Anyone make a little air over hydraulic press from something like this?

Not the 20 ton, but the 12 ton. It works great. Many will say that they're not fast enough, but that's just because they're spoiled :) I've welded stainless san-mai with it, and smashed cans really thin. Sure, I wouldn't want to make hundreds of knives with one, but it's adequate for a few billets.
 
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There's another guy on youtube that made damascus with one. I haven't used one but I have a hydraulic and as atlas points out it looks really slow. But I reckon it would do the job if your not concerned about speed.

For the budget minded you might look into converting a used log splitter. I don't think either are ideal per say but the splitter looks to be faster. There are youtube videos of enterprising smiths using both.

-Clint
 
I did two billets with one. They required more heats than the old school pound on it with a hammer, but saved the wrists for an old guy with carpal tunnel. For small billets, I just use the hammer and anvil.
 
I would assume they run off of a small compressor? The description lists what the air flow has to be, but from reading about air power hammers I know that what the listed requirements are and what the actual working requirements are can be different. Can I run this off my small air compressor under my workbench?
 
I think you would need a lot of air to run it repeatedly. You might want to look into a used hose crimping machine w/pump, most are at least 40 ton ( some 100) and you can find them cheap sometimes.I think you would wreck that thing in no time, with what your planning to do.Good luck.
 
Mine is 20 tons and chews nice steel....the thing to consider is it draw a lot of air compressed....you'll need a good compressor or more than one connected to the same reservoir.
 
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