Hydraulic press

[Sam Salvati]

Found this big ole beast in a corner of the shop, i was not sure if it worked but had a chance to try it out and see how it worked a few days ago, works good. It is a 20 ton, with the motor and pump and reservoir underneath on the stand, 3 phase 3HP. The piston travels like 5 or 6 inches, moves pretty quick too. That's a pack of cigs for size reference. It has a bending jig in it from when it was used in the gates/fencing/railing shop, i'll replace it with a set of forging dies.

I never used one of these for ANYTHING, except a 60,000 pounder for doing some bending work. it works, plugged it in and ran it for a few and it didn't dump fluid all over or nothing, and looks like it has some guts. moves fast enough (i think) for doing forge welding and stuff, i'll try it out. I am not sure yet if I am going to use this thing like crazy or it will collect dust, or I will find myself wanting a powerhammer.

 

[TekSec]

Man, that's sweet. You can always up the hydraulics for a little more push! Pretty sure 20 tons is enough for some sweet Damascus though...

 

[Sam Salvati]

Thanks Erik! I have yet to put Hot steel through it yet, but it sure bent some 1/2 inch square cold without even revving up!

 

[A C Richards]

When I have mine running it is the main workhorse. I really like press work but I would not give up the power hammer either. Both have their uses.

Chuck

 

[Sam Salvati]

Chuck, i have never used one for forge work, what kind of things can i expect to do with it? There are the obvious things like weld billets and stuff but is there anything else they are ideal for doing?

 

[A C Richards]

With mine I can move material much faster. I can actually tear a piece of steel apart with my drawing dies if not careful. I have taken a piece of 2-1/4 round x 12" long L6 and drew it down to .3 in 3 or 4 heats. The welding is great. You get a much more positive pressure on your first weld. It can be used for intricate work also, if you are slow enough slight adjustments are easy unlike a power hammer. If i had to do it with one machine it would be a press. The power hammer works great too. The biggest asset is the heat retention. Once the dies on the press hit the steel it gets cold fast. The power hammer can seal surface imperfections in a damascus billet were the press cannot. I like the power hammer also for billets like jelly roll were you have semi loose layers and need to lightly tap them down. With a press deformation occurs from the inside, something you will need to take into consideration when doing mosaics. The hammer is a bit more even in distortions. The Press can work a significantly larger piece. Essentially if you can fit it into your dies you can work it while you need head room for the hammer. I love both my heavy movers, I almost got rid of the Hammer after I got the press but Don Fogg suggested I keep it and see if the press would do all I wanted. Well I would not give up either now. I need to set up my press again but it has to live outside right now as it will not fit in my garage (too tall). I am planning om rebuilding it or making a new one for inside. Once you get that press up and running you will use it and a lot. Good find.

Chuck

 

[A C Richards]

Also if you do art blacksmithing you can set up jigs to put into the press to do things like fish tails, balls, points, fullering is a dream with the right jig, etc, etc , etc......

 

[Sam Salvati]

Great Chuck thanks! I'll have to try and use it for alot of things to see just what i can get it to do. I was always wary of presses, they just don't seem as cool and smashy as powerhammers but i guess i just underestimate them.

 

[indian george]

Nice score. If I ever build any other press it will be a H press like that.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Before running hot steel through it, make a sheet metal shield to completely cover the motor and hydraulics. You don't want hot metal or slag falling on high pressure hoses and the belts!

That looks like a nice rig. I can't remember which maker it is ,but one of the big time damascus makers has a very similar horizontal press. His was originally used to bend muffler pipe.
Stacy

 

[Sam Salvati]

Ok thanks guys. Stacy, most of the motor and pump and reservoir have 1/8th thick guards all around them, except for on top, easy fix thanks for the heads up. I have heard horror stories of high ressure fluid injection, I don't want that!

 

[Will Leavitt]

Ok thanks guys. Stacy, most of the motor and pump and reservoir have 1/8th thick guards all around them, except for on top, easy fix thanks for the heads up. I have heard horror stories of high ressure fluid injection, I don't want that!

My former father in law lost a finger due to high pressure hydraulic fluid injection. Not good, kinda his fault since he failed to lock out the equipment.

Will
formerly known as badbamaump

 

[kibuddha4]

You just found this beauty??? Nice. You are a lucky guy Sam. I'm sure you will find hundreds of uses for it.

-Mike Sheffield

 

[Sam Salvati]

Well, I knew it was there, again i just thought I had no use for a press, which i have been proven shamefully SHAMEFULLY wrong.

 

[deker]

I want a corner in MY shop that has stuff like that!

-d

 

[Barkes Knife Shop]

Big Press Sam: I hope the floors will hold up. That a dandy one. It should do the job on whenever you decide to do. Hope you got a great deal on it. :thumbup:

 

[Sam Salvati]

Big Press Sam: I hope the floors will hold up. That a dandy one. It should do the job on whenever you decide to do. Hope you got a great deal on it. :thumbup:

I can use it anytime i want, it was just sitting getting rusty(well it would if it didn't have a generous coating of oil all over it) in the corner.

I want a corner in MY shop that has stuff like that!

-d

Deker, i also happened to "find" my 5 and 6 foot and 2 10 foot lengths of 1/2 inch round wrought iron bars too, and my two peices of zebrawood, all in the same corner. You wanna come up and show me how to squish some billets or something let me know.