Den Haan Rotterdam fabricates products from brass, copper, stainless steel and galvanized steel since 1922. A lot of fabricating processes are changed or lost over time. But we are proud to keep the art of tinsmithing in Holland. We do not strive to put a sheet of metal in a CNC machine and take an oil lamp out of the machine after a few minutes. With our machines we can do all possible fabrication techniques in sheet metal working. A lot of these techniques require skills and knowledge which is almost, if not already, forgotten in most parts of the world. In the “Craftsmanship Series” we try to explain the different techniques we use to produce our oil lamps. So the knowledge is passed on and DHR keeps the craftsmanship alive.We try to make the different posts in the correct order in which an oil lamp is made. Starting with a sheet of metal to a finished product. All different techniques, including photo’s of the machines and some sketches, are displayed.Starting the first of this series with a flat sheet of metal, fresh from our supplier.
After it has been delivered to the factory, the sheets need to be turned into working blanks. This is done with an mechanical, flywheel operated press. A very heavy piece of machinery that is capable of cutting the working blanks from the sheets, also known as blanking. Which is the opposite of punching. The difference between Blanking and Punching is what part of the metal sheet is for working and what is scrap.