Working with Copper & Sheffield Plate Silver

We need to cut numerous shapes cleanly from 2mm thickness copper
sheets, some shapes will be curves whilst others may be a combination
of straight lines and curves. If someone knows of tools and or
machinery that can quickly cut various shapes from copper cleanly,
then we would love to hear more about that. Another area of immediate
interest to us is the old process of Sheffield plate, I believe this
to be an operation whereby silver and copper were fused ( laminated
together ) someone told us that it was invented in the 1770’s and was
used for silver tablewear. Our small company has to create the
equivelent of Sheffield plate, what we need is actually a bi metal
strip, being copper 1.5mm fused to .5mm pure silver, is this
achievable by other means these days or do we still have to revert
back to the old processes? I look forward to your responses and
comments Best regards from Heather Casey of Lyncre Pty Ltd Australia
@Lyncre_Pty_Ltd_613_5

Hauser & Miller Co.
10950 Lin-Valle Dr
St Louis Mo 63123
314-847-1311
800-462-7447
fax 314-487-0394

Here is a manufacturer that makes the laminate your are looking for.
I don’t have specific sizes & thickness’ they have available at hand.
Marcus Amshoff

   We need to cut numerous shapes cleanly from 2mm thickness copper
sheets 

If the shapes are a lot of the same size, you may want to investigate
pancake dies and a hydraulic press system. Susan Kingsley’s book,
Hydraulic Die Forming, would give you an idea if this is what would
fit into your situation. You can get other pancake dies which cut
internal holes and complete perimeters through specialty die
companies. Otherwise, if you feel it needs to be accomplished by a
less high tech avenue, consider getting a CutiPi table saw. It looks
similar to a coping saw, and is used by lapidaries. It is also one of
the best saws on the market for cutting sheet stock with very little
vibration and nice, clean cuts. (Don’t work for them, just observation
of others and on my “wish list”.)

   Our small company has to create the equivelent of Sheffield
plate, what we need is actually a bi metal strip, being copper 1.5mm
fused to .5mm pure silver, is this achievable by other means these
days or do we still have to revert back to the old processes? 

The best way to do this is by kiln lamination. If you’re not too keen
on doing the job yourself, one place in the states that does do this
as a special order is, I believe, Reactive Metals. This doesn’t help
you in Australia, but they are very friendly people, and if you called
them, I think they would be able to hook you up with their counterpart
in Australia.

Good luck.

Heather, get in touch with Sheltech. David Shelton makes custom
blanking dies for use in a hydraulic press, if you have one of those;
or he will also stamp your shapes for you if you don’t have a press.
He has made several dies for me and his precision is pretty amazing.
Sheltech is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I don’t have the phone number
handy at the moment, but the URL is

Hope this helps.
Rene Roberts