Was: [Source] Platinum tubing
How do you make seamless tubing?
Leslie Chapman
You start with a disc of metal and use a deep drawing die like the
ones sold for the Bonny Doon hydraulic press to produce a cylinder
with a closed end. This can be reduced in size in the deep drawing
dies till you can transfer it to a standard draw plate for further
reduction.
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80j1
James Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
Roll out a long thin strip of platinum. Cut one end to a longish
point.
Save the pieces you’ve cut off the tapered end to fuse with later.
Curve the bar in a wood or steel block. I’ve even used pitch. I like
to use a length of plain drill stock or a small ball punch laid on
it’s side. Once it’s well curved you can just hammer or burnish the
metal onto the drill stock or what ever you use for a mandrel. You’ll
want to close the gap at this point.
Roll out your scraps as thin as you can. Cut into small pallions and
use those to weld your seam shut.
Then draw through a plate to the size you want.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com