KYBOY Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 We are thinking about a fly press for hot punching..Stock would be 1" to 2", the punch size would be more of slitter than a punch so your really hot cutting instead of really punching..Would a # 3or #4 be big enough? What do you think? keep in mind it dosnt have to do it in one heat.. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 So you slitting 1" long at a go or 6"? Mild steel, stainless steel, tool steels? I'd think about going with one where you can do the slitting at 1 heat or at most 2---1 per side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted May 17, 2012 Author Share Posted May 17, 2012 generally 1"-1 1/4" long slits for eyes that are going to be drifted to shape..The thickness will generally be 1"-2".. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 if you can swing it i'de go with some type of powered punch... much easyer to punch with one heat that way... ive got a #5 fly press and hav'nt got useing it as a slit drift yet .... if you figure it out the setup please post... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 For the money, I would go with hydraulic. I have what has been described to me as a #4. It has a 2" 4 start shaft and weighs about 300 pounds. I imagine it will slit that big of material but I'd rather use hydraulics because of the better power. I'd use the fly press to drift open. I'm in the process of making tooling for my fly press that will be used on thinner material. Here is a picture of 2 drifts and stripper I just finished today. I still need to make the bolster plates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkunkler Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I have a #6 (P6) press that will slit 2" round stock for hammers and would not want to use anything smaller for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Another vote for a #6. That's about the biggest size one man can comfortably operate. And, if you are only going to have one it should be a big guy. Save up and buy a new one. You can wait years and years for the one you want to show up on the used market and they hold their value well so yer not going to save that much. Get the one you want and don't look back. Best tool ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r smith Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Saw this posted by macbruce in first come thread this morning. P6 - $1700http://denver.craigs...2962515366.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Now I have a big old school H frame screwpress and I use it to slit/start to drift in 1" high carbon steel---old rock drill shaft---in one heat and it works a treat. One thing nice is that you know when you have exceeded the working time and can stop before you start cracking/tearing your stock. It really helps to have high alloy tooling---H13, S7, etc. Making your "fence" to have a gap where the slitting/drifting is going on lets you flip the piece and still hit the same spot. if your stock is too short for this you can scribe or soapstone lines around the original piece cold when it's aligned and then do pretty well getting it spot on when you flip it when hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Saw this posted by macbruce in first come thread this morning. P6 - $1700http://denver.craigs...2962515366.html O.K., so maybe you only have to wait days. :) Somebody gonna jump on that one, that's a deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted May 18, 2012 Author Share Posted May 18, 2012 I have also noticed that they hold value..Like a hammer does..Thats a nice deal on that one, shame its so far from me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 man, get it! freight's probably 300$. its the right one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r smith Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 If you buy a new one it is the same freight and a higher purchase price and this guy may have some tooling as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don schad Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 What shape cutters are you who are having success using? I have what is probably a #4 or 5, and I haven't been too happy with using it for slitting or slot punching. My cutters tend to dull and mushroom pretty quickly. I've tried slitters (sharp end) and slot-punch shapes both with square ends on the wide (i.e. not V like some of the handled punches I've seen). Unfortunately I can't seem to cut through the work very quickly, and I end up having to regrind them nearly each time. They were made from S7, forged and left to air-harden (probably in still air, not blown compressed). But the FP is great for straightening and for drifting, assuming there hole is already there. don [Edited a couple of times because it was previously incomprehensible] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 What are you slitting and what temperature do you do it at? My tooling is S1 and H13 with fairly short shafts. I dress as needed but don't notice it being worse than hand hammering the slitter through. I would say I have a more "appleseed edge" on my slitters smoothly transitioning to the drifter part on those that do. Have you tried one of the high tech punch lubes if you have a lot to do and so worth the extra effort? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don schad Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 What are you slitting and what temperature do you do it at? My tooling is S1 and H13 with fairly short shafts. I dress as needed but don't notice it being worse than hand hammering the slitter through. I would say I have a more "appleseed edge" on my slitters smoothly transitioning to the drifter part on those that do. Have you tried one of the high tech punch lubes if you have a lot to do and so worth the extra effort? My most recent disappointment was probably some 5/8 round at orange-yellow (1800F?). I did use some graphite powder in the hole but I have since gotten a bit better lube (graphite/wax mix which paints on nicely) which I used for drifting and find to be pretty effective. I've probably tried some Never-Seize also. I might try again with the improved lubing method and maybe make more of a V shape, which is what I take "apple-seed" to be (rounded, curved V)? Thanks, don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 It backs up the edge a bit more than a straight V, it's a common edge in knifemaking though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don schad Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 It backs up the edge a bit more than a straight V, it's a common edge in knifemaking though. I thought you were just describing it, but now I see it is a technical term...I searched "apple seed" and "knife" and I got it. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 Well Im trying to see if the seller would possibly ship freight..We'll see.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 seems to me Kayne & Son were selling No 6 flypresses for about $1650 and the freight was less than $200 additional Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuge Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 A p6 from old world anvils is $2275 ( the same unit as the CL ad), don't see any on the Blacksmith's depot site. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryforge Posted May 23, 2012 Share Posted May 23, 2012 There is a gentleman on another forum who uses a number 7 flypress to slit 1 inch very effectively and accurately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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