Forging Presses - Which one?

i4Marc

i4Marc

Joined
Oct 19, 2011
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Because I currently live in a suburb of New York City and houses are pretty close together I am ruling out a power hammer. I am probably not going to build a forging press. This subject has been discussed in the past but new models come out and maybe there are new things to consider. So.....

How much tonnage is not enough? How much is overkill?

What rate of travel is fast enough?

What kind of budget do I need to leave for dies and other tools and accessories?

Which makes and models do you have experience with and can recommend, and for what reasons? Please provide a link to their website if you can.

What other kinds of questions should I be asking?
 
I see discussion of people wanting to buy two ton electric log splitters.
I think that's just a dream. NFG, too lightly built, to weak.

Ram speed of one or two inches per second and twenty tons will be about right.

That ram speed is very very fast compared to any standard shop presses sold, so keep your shopping to specifically built "forging presses"

What other kinds of questions should I be asking?
Shipping, how and how much ?
 
Shipping, of course. Thx. Maybe customer service/support as well. I wasn't going to consider makeshift rigs like converted log splitters. I am only interested in forging specific presses made by reputable makers like Big Blu, Riverside Machine (Al Lawrence), Mc Nabb, Gilmore Presses, Etc.
 
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coal iron works seems to be popular on instagram lately, you can check out their website,
I know a few bladesmiths that purchased them in different sizes.
I don't have any real personal experience with them, but I can put you in touch with a couple people that have their press
 
I have been using a 16 ton Coal Iron works press for a few years and it does everything I have asked it to do. It is 110v so it plugs into any outlet in the shop and on big casters I can move it around pretty easily. The only think I don't like about it is the attachment of the dies. I have an older press and the dies are pinned in instead having a plate that slides in. It takes a bit of engineering and the ability to weld 1/2" plate to make your own dies. Not impossible but worth mentioning. But hey we are makers and making stuff is our game. Any press you get will be a game changer for sure.
 
I don't know who came first. I think it was McNabb. Is the Gilmore press just a copy or variation of the McNabb? I do like the McNabb/Gilmore design. Nice compact size with plenty of power, not to mention a depth stop switch.

Count, is there a reason why you favor the Gilmore over the Mcnabb?
 
i4Marc said:
I don't know who came first. I think it was McNabb.

Is the Gilmore press just a copy or variation of the McNabb?

I do like the McNabb/Gilmore design. Nice compact size with plenty of power, not to mention a depth stop switch.

Count, is there a reason why you favor the Gilmore over the Mcnabb?
Click to expand...

http://www.mcnabbpresses.com/
With Tommy McNabb’s blessings I am pleased to continue the legacy of McNabb Presses at
GilmorePresses.com

Tommy passed on September 23, 2019.
"I met Tommy while teaching Pattern Development in Damascus Steel at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 1983. He was an outstanding student and we became fast friends. Tommy and I traveled from coast to coast as he photographed my architectural metalwork. We both enjoyed collaborating on projects from his shop in North Carolina to mine in Montana. I’m proud to have started building hydraulic presses with Tommy in 2006. Tommy’s great friendship is something I continue to cherish."" - Glenn Gilmore Contact: 406-961-1861 or glenn@gilmoremetal.com

tommy's dead ?

I like the dual cylinder.

However if you want to feather, then you may need more window / stroke space
 
I've been using the Coal Ironworks 25-ton for the past 8 months and no major complaints.
I do know that Coal Ironworks is willing to work with someone and modify their design to a point. The press is my landlord's and she recently had shoulder surgery so she asked them to put the foot pedal in a different place, and I believe it's built opposite from their normal press so that she wouldn't have to use her right arm.
As far as tonnage, more is better. Smaller presses won't be able to move as much volume each stroke. I'm sure there are equations and calculations somewhere, but if you get a smaller press, make sure you match your dies to the size of the press.
On the 25 ton press, I can draw out a billet 3" x 2" on the flat portion of the combo dies without any difficulty. If it were the 12 ton I was using, I'd guess I'd have to use the drawing dies and not the flat part for pieces this big.
 
Thanks for that, Count. What length of stroke would be preferable for doing feather?

The Gilmore for example, comes with combo dies. What other die sets should be on my short list?
 
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I see Ron Claiborne's presses are not mentioned. Like McNabb he just passed away. They are listed on High Temp's web site. Has anyone taken over the making of his presses. The last post I found was dated around 2013? Just wondering. It looks like a fine press.
 
springer82 said:
I see Ron Claiborne's presses are not mentioned. Like McNabb he just passed away. They are listed on High Temp's web site. Has anyone taken over the making of his presses. The last post I found was dated around 2013? Just wondering. It looks like a fine press.
Click to expand...

Very saddened to hear this about Ron. I bought my first press from him and spent the weekend there learning it's use. He was a really great guy.

I have a Riverside now and I'm very happy with it. Does pretty much everything I ask.
 
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