November 30, 201411 yr Well, here is update. I did not change anything since I last posted here and have used this hard. Probably made 20 billets. The fears of the railroad track bending at the neck are unfounded. There were many here that felt this would fail. Thought people would appreciate update. This is a small 15 layer billet I started today and worked through 4 heats.
December 1, 201411 yr Author Thx - I really like and it's dual propos. Though more of the naysayers would comment but either way is good with me.
December 1, 201411 yr I was glad to see this video, as I have been wondering if this would work. Now I know. So the search is on for a reasonably priced log splitter. Have you found any downsides to this project? Pitfalls etc?
December 1, 201411 yr Author Downside is slower than a traditional forge press, but I have learned to work with that - This makes a few more heats needed to accomplish task, but is miles ahead of hammer and anvil.
December 2, 201411 yr Author Iron Mike - Where are you located? I'm in Chautauqua county - Doesn't get any further west in NY than me!
December 2, 201411 yr Hi Steve, I'm in OP right next door to you PM me when you get a chance Ironmike
December 2, 201411 yr Steve, the ram doesn't seem slow from the vid. While at Robert Eggerling's shop and watching his upright presses in action with a billet, yours and his seem about the same speed.
December 4, 201411 yr Author grundsau - Maybe I am wrong - I just assumed the vertical presses were faster. Either way, this one is working well for me. thanks for looking.
December 6, 201411 yr I keep trying to add to this thread but the IFI site keeps crashing, Anywho- I converted a 27 ton sears log splitter to a press this past summer and exceeded my expectations. I removed the wedge and added a die holder to the ram. The die holder and the anvil allows me to put different shaped dies on which can add texture or be used for drawing out or bending The one you see on the press are two 2 1/2 in balls. I also have numerous other dies I have made that can imprint shapes into the hot metal. Here is a pic of the finished metal on a sculpture and another
December 6, 201411 yr Fatfudd, That is really nice and the dies are super! I have alot of machines that I have used for other things then what they were intended for thru the years, It's called ingenuity Ironmike
December 7, 201411 yr Author Fat fund - thanks for sharing.....love to see other ideas. I started making squaring dies for doing canister welds, but haven't finished them
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