Is this wood splitter powerful enough for the use as my hydraulic press?

Dan Seaver

Dan Seaver

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
898
I want to use a hydraulic press rather than a power hammer for my work. I will be flattening chunks of bloom, welding billets ranging in size from a 6 to 10 inch knifes, and drawing out steel (using a die). I intend to modify it to be used vertical and so the ram only has to move 2-6 inches depending on the job at hand.

Here is the splitter I want to use. http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-Horizo...ryZ29520QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Seems like its a underpowered but would beat using a hammer. Opinions and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
 
The thing you have to remember about hydraulic power is that it is TONS PER SQUARE INCH. This means that for welding and for drawing small billets with small dies then this would work, but you will run into some serious limitations if you want to do anything big. In most of my operations I use 5-6 tons of effective force because of the size dies I use. Therefore to get good force out of this press your dies will have to be less than two square inches. With practice dies of this size can be used effectively on billets of less than 4 pounds. It may not be necessary to convert this press to verticla, in fact you may find it easier to use with small dies in its current position. the vertical is mostly a matter of space. I would love to have a press this size exclusivly for hot cutting billets.
Things to think about,
I hope this helps with your decision.
Thanks,
Del
 
That helps a lot, thanks. I weighted four pounds of steel and even two pounds should be plenty for most of my projects. Would two and one third tons per inch be enough to even out the differences left by a 1.5"x1.5" die? Is their a way to control the speed of the press or will it be slow enough once it is in contact with the steel to keep the steel relatively flat?

Thanks for the help.
 
For a low budget press you will probably be able to do some damascus with this one, or other things you want to press out. It's a mere fraction of a 25 ton press, but should do some thiungs well. You will have to adapt your technique to accomodate the low power, but you'll only be out $100. Heck, that just 30 foofoo coffees at Starbucks. Give it a try. I know a couple of makers doing well with a lower powered horizontal press.

I personally like to overengineer and have a bigger press, but you'll be able to do less damage if something goes seriously sideways. There wasn't enough info to tell anything about speed. You'll work it out.

Good luck,

Gene
 
Now this is interesting. You will have to let us know how this works. I really want a press. My arm gets way too tired doing damascus, but I really don't have the cash to buy a good press.

-Mike Sheffield
 
I wouldnt bother.To slow,not enough power,and possibly dangerous.I built my press from a 24 ton splitter, and had to beef it up, but it works great.I posted the pics about a year ago, check it out.Speed of the press is really important, as is tonnage.You will need to build safety shields around some things.If you look at mine, you'll see three 1/2 grade 8 bolts holding one die holder onto the ram.I sheared one off and the head of the bolt shot off and lodged itseld 8 inches into a redwood tree,40 feet away.Dangerous toys are fun but think safety first.I have since shielded anything that can shoot off.Im lucky the bolt head didnt shoot towards me,if it had,I would likely have been killed.
 
Everything about that splitter is wrong for a press. It will not work.
Too slow, Too weak, Too flimsy.
Get a 28 ton gas powered unit and it will convert just fine.
Stacy
 
Harbor Freight has those splitters also.You might be able to save on shipping through them.Let us know if it works.

Bruce
 
Thanks for that information Bruce.
I think I will try this. I intend to use at as a temporary press, if the pump system on the farm is replaced next year I can get a huge press for next to nothing. I want enough power for small work but not so much that I have safety issues like McAhron had. Thanks for all the suggestions and warnings.

I'll inform you guys once I have done some work with her. Now I just need to talk with a man about half a ton of lump charcoal at $.25 a pound.

Thanks again.
 
Please apply safety margins to whatever you build.A machine of any size can hurt you.:)
 
To recap some info:
The speed of the ram needs to be fast enough to compress the steel before it cools below welding/forging heat. Usually 3 IPS is minimum.

The force required is a product of the surface area being impacted and the requirements of the steel. On a 1.5" die with a 2" piece of hot steel there is 3 sq.in. of contact. If the force required is 3 tons/sq.in ( mild steel), that would require a 9 ton unit. The force required for HC steel is often 8 tons/sq.in., requiring a 24 ton unit. The Hp required to run such a unit is 3-5HP electric ( real HP) or 8-10 HP gas. The posted HP of that unit is inacurate....same as those 3HP vacuums.A true 2HP motor draws a lot more than 1500 watts.

The ram should be 3" minimum, 4" or more is better.

The unit you are looking at is less than 1/4 of these minimum requirements. I you aren't sure of my figures, contact James Batson, former ABS president. He is a rocket scientist and an expert on forging presses.

I am just trying to help you avoid spending a bit of money and a lot of time on something that won't work barely at all (if any). And to prevent possible injury.
Stacy

Edited:
I did not mean for this to sound confrontational.
 
Wow, could you provide somewhere that I can study more about this? I would like to learn more and I am unable to get the forum search function to work.

McAhron I intend to weld and bolt most parts in place and add shields to the machine. Any safety information would also be appreciated.
Thanks.
 
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