Fly press ok for damascus?

[Frontiersman101]

I am getting into blacksmithing/bladesmithing. I have taken a bladesmithing class and am gathering tools for the job. I am trying my best to start of slow, but I would like to make a career out if it. I am drawn to damascus and it is the insperation of me getting in to this at all. I would like to get started without buying an expencive hydraulic press(well I couldn't even if I wanted to). Will a fly press work to make damascus? Can you get one with the tooling needed without spending more than $1,000? Thanks

 

[deker]

You can occasionally find a good deal on a fly press, but I'm not really sure how effective it would be for the heavy drawing required for pattern welding. It could be fantastic for the final patterning portions though.

I've only ever used fly presses a little bit, so don't take my answer as gospel, but I'm not certain it would be the most effective tool for the job. If you're handy (and if you plan to make a career as a craftsman you had better be...) and a good scrounger, you can put together a small to medium hydraulic press for about $1000 though. You need a good scrap pile and a good scrap yard nearby though.

-d