Hi guys! Failed to find an answer using search on forums, so asking here. If I use dies with radial profile it is OK and the start and end of bead look just like factory ones with proper radius finish. But if I use flat profile dies, bead's start and end are square, not radius. What is most common technique to make them radial to look like factory ones?
Seemed to be easy until I tried to do it myself with my beads The difference between dies I use and Lazze's ones is that they have round shape while mine are trapezium shaped (aprox 1 inch wide). So here are some photos of my experiment: Firstly I tried to make same die as Lazze showed in his video. Tried to stamp end of bead with it. The result is crappy I have tried to make die with taper shape but got the same bad result Any suggestions?
My guess is your tool does not have a sharp/thin enough edge. The ones Lazze is using are punches designed to cut through things like leather so they have an almost knife like edge.
The procedure is called coining. A male and female die are required. Make them to your satisfaction and weld each die to separate leafs of a strap hinge that when closed the dies meet in alignment. Slip the panel between the hinge leaves, align the dies in the proper location on the panel, close the hinge bringing both dies in contact with the panel and strike either die with a hammer (or press) causing the dies to press the shape in the panel. Some experimenting will get you to an acceptable die set. Barn door hinges come in several sizes and you want "reach" into the panel. Once the coining tool is perfected the coining is quick and easy.
Here's an idea: for the coining strap hinge, make the lower button die fully round. Make the top die with a half cutout like the Lazze die, but pinned to the hinge strap so it can rotate around. Then you have more angles you can come at the bead from, not just straight on.
The end shape needs to make up It's mind- if it will finish "trapezoid to round" transition or in "trapezoid fade to nothing" transition.
I have tried to make prototype of John Worden's coining device from scrap metal and it worked fine! Here are some pictures of my steup. Scrap car door hinge and some pieces i found in scrap metal Firstly I tried to use it with small hammer - it required a series of blows and result was not good due to some misalignment of stamp and die after each blow Then I tried to use heavy sledgehammer and it worked fine. Now I will try to make myself to rebuild test coininig setup to look fine and not to leave it as it is now Many thanks!