In this section, we'll cover the basics that will apply to both projects (cocktail picks and stirring sticks) in this course.  The focus of this class (when it comes to impression dies), will be pressing solid.  This means you are going to press a solid piece of metal into an impression die, and get a solid impression in silver from your die.  While you can press sheet metal rather than solid pieces, that will not be the focus of this course.  You'll learn to recycle silver scrap metal into small ingots which can then be pressed into impression dies.  You'll also learn how to remove excess metal from those pressings through sawing, filing, and sanding.