Hyd presses look neat. You can find a couple cool videos on youtube.
I however keep flashing back to several parts of my life... In no particular order
My time working in a plastics factory as a maintenance man. Those molding machines were over grown Hyd presses. Lots of noise and prone to leaking. Without fail I could be checking on a leaky line and that line would blow and I'd get my weekly hyd oil bath.
Growing up on a farm and Dad worked contruction. Hydraulics were everywhere, disk, hay mower, skid steer, dozer, excavator and a few tools dad made i.e. log splitter. Some line always seemed to be leaking and give you the occasional Hyd oil bath.
Serving in the United States Navy, my job was in the avaition field. Again hydraulics are everywhere. Nothing like riding along in a helo looking out and seeing nothing but blue water and the whole time some hyd line is leaking and its running down the bulkhead. And another line is dripping right on you. Nothing like a nice hyd oil soak..
I dont know why but I really despise cleaning up hyd oil....
My flypress is everything that you said. The "quiet" is impressive to say the least. Last summer the Mrs took a nap in the sun 10 feet away from where I was working 3/4 stock with the fly press. When she woke up her jaw dropped wide when she saw what I had gotten done.
I'm sure that one could scrounge and find parts to build a hyd press for less than what I have in my flypress. Dont forget to add in your time to build it and "small stuff" like the Hyd oil.