Homemade Press Plans Selection Advice

[the_bogamin]

Hi all,

I've been looking around for some good plans on building a homemade forging press. I initially came across Formula Jake's press build and thought it looked pretty solid until I got a message on youtube saying not to build it and that there are serious safety flaws on the design. This kind of rattled me as the press he built looked to me to be built pretty well but I admittedly know nothing about the subject above a light knowledge. I then came across R.B.O.'s press build which is what I was planning on building but with this build too, I'd think there would be some worry about safety, especially doing off-centered presses with the combo dies due to the carriage design. I know that R.B.O. has mentioned to me that he has had no issue with his design.

I guess the question is - any advice with selecting a press build and what I should be paying attention to both in plan selection, build-out, and operation?

 

[Ken H>]

I just watched both videos. Formula Jake's press is just fine - EXCEPT for how wide the space is between the uprights allowing dies to be mounted so far off center. I'd also build it with cylinder on top rather than bottom. He's got the cylinder on bottom and doesn't show any shielding/protection for all the hot scale that's going to be falling on those hoses. R.B.O.'s press looks solid to me. I've got my cylinder mounted on top and have gotten accustomed to top mounted. Other folks have mounted cylinder on bottom and are happy.

Depending on your budget and amount of tons you wish determines which press to build. I like the portable version that Coal Iron uses with their 12 ton (since it uses a 3" cylinder it's only 9 ton at 2550 psi). Depends on if you're planning to use press most everyday, or like me only from time to time. I'll use it 3 or 4 times a wk for a couple wks or so, then it might sit idle for a couple weeks. This is a hobby for me.

RBO has his plans at this like: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55107545

Here are a couple links for calculations:
how fast the ram will travel: https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/cyl_speed.htm

Tons calculations: https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/cyl_calc.htm

Stress calculations (remember to double or triple for safety): https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/stress#an-example-of-calculations

 

[the_bogamin]

I just watched both videos. Formula Jake's press is just fine - EXCEPT for how wide the space is between the uprights allowing dies to be mounted so far off center. I'd also build it with cylinder on top rather than bottom. He's got the cylinder on bottom and doesn't show any shielding/protection for all the hot scale that's going to be falling on those hoses. R.B.O.'s press looks solid to me. I've got my cylinder mounted on top and have gotten accustomed to top mounted. Other folks have mounted cylinder on bottom and are happy.

Depending on your budget and amount of tons you wish determines which press to build. I like the portable version that Coal Iron uses with their 12 ton (since it uses a 3" cylinder it's only 9 ton at 2550 psi). Depends on if you're planning to use press most everyday, or like me only from time to time. I'll use it 3 or 4 times a wk for a couple wks or so, then it might sit idle for a couple weeks. This is a hobby for me.

RBO has his plans at this like: https://www.patreon.com/posts/55107545

Here are a couple links for calculations:
how fast the ram will travel: https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/cyl_speed.htm

Tons calculations: https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/cyl_calc.htm

Stress calculations (remember to double or triple for safety): https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/stress#an-example-of-calculations

awesome. i think i'll end up going with R.B.O.'s. it looks kickass and has an awesome video of the build to boot for reference! Thanks for the response!

 

[12345678910]

Hot slag falls down.

Hoses can melt and hydraulic oil under pressure is bad, plus it's flammable.

The commercial presses with cylinders on the bottom have sheet metal guards that cover it all.