on Hydraulic press forming and die making."
"The best forming book for hydraulic die use written. Fabulous resource with an amazing amount of information and easy to follow instructions for all aspects of forming metal. A must have for all metalsmiths and jewelers."
"Several of the tricks and techniques discussed in this book are things I've discovered only after doing it for many years and will save the new-comer to the process lots of failures and frustration."
"Susan Kingsley takes you by the hand and leads you to a higher level of metalsmithing. A perfect addition of shapes and dimemsion to my existing work."
"Although the title sounds like a technical tome, this this book has a strong emphasis on the creative uses of the hydraulic press for forming and blanking metal. Kingsley explains how to easily make your own dies from a variety of materials. This is an excellent book for the creative metalsmith, jewelry designer and artist. It provides the technical information you need to use hydraulic forming, and offers a variety of techniques that will expand your creative reservoir."