...And I'm not referring to the written word. Just had a project to do to make the center post detail for pickets in another shops' fancy railing job where the client wanted everything made in the U.S.A.. I first had to make the tooling. This was done by pushing a finished piece into two pieces of 4140. The problem here was that the piece is not flat so I had to make bracing to push the piece parallel to the plates. Then I attached another plate to center the piece and to make it 90 degrees to the plate. Once the tooling was finished I had to then make up 20 pieces for them in 1-3/4" square mild steel. It took three heats per detail to squish it to the get the required detail and depth. Due to the size it was easier to do two details per bar. These will then be cut off and welded to 1" square stock. I've attached photos to show the tooling and my finished pieces.

I sure love how my press works! It's a lot easier on me than the power hammer as it is an even push not the banging that a hammer does. It is important to clean the dies after each heat as a press will push any scale back into the work.

looks great, sir! thanks for sharing

Sweet! How did you make the first original piece? Not the most trivial shape to forge, I assume. Was that also 4140?

Well done Randy, nice tool and nice products. A well set up, strong press is a joy.

Frosty the Lucky.

WOW!! Those pieces look great, Randy. Thanks for sharing the process. I may have to get a press, someday. :)

Looking good Randy. i am curious as to why you didn't swage them on the diamond. That is the way that jumps to my head to do them but I am sure you had a reason and the results speak for themselves.

Do you have to do the cutting and welding or your customer doing that?

That is Awesome! Great job Randy

The original piece was cut out of another manufactured picket. It was mild steel and not very square and the lines were on angles not at 90 degrees to the center. It took me a lot of work to true it up so I could use it for the pattern. It was easier to hold it on the flat than on the diagonal for pressing. I don't if there would be any difference in doing the parts that way or not. As it is I was doing all four corners in each press. On the diagonal the two outside corners might be harder to keep in line and to press the detail into them. Luckily the client will cut these apart and weld them together.

I've been getting some good jobs like this from other smiths and fabricators and I am open to do more. I've done many feet of Yellin style forge welded chain for chandeliers and I also am in the process of doing acanthus and other scroll leaves for the same shop that get the posts.

What a great idea! That's a super job! Well done

Lookin' good! How many ton is your press?

My press is 60 tons. Keep in mind that means per square inch so if you squish a 3" square you can see how much power you've lost. There are times where I wish I had a bigger press. You can see it in operation on YouTube. Just do a search for "hydraulic forging press".

I'm also doing some large acorns in some dies that I made.



I'm going to a knife show in Easton, PA, this weekend with my pressed bronze belt buckles so we'll see how it goes there.

My press is 60 tons. Keep in mind that means per square inch so if you squish a 3" square you can see how much power you've lost. There are times where I wish I had a bigger press. You can see it in operation on YouTube. Just do a search for "hydraulic forging press".

I'm also doing some large acorns in some dies that I made.



I'm going to a knife show in Easton, PA, this weekend with my pressed bronze belt buckles so we'll see how it goes there.

Good luck! Hope you sell buckets full. :)

randy its all brilliant - those pressed bits look amazing what a cool process youve got sorted for making it all. also LOVE those chains.....beautiful! respect! :)

Lookin' keen Randy, Just keep your fingers out of that contraption.

Thanks, Frank!

It's not the fingers I'm worried about...

Randy - looks as if that'd give you a pressing headache. :D

Thanks Randy. Now I remember why I want to build a press with sufficient guts.