Presses

The previous thread was getting a little cluttered with large images etc. In case you missed it, the build thread can be found HERE. Here's a quick video of the finished press in operation. J

I have placed an order for a flypress today and I've been searching the archives for tooling and have not come across much of a consensus when it comes to steel to use for the tooling. Some people are using 5160, others are using H13 or S7 even though they may be hard to forge to shape. I'd love to find something that air or water hardens, but is a bit more forgiving on the forging side. As far as tool steel goes I really only have experience with W1 for cold chisels, etc. What do you all use / recommend?

I am looking to purchase my first fly press. I am still new to smithing but have wrist issues. I've been looking at eBay and was thinking of going up to gold machinery in Rhode Island. Im not in a hurry though So I would like your opinions: 1) I was thinking a c frame was more versatile but would like to know what most people use. 2) how large to purchase. I usually work with 1 1/2 thick and less metal 3) in the Mid-Atlantic where should I look for a press 4) what should I look for in a press I appreciate any input

Not new here but my first post.Just finished Sunday haven't had time to see how well it work,s yet!

G'day Finally have my press up and running, it worked out better than I could have imagined. One thing that I am having trouble getting my head around though is setting welds in the press. Without the quick sharp blows of the hammer to blast it all out, wouldn't the flux and other crap be caught between the layers and prevent a weld? I made up a quick billet yesturday and tried setting the initial weld under the flatter die on my press. The heat and everything was correct and I gave it a light squeeze then straight back in the fire then a heavier squeeze. Upon letting the billet cool I could see several spots that weren't welded as they were cooling at different rates. I …

More properly called a "Friction screw press". 'Bout a 6" stroke, has real impact not just squeeze. Doing about 3 feet per second at impact. The screw is 5 inch diameter about six inch travel per revolution.

Sometimes you screw up and just have to share your stupidity with others. I've been building a hydraulic press and today I finished fabricating the hydraulic tank. Being the forward thinking type, I filled it with water to make sure that it didn't leak...several hours later and and I'm good. Drained and dried, I filled it with hydraulic fluid only to discover several leaks. The viscosity of the hydraulic fluid is higher than water..... the molecular weight of the oil is greater than water. So what gives....cause inquiring minds want to know........Keith

I've spent several hours of unproductive time concerning pros/cons of suction strainers, suction filters and return filters. Seems that knowledgeable people in this field have firmly held differences of opinions. So what works in the real world of shop built forging presses used by blacksmiths. Thanks for all advise...Keith

Why is the speed of the press so important? I keep reading references to faster presses doing more work than slower presses with more pressure. I can see the dies pulling heat on thinner steel a detriment but on 1-2" steel it does not seem like it would matter that much. Do people who have presses actuated by hydraulic hand valves typically use full pressure till bypass or feather the valve? I am asking because I am looking at the positives of an electric 4 way valve and it seems that the downside would be that you cannot feather it. I am planning to use the press for primarily damascus billets. I have scrounged a less than perfect cylinder off a embossing press. It …

I think the last two presses I put in here ended up being a leatherworkers and the other a weird clamp so not much success so far. Seems beefier than the leatherworkers press and has a quicker screw than the clamp. Listed as a rivet screw press. Is that tool on it a rivet set or have I found another leatherworkers press?

I've built a hyd press with a 4 X 16 cylinder and an 11 GPM 2-stage pump but I'm stalled looking for a 5 HP motor that won't require a bank loan. I've got a 2 hp 3750 rpm motor and was wondering what the performance would be like until I come up with a bigger motor... Thanks for any advice. Kerith

One time I found a diverter hydraulic valve that was used to stop a cylinders advance by diverting the flow from the pressure side to the return side of the cylinder. useful as a hydraulic "stop" . They were made in England but i cant find them anywhere now. Anybody know what i am talking about? Where to locate one? Ben

Does anyone have any pics of dies used to hot cut bar stock or billets. I have one made from a scrap peice of I beam and it works ok, just needs dressing often. I was just wondering what others used? Thanks John

It's that time of year again, I seem to build and re-engineer one of these things each year. lol I've got my cylinder, all the little important parts and pump from my previous c-frame, the biggest problem with it was a little too much flex for my liking, so I'm back to the H style frame with a twist. I'm waiting on some 3x4"x0.25" tubing to come in, so until then the build is on hold. The principal idea is, I'm making my frame out of 3x4, welding it together at the joints and then sandwiching the frame with 0.375" plates one either side, securing them with bolts and maybe a few welds if she needs it (but I'd like to avoid that in order to access the internals of the press…

Thought i would start a new thread, could not find anything in the search. Whats everyone's opinions on optimum tonnage and ram speed for a forging press? Primarily for damascus billets, nothing seriously heavy. I am getting a little confused with the variety of presses out there. Some say 25 tonne is not enough some 35 tonne is what you need for damascus yet some say 16 tonne is enough. Some say 3+ inches per second of travel is idea while others say 1-2? Who has a press out there and whats its specs? Kinda regards

Slowy working on a press and wondered how to size the hydraulic tank to the GPM of the pump. Any suggestions/ideas/thoughts appreciated............

When I built my press, I just bought whatever was available, welded the frame up, mounted the cylinder and valves, got the largest motor with a pump attached and plumbed it up and by sheer good luck it worked. I did get a professional to check hoses,connections etc. My point is I didn't do any calcs. My son has asked me what would be necessary to move 1000kg (1 ton) through 300mm (1 foot) and back 30 times a minute. He is ready to buy the equipment necessary, I do not know if this is feasible with hydraulics or whether an electric motor and linear drive is better. If anyone is clever enough and can be bothered with yet another request for help, it would be greatly appr…

About to finish an 11 gallon hydraulic tank but want to confirm where to locate the suction and return lines and how to construct the internal baffles to avoid aeration. The tank measures 24" long by 16 wide by 12" high. Thanks in advance for the advice. PS Got lucky in that I leak tested the tank (with water) first....pin holes suck....LOL

Gents, I have a old Matthews indent-A-Mark roll marker that has a Brown and Sharpe, Double A, CircuitCenter hydraulic power unit. The unit has a 3 phase 7.5 hp baldor motor but I cannot find a tag on the hydraulic motor. the serial # is 84L-34195-4 the model# is T20P I'm trying to find out the output of the motor to see if its a candidate for a press for Damascus. Matthews discontinued the line around 10 years ago Double A was bought by Vickers and then by Eaton and my short search for B&S has not turned up anything yet. Do any of you know anything about these power units off the top of your heads? Thank you Russell

I've been looking at Riverside's hydraulic press and wondering if anybody has one or any experience using one. I've been toying with the idea of getting a forging press but didn't know if 24 ton would do what I want to do. I make a lot of hammers and would want it to punch the holes for the eyes and forge in the cheeks. I use mostly 1 3/4" and 2" round stock but would like to maybe go up to 3" . I don't know enough about presses to know if a 24 ton would be enough to do something like that or not. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks Zachary

I have a Bosch accumulator and I would guess about 1.5gal. Capacity. I was about to repurpose it into a umo Burner tank for my foundry but while stripping it I noticed just how well it was made. Said to self 'this looks expensive and too good to junk' and thoughts as to what use I could put it to? Hydraulic hammer? Like a chipper(woodpecker attachment) on TLB?

Someone is selling this on ebay, they are presumably dyslexic considering their spelling of fly press. However their spelling error means it doesn't turn up when someone searches "fly press" so it might go for cheap. Could someone more knowledgeable verify that it is indeed a fly press? I am no expert at fly presses but I have only seen them with a solid cast iron frame while this one has what looks like a table that rides up and down.

I just received this message from one of our members: Merry Xmas, Randy. I saw you wrote a book and I've wanted to get it soon. I was wondering if you'd say something about folks who say run away. As they think forging with presses is foolish? Like most any subject, I've found most are scared of what they don't understand most times. I don't know much about this type of operation and I’m very interested in any thoughts per se. Thanks Personally I’ve never heard anyone say those things in regards to the forging press, but I’ll address it for you in case that concern is out there. Hydraulic forging presses have been used to move hot iron and steel since abou…

Do you know someone that has a 70 ton hydraulic forging press that is a H-frame with a bottom cylinder, but pushes down? It has blue paint on it that says, "MASHER". I'm looking for info on that type of press. Thanks for any leads.

Well, here is update. I did not change anything since I last posted here and have used this hard. Probably made 20 billets. The fears of the railroad track bending at the neck are unfounded. There were many here that felt this would fail. Thought people would appreciate update. This is a small 15 layer billet I started today and worked through 4 heats.