INFORMATION: PANCAKE DIES

sandrasirles.com  INFORMATION: PANCAKE DIES

Dies must be used in a hydraulic press.

Pancake Dies are jewelry making tools that are used to cut shapes quickly, to help you save time from endless sawing.

The pancake dies are designed to cut non-ferrous metal (silver, gold, copper, brass, nickel) 20 gauge and thicker to about 16 gauge. You will get burrs that you will need to sand or file off. This is normal!!! Complex designs with lots of detail tend to leave the most burrs. To minimize burrs, use thicker and/or harder metal. To remove burrs: Use flush cutters to trim off large burrs, a file, sandpaper, or small belt sander. If you use metal that is too thick or too thin, it is possible to damage the die.

They work best when the metal is hard. If the metal is too soft, you will get an excess of burrs and it will be difficult to remove your part from the die. DO NOT ANNEAL METAL FIRST.

The dies only work in one direction. I will send them to you pre-sprung. THE SPRUNG SIDE UP!

As long as you stay within the recommended gauges, the dies should last you many years under normal use.

Pancake Dies:

Use ONLY with full-hard non-ferrous metal (gold, silver, copper, brass, nickel)

Acceptable metal gauges: 16-20 gauge

Dies are laser cut: Cutting edges are straight, not at an angle.

All pancake dies are shipped pre-sprung, sprung side up.

Lifespan:

When used correctly, pancake dies will cut hundreds of blanks and last many years under normal use (varies from die to die depending on gauge and type of metal being cut).

General Safety:

ALWAYS use full-hard non-ferrous metal

ALWAYS use 16-20 gauge

ALWAYS center your work on the surface of your press.

ALWAYS wear safety gear!!!

PLEASE USE COMMONSENSE!!!!  

How-to

1. Insert your metal into the pre-sprung die. Do NOT insert it up to or past the two holes in the tab(s)! The die will not cut from the holes down, and you will likely damage the die and will not be able to remove your metal from the die.

2. Center the pancake die on the lower spacer of a hydraulic press. Dies will work in one direction only; THE SPRUNG SIDE UP!.

3. Sometimes the cut blank falls out of the die (most common with simple shapes). If it does not fall out easily, try placing the far edge of the die (metal side down) on the edge of a wooden work surface, and tap the back of the die with a RAWHIDE or PLASTIC mallet. Make sure to strike the die straight down and not at an angle, as doing so may damage the die.

4. If needed, use your fingers or my pancake die opener (coming soon) (the flapjack available separately) to open the die to accept the metal again.

Burrs:

Burrs on the back of a blank cut with a pancake die are to be expected. Complex designs with lots of detail tend to leave the most burrs. To minimize burrs, use thicker and/or harder metal. It’s easy to remove burrs. Use flush cutters to trim off large burrs, a file, sandpaper, or small belt sander.

Large or Bracelet Pancake Dies:

In order to use larger or bracelet pancake dies, the entire cutting surface must be covered with a spacer. After you insert metal into the die, place a spacer on top of the die, completely covering it, allowing it to easily cut through the metal.

Now go out there and make something awesome!!

COSTOM WORK:  Please E-Mail me an image and description of what you want.. I will look it over and get in touch with you and we can go from there. Price + Shipping