aditya Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi everybody, This is my first post here. I am from the east coast of India, close to the 'Sun Temple'. I took to blacksmithing as a hobby since a year. Did quite a bit of research on the web for the needed guidance. Last March/April built a in-line treadle hammer, which came out very nice. To avoid noise pollution (I stay in an urban residential area) decided in favour of a press, and built one. This is a motorized hydraulic bottle jack press of 25 tonne capacity. The speed is around 6mm/sec. It is working very nicely. Also for practice sake, ended up making a chopper from leaf-spring steel. Have attached two photos. Hope it will be enjoyable for everybody. Aditya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I really like the shape of the chopper. Very nice. The press looks well built. Is it fast enough to forge? How big can you forge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aditya Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks 'Bob S' for the kind words. The press can handle upto 4"x4" sizes. The gap is 8" max without any dies. In the pic the drawing dies are of 3-1/2" each. I used them for drawing a 3"x3"x1/4" piece of spring steel. It took me 10/11 heats to draw it to 7" long. I have also made a pair of flat & combo dies for other uses. As already mentioned, the speed is around 1/4" per second. Its not a blazing speed, but working with the press is quite comfortable. I have put foot control for closing & opening the dies, and thus both the hands remain free. As a result I am also able to use it for cutting, punching with tools I have made. Here is a photo of other dies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 That will for sure be a welcome addition to your shop,,,Welcome to the site Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted T Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I second what Rich said! Nice, very nice. Welcome to I Forge Iron! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Johnny Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Nice, thanks for sharing welcome to IFI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Welcome to IFI! You'll find more and more uses for that press. It is very versatile for forging, punching, texturing, stamping, etc. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aditya Posted January 11, 2012 Author Share Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks everybody for the encouraging words....it surely soothes away the bruises & sprains aquired during the construction of this contraption. The top frame only weighed at 330 lbs. It is made up of 2"x3" solid steel (2 pcs of 1"x3" flats stacked). The biggest problem for me was drilling 16 nos of 1/2" holes at 4" depth. My drill's reach was only 2&1/2". And manipulating this weight was another problem. But I forget all these when I run it now. It runs really very smooth, and also seems to be quite powerful as well. At the moment I will first make all the needed toolings for it. Later will want to do some good patterned knives. I have never done any kind of smithing before. This is the first time in my life that I am doing all this. But forging and doing things with iron is so interesting ! There is so much of finer knowledge invlved in iron forging ! Will have to do lots of study and research in order to do it well. If anybody wants to have any queries about this press, you are most welcome. Thanks again Aditya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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