A method of using a tool and die set in a press, the tool and die set including a die having a die cavity formed therein in which the die cavity extends from a top side to a bottom side of the die, at least one lower tool member of a lower tool set received in the die cavity from the bottom side of the die, and at least one upper tool member of an upper tool set being receivable in the die cavity from the top side of the die, the method comprising: filling the die cavity with a powder metal; lowering the at least one upper tool member into the die cavity from the top side of the die; compacting the powder metal in the die cavity by application of a compressive load by the upper tool set and the lower tool set by opposing upper and lower faces of the at least one lower tool member and the at least one upper tool member by actuation of the lower tool set and the upper tool set by the press to respective positions in which the die, the at least one lower tool member, and the at least one upper tool member collectively define the geometry of the preform under the compressive load; and lifting the at least one upper tool member from the die, thereby removing the compressive force and relaxing the upper tool set and the lower tool set; wherein the at least one lower tool member includes a plurality of tool members in which a first tool member of the plurality of tool members has a first elastic response under the compressive load resulting in a first amount of positional deflection of a first preform-contacting surface of the first tool member and in which a second tool member of the plurality of tool members has a second elastic response under the compressive load resulting in a second amount of positional deflection of a second preform-contacting surface in the second tool member with the first amount of positional deflection being different than the second amount of positional deflection; wherein, during the step of compacting the powder metal, a first upper surface of the first tool member is positioned in the die cavity lower than a second upper surface of the second tool member relative to the top side of the die under the compressive load and wherein, upon release of the compressive load, the first tool member relaxes the first amount of positional deflection and the second tool member relaxes the second amount of positional deflection such that, upon relaxation, the second tool member does not apply a force to the preform; wherein the preform includes a plurality of sections with at least two of the plurality of sections having different heights and the differential deflections result in partial stripping of at least one of the section from at least one of the tool members. filling the die cavity with a powder metal; lowering the at least one upper tool member into the die cavity from the top side of the die; compacting the powder metal in the die cavity by application of a compressive load by the upper tool set and the lower tool set by opposing upper and lower faces of the at least one lower tool member and the at least one upper tool member by actuation of the lower tool set and the upper tool set by the press to respective positions in which the die, the at least one lower tool member, and the at least one upper tool member collectively define the geometry of the preform under the compressive load; and lifting the at least one upper tool member from the die, thereby removing the compressive force and relaxing the upper tool set and the lower tool set; wherein the at least one lower tool member includes a plurality of tool members in which a first tool member of the plurality of tool members has a first elastic response under the compressive load resulting in a first amount of positional deflection of a first preform-contacting surface of the first tool member and in which a second tool member of the plurality of tool members has a second elastic response under the compressive load resulting in a second amount of positional deflection of a second preform-contacting surface in the second tool member with the first amount of positional deflection being different than the second amount of positional deflection; wherein, during the step of compacting the powder metal, a first upper surface of the first tool member is positioned in the die cavity lower than a second upper surface of the second tool member relative to the top side of the die under the compressive load and wherein, upon release of the compressive load, the first tool member relaxes the first amount of positional deflection and the second tool member relaxes the second amount of positional deflection such that, upon relaxation, the second tool member does not apply a force to the preform; wherein the preform includes a plurality of sections with at least two of the plurality of sections having different heights and the differential deflections result in partial stripping of at least one of the section from at least one of the tool members.