Log splitter press

A

AlaskanHunter

Joined
Nov 23, 2013
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At first glance a log splitter seems to meet all the minimum requirements for a forging press. 2 stage pump for faster unloaded ram speed, supposedly plenty of power if one uses a 30 ton+. Only thing it seems to lack is a set of dies. On the plus side, one could design removable dies to use for firewood again. Also, a gas engine is much cheaper to run than an electric one ($0.70 a KWH, choke). Has anyone had success at using one as such? I can get a used one for fairly cheap (compared to building or buying a dedicated press). What do you all think, is this a moment of insanity or brilliance.
Yes, I used the search before posting this. Since I found little on the subject, I suspect there may be some problems with the idea. I can't be the first to have thought of this.


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If you look over at Bladesmith's Forum, you may see some info. I know that David DelaGardelle was using one, having seen pics of it over there. I know it's been done successfully.
 
One of the Center Cross videos has a guy using a log splitter press. IIRC, he beefed it up a fair bit. A guy I know in Belgium has a flatbed tool room forging press. I think it came from one of the gun factories in Liege along with an older English air hammer with a lebale from a Belgian importer. he also had a really nice reversible rolling mill. The one thing that I noticed about the press was that because you had a flat surface to sit the billet on and the ram pressed form the side, it seemed be to easier to keep things square. Kind of like having a three sided squaring die. Even if the top and bottom bullied a little, you just rotated 90 degrees and had a nice flat face to "index" on the surface the press bed. We made a crushed W billet and it came out pretty darn straight and true.
 
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Many smiths have converted a good size splitter into a press. Weld on extra beams/bars to the sides for strength and make die holders that attach to the ram and the splitting wedge. That is pretty much all you need to do. A 20-30 ton splitter is great, but guys have used smaller units.
Here is the type of unit that will convert with ease:
http://www.lowes.com/pd/Performance-Built-30-Ton-Gas-Log-Splitter/999924460?cm_mmc=SCE_BINGPLA_ONLY-_-OutdoorPowerEquipment-_-SosSnowthrowerAccessories-_-999924460:Performance_Built&CAWELAID&kpid=999924460&CAGPSPN=pla{ifdyn:dyn}&CAWELAID=320011480007159343?k_clickID=4b7673a0-23f5-4235-a0df-72d5a51f20a3
 
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