Presses

I was talking to a guy today about building my press (finally going to do it ) and he asked why not use a spring return on a single acting ram? Got me thinking... always scary... So, I'm figuring the main reason for a double acting ram is the stopping in the up position, just above the work. This reduces cycle times. Any other reasons? Thanks!!

Presses are great, but they are only as good as the tooling you have for them and how you go about switching the tooling. Attached is my stand and what tooling I have so far. Sure is good to get the tooling up off of the ground and in sight. What tooling have you found is handy for your press? And how do you attach it to your press for quick exchange?

This is a rose I made today for my mom who is recovering from surgury.

This subject has been touched on in the past. If this has already been posted could someone direct me to it? I don't seem to be able to locate anything on search. The Ryobi $300.00 electric wood splitter could be used as a hot work press. Has anyone used this particular machine for this purpose? Does the machine operate in a vertical position? Is it capable of small work up to ~1"? For the weldors out there, with the proper plunger and die could this be used as a bend test? Please note that I'm curious about the Ryobi wood splitter listed here. http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&amp…

I have an old SCREW PRESS made in early 1900's. No NOT A FLY PRESS! This is a screw press that predates hydraulic presses. It is about 6feet high,says it is rated at 30+ tons and has about a 14" diameter wheel. Smaller threads than a fly press so it moves slower,but it does have some brute strength!! Has an interesting feature. After getting close to the end of throw,you can use another long arm to use it like an arbor press! I found some thick walled pipe that fits over the working end and am going to cut it into three inch lengths,weld some discs on the end and make some tooling. Has anyone had any experience with these? Thanks, Eric Sprado,Deadwood,Oregon. You can rep…

Any good reference books? With pictures preferable. Press dies, power hammer dies, etc.

Has anyone used the punching station on their ironworker for hot work? Either punching and drifting, perhaps in one operation,if so ,what mods did you make to the punch,clearance etc? Or how about converting the punch to a press for pattern welding by replacing the die with a blank and using a flatter as a top tool. The limit switches would come in real handy to prevent overload and give a uniform surface. Anyone tried it? ideas? or is it a non starter. David

Making a simple rolling die fixture. Probably the first thing people build after they get their press going is a little “V” bending fixture. Usually weld a couple angles or round bars down and press stuff down in between them. First thing they notice is the backside gets a little scarred up. Next they notice that the material stretches out thin around the bend. Usually they just chalk it up as normal evils of the process. Well, I pondered this back before a lot of you were born. Here’s what I came up with. If you look at the drawing you’ll see it’s simply a box frame with two half-rounds captured. It consists of a four-sided frame with a floor. The half-rounds just s…

Hello everyone. Am looking for a flywheel press #5 nor #6, or a hydraulic press. I am in for piercing some holes in 2 inch square bar, and some regular press work. Stefan. [email protected] www.duerst.ca

I am looking for a used flypress preferably in CA but other nearby states would be considered as well, Nevada, Oregon I would prefer to pick it up as shipping is too expensive on something this heavy. Let me know if you guys come across anything. As far as size bigger is better

So I have spent some time working on the sub table for my bending table... This is 3' wide and 13' long to match the cast top So the 3" thick cast iron T slot table will bolt to this with 50 1/2 Cap screws.. The top is 1" plate.... I used what I had for the stiffeners... The box lookin things are 8 X 8 X 3/4 angle... the big blue chunks are 8" X 2" flat bar.. the small ones are 6": X 1" flat... the long way is all 5" X 3" .250 tube... the legs are 5" X 5" X 3/8... I am going to put a chunk of 8 X 8 X .250 sq tube between the legs as a strong back spine... This has to be up there with one of the Heavy duty tables of all time... I welded the one side to my 2" …

I saw these pictures at the NW Pa steam show on Friday. I believe this is from the Mesta machine shop in Homestead Pa.

Hi Guys, 1. Do you have any advice on what to look for when looking at a used fly press that I plan to use for smaller hot work?It is a JM Robinson #2 from what I am told. 2. If it is in good shape any idea what I should pay for it? Thanks in advance!

I was just browsing ebay and there is a screw press for sale in Charlotte, NC for $499 buy-it-now with a best offer option. Just thought someone closer would be able to take advantage of what seems to be a pretty good deal. http://cgi.ebay.com/HAND-SCREW-PRESS-ANTIQUE-Farrel-Foundry-Waterbury_W0QQitemZ120525511068QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c0fe1599c

I received a gift certificate to AMAZON.COM, so I click on over to hunt for the John Crouchet Fly Press DVD. I found it, but I wasn't ready for the cost. http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Press-John-Crouchet-Dvd/dp/B001IJYTSG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1263671118&sr=8-1-fkmr0 For those of you who must question, this is neither John Crouchet's pricing or Amazon.com.

Okay this is my home made forging press I made this press about 7 year ago and it's still going good :)

Has anyone any experience with reworking a large screw type gate valve assembly into a fly press. The paper co i work for discards large ones when replaced. Mabey a 2" screw dia. Is the rate of thread workable? Any thoughts, anyone? Humphry. Oh and Merry Christmas Everyone.

I am a reporter at a swedish heavy duty magazine and trying to get some information about the Massey press that I cam along the other day. Is it a Massey as in Ferguson? Can anyone help me?

ok so i finally got my press done... the stand is an old harbor freight press that i got a a scrap yard for 15 bucks... the top rack is a piece of I-beam with C channel welded to the side to make the slides' the bottom rack is a VERY large piece of C channel with 2 smaller pieces welded on to the front and back (this project really tested my welding skills... first time i've done anything other than just build up material) the dies are 2 blocks of 4140 welded to mild steel backings that fit in the slides i welded up to hold them. before and after pics (black top and bottom racks are the ones i made)

Formed this 1/2" plate cold under my 100 ton Metal Muncher but I'm concerned about side loading the ram. Considering building a large "smithing magician" with a couple of large linear bearings I have. Any one have a similar set up?

I'm in need of a hydraulic press and for $$$ reasons, I need to build it. The few I've seen at auction are used up junk with a high price. So, I get the basic concept that ram Dia. and PSI = force and that GPM = faster cycle times. What I need help with is understanding where is the sweet spot is. Is it better to have a 11GPM @3000 RPM pump coupled to a 1750 RPM motor or a 3450 RPM motor. There are so many variables. I would like a press that moves reasonably fast and can deliver good force, about 50 tons. I also want to be able to use the power supply for a "porta power" type set up on a jig table. But thats more of a plumbing issue for later. In short, I'm looking…

I have a 60 ton, 2 cylinder hydraulic forging press (you might have seen it on YouTube) and would love to have the control of a limit switch. Does anyone know what to buy and how to set one up? Thanks in advance for any help. Randy McDaniel

Ok... so I put forging in quotes because I know by what most blacksmiths think of as a forging press... This is actually a industrial forging press... (at least thats what I think) It makes 210 ton. Has a 12" stroke and has a 15HP motor with a two stage pump. Im not sure how much oil it moves on the fast side, but on the slow(high pressure) side it moves 14 gpm. It has 1 1/2 steel lines and the manual control valve must weigh 200 lbs. It has quick change die holders and came with a set letter stamps and a holder for them. It was used by a railroad switchgear manufaucture to mark there name in their parts... Its over 10 feet tall and a 8000lb forklift couldn't…

Ladies and Gents As the how to book by mr Batson arrived yesterday I am about to commence work on a hydraulic press. I have not decided yet to go with C or H frame nor have I come to a decision on whether to have the cylinder above or below. I intend to use this thing mostly for slitting drifting and stamping. I have the power hammer for drawing. Opinions?

Basically I've just been thinking about getting a press lately (a standard-ish one, used for flattening) So i was wondering where I could get one and how much it would cost. Yes, I realize the answer is probably on the forums somewhere, but I'm too lazy to try to find it :D