JC week 8 : pressing images into brass

NB: journal entry for the Jewellery and Small object module at South bank Griffith university (QCA) to view the full journal click here

NB: journal entry for the Jewellery and Small object module at South bank Griffith university (QCA)

The following is the process for pressing paper images into sheets of brass

The results of Pressing brass sheet metal using paper.

The intended paper to use is snowden 300g paper. This paper is being used for its texture, thickness and density. This effect is achieved using a roller press ( discussed in previous posts )

roller press

Step 1: 

cut out paper panels that match the size of the brass panels. For this project I intend to register the paper with the brass panels and attach them with masking tape ( making sure that none of the sticky surface of the tape touches the rollers as it may damage the rollers )

NOTE: tape cannot normally be used as it leaves a mark on the metal surface

Transfering the images onto the snowden paper, sunlight and a window can be a great light box.

Once transfered the images were then carefully cutout, any errors will appear on the pressed metal

To transport the paper cutouts (which are very delicate) I had to tape them down in the box.

 Step 2:Pressing the paper into the metal sheets.

The image are attached to the brass sheet to be pressed with masking tape on the bottom edge. This method is not normally recommended as it leaves a mark BUT it is suitable here as the bottom edge will be concealed. Note also to make sure that none of the sticky suface touches the rollers as it may damage them

The sheets of brass are distorted after being run through the press as seen in the right hand side brass sheet.

This distortion means that the panels need to be annealed then pressed flat before cutting to the correct size.

 Step 3:Pressing the sheets of brass flat.

The sheets of brass then needed to be flatted so that they could be recut into the correct size.
Its important that every step of the metal manipulation that it is annealed.

Using the Hydrolic press the metal is then reflattened using 2000psi of pressure. Note that the thin green sheet facing the pressed images has been used in this process, this is to preserve the images pressed into the metal surface.

First test was at 1000psi , the recommended/used was 2000psi which was sufficient to flatten the sheets

Step 4: Cutting the sheets to size

Once annealed and pressed flat a template was made for the panels so that they could be cut to size
The cutting machine was then used

Above: These are the final panels to be used in the final project. They have also been cleaned using the citric acid bath.

 Additional notes:
The first panels ie the "marriage and fatherhood" ended up with some shadowing from the pressed sheets. BE CAREFUL WITH THE PLATE YOU USE FOR PRESSING METAL. any marking on them will come onto the surface you are embossing. Both panels are damaged in some way due to this "ghosting".