the_sandy_creek_forge Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Hey everyone, I was digging around in the collective, um.... "collection" of stuff on the farm and realised that, short of a used hydraulic pump, I have pretty much everything to build a relatively sturdy forging press. If I dig around more there might even be a pump somewhere, so all I would be investing is the time, the hoses, and the fittings. My Question: I know that a forging press can be used for consolidating pattern welded billets, but is there anything else that they are practical to use for? I am just wondering if it would be worthwhile to build one (both in the time, the hoses, and the fact that it would take up floor space). I don't really do any bladesmithing, other than the occasional woodworking tool, and most of what I do is purely artistic/ornamental or practical (like making replacement part for my growing collection of equipment). The style I had in mind is a double sided (NOT and H-frame or an A-frame), with a 10 ton cylinder on one side and a 25 or 30 ton on the other side (depending on which of the two still works best). The frame itself would be made of heavy (I believe it is either 5/16 or 3/8 thick) I-beam for the central section as well as for the lower "anvil" sections. Any thoughts, tips, suggestions, or experiences would be much appreciated. Thanks everyone, -Aaron @ the SCF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trying-it Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 I have used an ax, splitting maul, sledge & wedges to split a lot of wood. A hydraulic log splitter does it faster & much easier. Now consider a hammer, anvil, and armstrong method of forging and compare to the hidden forces behind hydraulic theory. The older and less healthy I become, the more I wish I would have worked smarter not harder when I was younger! A press first, then you can start adding the tooling to do just about anything. I'm easy to find in the chat room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt walker Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 This might help. http://www.matthewdwalker.com/files/Download/MattsPress.pdf I mostly use it for damascus. The article was intended for general blacksmiths. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted February 14, 2007 Share Posted February 14, 2007 Go to the IFI Gallery and do a search for press or hydraulic press. Several ideas can be found there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sandy_creek_forge Posted February 14, 2007 Author Share Posted February 14, 2007 Glenn: Not sure if you knew or not, but i tried the search in the gallery, and the search is doing something weird ("weird" is a technical term btw:) ). Just figured I'd let ya know that it isn't working right. OR maybe I just couldn't figure it out.... -Aaron @ the SCF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Murch Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 Hello, Could someone make it easy on me and demystify this by providing a list of all the components needed to make a hydraulic press, please. Thanks T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtforge Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 You want me to list all the 30 to 40 parts needed to build one? It's basically a vertical log splitter. I suggest getting Build Your Own Hydraulic Forging Press by James Batson to see the layout and parts. A couple of years ago I landed a large wholesale account and needed some muscle quick. I went to Old World Anvils to order one. Old World Anvils - Hydraulic Press I have a Little Giant power hammer but use the press 5 times as much. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 I just picked up a 40 ton press. Amazing. I love my trip hammer but this kind of power is so much more civilized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Aaron, To answer your question, a properly designed press can be a boon to the smith but it is important that it moves quickly until kick over to high tonnage so you don't lose excessive heat in the cycle. IIRC, Batson recognized this and has it in his design and I think a two speed pump was the solution. I have a 50 ton Dake manual press but you can't do much with it on stock under an inch because it's slow and smaller material cools too quickly. This basic requirement is the reason fly presses work well in blacksmith shops - fast approach to the work combined with good squeezing ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Keagle Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 I agree, I have two presses, 15, and 60 ton...one is too weak for big stuff, and the other too slow for smaller work, the two stage pump is a great idea...now I have to sell a few knives and such to buy one, unless one turns up at my local dump (Which the "rat" allows me to do on the sly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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