I Tried Minting My Own Challenge Coins for Veterans

[@joshua43214]

I have two thought: Striking coins is called "striking" for a reason. I would consider rigging up a trip hammer of some kind - it just needs to be something very heavy that falls straight down. Yellow metals work harden the moment you put pressure on them. Fully annealing the blank is very easy, and it will come out of the hammer hardened. Thank you for your service :)

[@wargamingsupernoob]

Justin, thank YOU for your service. Went through school with vets, and now I work with one. Always amazed at their commitment and forever have my gratitude.

[@BeefaloBart]

About 15 years ago, my house was broken into. The thief stole several guns that were not in the safe. They stole other things but they stole my woobie and challenge coin. The coin was from my time in Berlin with the Army from 88-90. That is something that cannot be replaced and that I miss dearly. Being in Berlin (6 Batt 502nd Inf, HQ and C company) I made friends that I still keep in touch with today. And that little coin was something I cherished and reminded me of my days there. So they are not just pieces of metal, they are tokens from a period of time in our lives.

[@glenpiro313]

The guy knew enough to steal your coins and your woobie, two of a vets most cherished items, zero question there. What an absolute freakin scumbag. I hope your Veterans Day 2024 was a much better day. I have been celebrating Veterans Day since 05November2024!

[@projectbrewsky2048]

If you can find a fly press or someone who has one, that may be an option to try. For such a simple machine, they can exert an incredible amount of pressure Pass on to Adam that the Marines may guard the gate to heaven, but the Seabees built it 😆 Thank you both for your service from an active duty EO

[@ifnotnowwhen6914]

I can never say "Thank you for your service" too much. Without guys like you, guys like me wouldn't be living with the freedoms we have. Thank you ALL for your service.

[@hexinli]

Thank you gentlemen for your service. My father was a sailor in WW2 in Manila Bay and my best friend an Army vet from Desert Storm. You have my eternal gratitude.

[@richardwindsor60]

When I was a pup, I made Navy medals in fine gold. I used a drop hammer, weighing possibly 20 Kg (45 lbs) and falling approximately 1.5 metres (5 feet) The die and coin blank had to be cleaned scrupulously and the blank annealed, initially and then after every strike as it work-hardened. I could get a really good medal in 3 strikes from memory. It was a painfully slow process, working in a dirty open industrial building (no clean room in those days)

[@FrequencyOfThought]

Thanks for your service brother, (I know repetitive haha). Glad to see you still fabbin away.

[@chentepadilla1503]

I haven't read through all the comments. To see if anyone had mention anything about one of the most important things that many people forget to do when pressing coins or when your making a ring from a coin. But you should always anneal a coin blank (the metal disc before it's struck) before pressing it in a die; this process softens the metal, making it more malleable and allowing the design to be properly imprinted during the striking process without causing damage to the coin or the die itself. Also thank you for your service and for making all these great video that have helped me over the year to improve my welding skills. But I've watch many different channels on KZbin over the years an one of your videos really did help me decide on which typ of welder to get when your on a tight budget but need something that can get the job done an a little bit more ,not going to say which one I purchased. Ut It's still working perfectly . Once again thank you.

[@robertdinicola9225]

The plate under the dies is not strong enough. Try annealing the brass to make it dead soft.

[@daveettel4750]

Thank you for your service and all the great content, I have learned so much from your channel 👍👍

[@lazyhoundracing9621]

40% SC disabled squid here 76=80. Thanks for taking the time to work on this. I'm confident you will get it figured out. I learn a lot from your channel. I'm building a Drag and Drive 53 Chevy pickup for the 8.50 class and your videos help me a lot.

[@kurtpalmer3674]

Use a large ball bearing with a circular recess in the punch and a fitting to make a circular recess on the press that way the press is pushing evenly across the ball so the punch can square it self with the die, not sure if it will work but it's worth a try 👍

[@CL053DC45K37]

That's awesome of you to do. I'd love to get one. I'm an Army Vet and I have no issue paying for them.

[@glenpiro313]

I second this

[@dan4653]

Only experience with a coin press, was reading about someone's build of one. I remember the design limit was something like 500 tons...

[@nunnas5393]

Do it the old way of making coin's, use a swing press (bloody big hammer)

[@kennyburgess1756]

You'll learn the hard way by leaving the handle in the chuck

[@boblalonde8661]

Have you ever been to a renaissance fair where they strike souvenir coin blanks by dropping a weight on them? How much force is that?

[@rusty_restorations36]

I suspect you need to anneal the blanks

[@chrischrismon]

Thank you for your service sir

[@n1352-m1i]

What about drilling a center hole on the back side and using a big bearing ball to center the load so as to not being skewed by the bent press?

[@RollinMyOwn]

When used to run a press the thing I'm seeing isn't in yours .all the dies used to have a spring to help with evening the pressure across the item. With your press figure out what way is the furthest press down and after the 1st press of thw coin rotate the whole thing and press again... if ya understand what I am trying to describe. Just a couple things I was waiting for you to see.

[@bdpgarage]

Polish the face of the die before laser engraving it or the tool marks will transfer over to the coin (unless you aren’t stamping full depth). You might try an air hammer setup so you get lots of lower pressure strikes on the coin? Would need to make sure the die doesn’t rotate in the process.

[@petroelb]

Have you considered using a vacuum chamber to degas the coin?

[@TwoFeatherChannel]

at least you gave it a shot.

[@Jeepster395]

Just watched video. The Canadian mint presses their 1oz gold coin with 133tons, quarters are half that.

[@Anthony-d2e8v]

I feel like you may have thought of this, since it's so simple, but maybe press it a second time after spinning 180? If it's a consistent angle would that not even it out?

[@PaulStaples-h2f]

Great video, you need vintage machinery keith's 50 ton press he recently fixed.

[@TurboChicken313]

not to sound dumb. would a dimple in the top surface of the upper die and a bearing remove the angular force of the twisted press? similar to using a piece of round stock to clamp a part against the rear jaw in a mill.

[@wcmwfab935]

What a fun project

[@Fallingromans]

Would it help if you heated up the brass?

[@JonesMetalCraft]

Looking forward to the 100T press build!

[@ghostdog662]

My main question is why don't you remove section of the press that is bent, cut off the bent part, true it up in the lathe, and weld it back?

[@jacobjames1171]

I want to know who stamps al the cool colored, anodized, aluminum AA coins?

[@francisconunez1887]

I wonder if an arbor press would be better suited for what you got going on

[@gixxerkid3120]

I actually did the same thing to my press in the same spot, we were trying to bend 3/8 plate with the swag offroad break and a modified HF press with the 20 ton air over hydraulic jack and bent it in the same spot...lmao

[@nickshimondle2105]

Was there a course that you could recommend to learn onshape? Thank you

[@xtremeownagedotcom]

I have been working on making coins for a few years.... Casting coins works, pretty quick, problem is, its not as sharp and detailed as I want. I have everything setup for pressing the coins, but, don't have a good way to make a die. lol. Also- Thanks! from army vet.

[@boblalonde8661]

Where did you get your coin blanks? Make your own?

[@ArtByAdrock]

Not being able to stamp them is rather dePRESSing but a zap zap instead of a bop bop will be just as good

[@kermit2999]

Forge and a hammer, made plenty for the local Blacksmith club.

[@cest7343]

Did you try use a vacuum chamber?

[@neffk]

Coins are hard to make which has historically been a security feature.

[@michaelyoung7261]

The small coin press die can still be used. Just smack it with a hammer! They’ll me more unique and not uniform, but that’ll just add to the charm imo

[@KarKamp]

I guess the real question is if you ever actually figured out that the Milwaukee die grinder has a setting on the back of the head that if pressed gives a’guy 4 different power settings if I’m not mistaken!!

[@KommieCid]

Please please let me know when you come out with a coin. This was my last (Canadian) remembrance day in uniform, and I'd love to aquire probably the most unique challenge coin that'll ever turn up at the Legion

[@1SSniper]

I'll take the Lt. Dan special coin please and thank you very much hahaha Orahhhh!

[@transmitterguy478]

Shim the bottle jack back straight again. Then keep everything on the centerline.

[@nigelsmith7366]

Jason from fireball tools is a fantastic guy

[@4speed3pedals]

What happened to the R2D2 welder you are going to refurbish? I call it R2D2 because of the housing shape.

[@jamesretired5979]

Drill a small pocket in the back of the top die and use a ball bearing to push on.

[@NorroTaku]

Smart idea!

[@ypaulbrown]

Remember, you Coin Coins….

[@carlbyington5185]

Couldn't you just use a big ball bearing when pressing, so it divides the load ?

[@57moto59]

Make a video and maybe sell some DXF files to build a press. Wider than the HF so we can run some of the wider swag off road press brake kits.

[@NorroTaku]

Add is a superpower coming up with things But follow through is always harder 😂😅 Helps to have a buddy with the opposite skillset😁

[@ypaulbrown]

Justin, always causing…trouble…..I tried embossing Pennie’s on to one another in a 42 ton iron worker…it embossed Image into the A36 plate……cheers, Paulie Brown

[@tritonwow]

I think a trip to the Philippines for research might be in order! 😂

[@luketalkin5000]

Make a project video making a coin press from an 80T jack and a welded frame designed to hold the dies. Bench top project, bench top press.

[@jensonhartmann3630]

Can we get a "BOP" shirt or something?

[@Ma_X64]

To eliminate press angle you can put a big bearing ball between the pressing element and the die. But it would be nice to put some metal protection around such a device in case the ball decides to fly off or crack.

[@KC9UDX]

Just do what the government does when minting coins. Make the numbers up and tell people there is money. Thank you for your intent to serve our country.

[@davegt27]

go TDY to South Korea and walk into one of those shops and get some made, cost me $340

[@stuartkorte1642]

I suggest using gold and giving one to each of us viewing the video. 😊

[@PoodlePuncher]

Challenge Coin? I know them as "Butt Nuggets"... 🤣

[@dragthatsht]

We've seen your hair, we know you were a sailor.😅😅

[@andrewelliot9723]

Anneal the brass ?? ----- or find something softer ?

[@mikelawler2278]

If Adam has the fiber laser, why strike the coins as opposed to engraving them?

[@philipershler420]

Find someone with an XTOOL F1 Ultra Fiber Laser and have them engraved. This system can produce amazing results. But sorry 😢 I’m sure it’s too late for this year’s Veterans Day.

[@theatomproject007]

Yea. It works well. It takes for-ever and you REALLY need to also have their new air purifier, but the combination is a real amazing tool for right around $4000. I just picked one up and I'm really happy with how it works. Today I'm printing stainless steel dog tags with color using the Blue laser and making stand up name tags from metal business cards for Thanksgiving. The advantage of the method of laser engraving the negative of the coin is that it will totally work for thinner materials... Say you want a custom metal logo over your center wheel caps... make the negatives as the die and stamp the design into the thin metal. Many late model GMs use a plastic cap with a thin metal piece over it... also the same idea for the steering wheel emblem.

[@maxheadflow]

Harbor freight presses aren't very square to start with..

[@NorroTaku]

Gotta love that sonorous/raspy voice Guy probably never smoked a cig in his life But welding does it🙈

[@smashke]

You should’ve put your hydraulic press in a vacuum chamber….

[@samellowery]

"I a sailor " called that the minute you said you served. Should use a drop hammer.

[@waitemc]

Lazer engraving. The only ez u will need

[@mikesalm5053]

You need nozzle jell for that lol

[@peterreed2685]

You need to press in a vacuum chamber

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

...while simultaneously lubricated in nozzle gel 😂 Thank you for this comment!

[@the_ure]

Heat the brass!

[@wallbawden5511]

You need to use an air hammer like the ones a modern black Smith uses and hit it hard one time then it will work You can thank me later when you have it tried Cheers from N Q AUSTRALIA

[@mikecassavant7732]

Why not make yourself a Davinci coin press like you see at ren fairs, lots easier and cheaper and they work great.

[@bendsum]

If the die wasn't flat then tour engraving eas most likely off also. Ran a fiber laser several years. Would have been fast on the laser but not as entertaining.

[@magic4221]

ANEAL the brass.

[@wingnut2893]

Well, it went Just in.

[@ThePirateGod]

coin press needs high impact like with a power hammer.

[@kathysarmcandy1992]

As soon as I saw the build, power hammer. Like Alec Steele's new steam hammer beast. Yeah, Justin needs one for the shop. Even if just to smash cans.

[@heyyou5189]

Coins are currency issued by governments. Medallion or round is proper term. Really cool process.

[@SWResto]

Hmm I was wondering why you did not just Laser cut the coins ??

[@epluribusunum5405]

That's how stuff gets broken. By using in manual mode 😢😢.

[@TheFabricatorSeries]

It breaks worse in auto mode as well when you tell it to do something it shouldn't.

[@richg.8092]

You need a power hammer. Coins are struck not pressed.

[@MrKidkiller159]

You need a bigger press

[@solicitouscomics9478]

I have to say thank you because if it was not for men like you i would not be here.

[@paulp9255]

Cheaper to buy fiber laser.no dies needed.more efficient

[@_droid]

The video shows them cutting the dies with a fiber laser. Not sure why they didn't just cut the coins with the laser (too slow?). Anyway, if they do want to press them then hammer forge is super fast and easy.

[@minigpracing3068]

BFHammer and whack it hard?

[@martykath4427]

That's not a press, it hasn't been engineered properly. A real press can't be overloaded. It has a valve that bypasses before the structure in damaged.

[@MikeHarveyPhoto]

Fly press

[@jackgoodell5574]

Take a 10 lb or 20 lb hammer and strike the round piece of metal on the ass end of it why do you think they call it striking a coin at the mint they don't say pressing the coin. Notch where you can only go so far around stop they probably is unnecessary

[@daner.d]

heat up the coins then the press will work

[@ThatGuyWhoIsStillHere]

Semper fi squid

[@C3DPropShop]

Dont think I've ever seen your channel, but it was served to me today! Happy Veterans Day to the both of you. Hope you get the coins figured out cuz Im like a dragon collecting his gold over here and would be happy to scoop one up. Airborne! 🪖💣🔫🪂