Looking at buying a Forge Press (Coal Ironworks)

kuraki said:
I don't know how I screwed my math up the first time to get the pump displacement wrong but yeah, a 4" cylinder with an area of 12.566, pumping .269 ci per rev @ 1750 is 1.6 IPS. So .66 IPS in high pressure.

If I was going to buy any of them it'd be the 16+. The 25 uses the same pump and a larger cylinder. It's going to move slower and you may not be able to use the additional tonnage. I dunno for sure. Mine is basically splitting the difference between those two. Either would probably work fine but I wouldn't want the little 16.



I run mine 3600. It's loud but not unreasonable.
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Hey, I appreciate you're help and advice! I suppose I could look into fabbing my own press, but I kind of want the 'Cadillac' model, with an open C frame, good fitting dies, and all that. I know I could probably save more than half of what I am prepared to spend by doing it by myself, but sometimes I like to buy professionally made equipment. That said, I don't just want to piss away money when there is no need to. I think that based on what I want from a press, there aren't really any other viable options in terms of off the shelf models.

Unless you think I am doing something terribly wrong, I think I will probably get the 16ton+ version. I plan to use the press to make hammers as well, using stock up to 2.25in thick. Hopefully the press will be able to punch holes and fuller/upset such material... From the videos I have seen, it doesn't look like a huge issue.

Other than using a press for making damascus, what other uses have you guys found that perhaps I haven't thought of yet?? I feel like the utility of a press is boundless... Hoping it opens up some opportunities for me!
 
I have punched holes in mine but I built it primarily for pattern welding and use almost entirely for that.

Oh and occasionally reducing other stock. It makes quick work of that especially when you're not concerned about pattern distortion.
 
JG Custom Metal Works said:
I would really think there would be more open source diy plans on the net. At least one or two. It would be nice to have a parts list to start chipping away at.

What do you guys think about using a log splitter as a base for a press?

I have a mig welder and am somewhat capable. My welds aren’t pretty, but they haven’t failed yet. I have a Lincoln 180 running flux core at the moment(I don’t have tanks to run shielding gas).
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If your having a hard time getting good welds with a mig I would probably pass of using it to build a press. Now I’m not a mig welding guy but I know in the past it was said to not use mig on a press build. I’m not familiar with that welder but it says it has a 30% duty cycle so 3min of welding requires 7min of cooling. That’s at 130amps and I’m not sure what you would need for thoes kind of structural welds. On my stick welder I was running 125-150amps with 7018 with a root weld of 6011. The key is penetration. I know migs are notorious for lacking penetration and just sticking a bead on top of the underlying steel. But I think this is more from a lack of experience then anything. So I’m not saying that welder won’t work I’m just saying presses really do need solid full penetration welds. And on 1/2” thick steel parts with a good weld prep that’s alot to fill with a small wire.
 
If you’re running ER70S wire or a 7018 rod, the welds should hold the same if they’re welded right. Smaller MIG welders have a harder time welding thick steel compared to a small stick welder. If you’re stuck with a little welder then it’s all about preheat and material prep. There’s no way on earth I’d weld a press with flux core that’s running no shielding gas. Either get a better welder and learn to use it, get someone who can weld do it or buy a press. Don’t risk your life on a weld that looks like bubble gum!
 
NickBoyle said:
If you’re running ER70S wire or a 7018 rod, the welds should hold the same if they’re welded right. Smaller MIG welders have a harder time welding thick steel compared to a small stick welder. If you’re stuck with a little welder then it’s all about preheat and material prep. There’s no way on earth I’d weld a press with flux core that’s running no shielding gas. Either get a better welder and learn to use it, get someone who can weld do it or buy a press. Don’t risk your life on a weld that looks like bubble gum!
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I have a capable welder. It’s a 180HD mig welder. Not a little 130 mig or flux core only welder. It sounds like I just need to get some shielding gas for it. It will penetrate decent as far as I know. It’ll burn hole right through 1/4” plate if you dwell in a spot too long. But I don’t profess to be an expert at welding. In fact quite the opposite. I got the thing to weld billets and random shit. So flux core welds aren’t strong enough for a press build then?

This is the welder I have:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln...IG-and-Flux-Cored-Wire-230V-K2515-1/100670932

I don’t mean to derail the thread, sorry.
 
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Don't build a press with a 130a mig welder. The wives tale that stick penetrates better than mig is due to the difference between constant amperage and constant voltage and the total wattage used to make a weld. A 130a stick weld with an 1/8" rod (at ~75v) is not comparable to a 130a wire weld with .030" wire (at ~20v) The total energy is not equal.

A 200 amp mig capable of 1/4" single pass welds is as small a mig I would use. That means 220v power since 110v machines max out at 140a.
 
JG Custom Metal Works said:
I have a capable welder. It sounds like I just need to get some shielding gas for it. It will penetrate decent as far as I know. It’ll burn hole right through 1/4” plate if you dwell in a spot too long. But I don’t profess to be an expert at welding. In fact quite the opposite. I got the thing to weld billets and random shit. So flux core welds aren’t strong enough for a press build then?

This is the welder I have:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln...IG-and-Flux-Cored-Wire-230V-K2515-1/100670932

I don’t mean to derail the thread, sorry.
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This will do it but will require good beveling and multiple pass welds.
 
If you were to run .045 flux core dual shield wire with CO2 shielding gas and proper material prep I would say your press would be ok. But you gotta know how to weld flux core. It’s different than solid wire. If you aren’t a capable welder (from the sounds of it you aren’t) I wouldn’t be welding a press up. Personally welding a press would be easy but I’ve been welding since I was 14 and it’s been part of my profession since. Weld up a few heavy plates and post some pics. We’ll let ya know if you will be ok or to run to the nearest fabrication shop!
 
Here's my press taking a chunk of 1.5x3x4 W2 down to 1x1 in 4 heats. Not that that's particularly fast, but as a measure for something 20ish tons that runs almost as fast as their 16+. .757 low .220 high 3600 RPM 4.5" cylinder, 5hp motor.

 
This is mine befor I cranked it to 24tons. Here it’s sitting at 20 tons and 1.5”/sec. I should have a better video soon


And here it is in auto mode. I did not have the retract set high enough and it was not slowing me to take big enough bites. But it really shows off the speed of a single stage.
 
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JTknives said:
This is mine befor I cranked it to 24tons. Here it’s sitting at 20 tons and 1.5”/sec. I should have a better video soon


And here it is in auto mode. I did not have the retract set high enough and it was not slowing me to take big enough bites. But it really shows off the speed of a single stage.
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Thank you for posting that... I can see the single stage doing work! I like your build. So, my question is if I wanted to say, switch over to a single stage later with the 16+ ton coal ironworks press, would it require a lot of swapping motors/pumps etc?

kuraki said:
Here's my press taking a chunk of 1.5x3x4 W2 down to 1x1 in 4 heats. Not that that's particularly fast, but as a measure for something 20ish tons that runs almost as fast as their 16+. .757 low .220 high 3600 RPM 4.5" cylinder, 5hp motor.

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Thank you for posting a comparison press, your's is a nice build!
 
kuraki said:
Here's my press taking a chunk of 1.5x3x4 W2 down to 1x1 in 4 heats. Not that that's particularly fast, but as a measure for something 20ish tons that runs almost as fast as their 16+. .757 low .220 high 3600 RPM 4.5" cylinder, 5hp motor.

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I was watching your video and it looks sped up?
 
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