bronze wear plates required for Forging press?

[Ken H>]

Hello all, there are lots of folks here who have much experience with forging presses. I see that Coal Iron has bronze wear plates on all their presses where there are sliding parts. Most of the homebuilt presses I've read about seem to use steel on steel for these places. Just how important is the bronze wear plates? To me, it seems like steel on steel that's lubed good would be just fine. BUT - I know I do NOT have the experience to determine how important the bronze wear plates are.

Bronze is expensive these days!

 

[Mecha]

Hello all, there are lots of folks here who have much experience with forging presses. I see that Coal Iron has bronze wear plates on all their presses where there are sliding parts. Most of the homebuilt presses I've read about seem to use steel on steel for these places. Just how important is the bronze wear plates? To me, it seems like steel on steel that's lubed good would be just fine. BUT - I know I do NOT have the experience to determine how important the bronze wear plates are.

Bronze is expensive these days!

As long as the wear plates are removeable and replaceable, I don't see why they need to be bronze, and at any rate could be replaced by bronze versions later if the steel ones leave something to be desired.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I think the mechanics are that bronze has lower friction in a bare metal to metal contact than steel. Plus, the bronze is softer than the steel so the wear will affect the bronze, not the pillar.
Greased steel works, but the grease will pick up shop dust and scale and become abrasive ... wearing down the steel parts. The steel pressure plate can be swapped out, but the pillar wear would be permanent. A dry bronze plate would be better, as the wear plate will wear and the main beam will not.

Is using steel a big deal in a small shop home built press - NO.
It is better in bronze in a commercial press in a larger shop - YES.

 

[Natlek]

Hello all, there are lots of folks here who have much experience with forging presses. I see that Coal Iron has bronze wear plates on all their presses where there are sliding parts. Most of the homebuilt presses I've read about seem to use steel on steel for these places. Just how important is the bronze wear plates? To me, it seems like steel on steel that's lubed good would be just fine. BUT - I know I do NOT have the experience to determine how important the bronze wear plates are.

Bronze is expensive these days!

wear plates ..............that is part on machines that is intended to be worn with use and to protect other parts that are much more expensive or cannot be replaced.Just like bearings in wheels on your car .When they wear i will change them and you have again same quality on that place as when car was new.......