Quick question.
Has anyone here successfully used an arbor press in the blacksmithing world for fullering, flattening, etc? I realize you couldn't use a wimpy little China freight one, but one with some uummf.
Any thoughts would be as usual welcome.

Phil

I know several people who use a decent sized arbor press for putting maker's marks on pieces, but I dont know anyone who uses them for any sort of forging, for that you'd probably want a screw/ fly press.

Its kinda slow and clunky seems that I always need some one else to help holdin an pullin.

But with the correct tools it may work if you only want 1 squish at a time.

I've got a good sized arbor press, but I've never used it for anything in blacksmithing yet. I got it for free and it just sets on the end of the bench in my other shop (not in the blacksmith shop). The only thing I've used it for was as a Kydex press when I made a couple of sheaths.

Steve

I have a friend that forges professionally. He originally got an arbor press when he was starting out, to see if he could fuller or butcher hot steel. He doesn't use it for forging now, so I'm guessing it didn't work too well.

if im thinking about the same thing as you ..... you wont get the 'return of energy' that you get from a fly press, its essentially a vertical rack and pinion, ive got one gathering dust somewhere, and thats all it does (except broaching the occasional keyway)

On a flypress you can 'bump' which allows you to draw-out / strike multiple blows without to much (excessive) input on the handle, they give you a little bit of your input back for 'free' on the ram return 'up' stroke.

Ha! Some distinguished guest directed me to this thread. I tried to use my three ton Famco like a forging press, and shattered the hub on the cast iron handwheel.  That convinced me that it was time for a flypress.

Robert Taylor