Min. tonnage for hydraulic presses

[blackboogers]

For those of you who know. What do you feel is the min. working pressure for a hydraulic press. Or what is the best. I looking to make mosiac and the like. I'm thinking at least 20 tons. I will be making the press and I'm pricing out the pump and cylinder. If I know whats a good working pressure I can engineer backwards. Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[mikeS]

press link

 

[B . Buxton]

BB,

I'm no authority, but another guy and I just built me a 25 ton press. I've been working it a great deal since I've had it and I'm glad I went 25 ton. 20 ton, I'm sure would be alright but you would have to take smaller bites and use more heats. The cylinder was only $200, and I'm sure a smaller cylinder stout enough to do the job wouldn't be that much cheaper. Your going to love it when its finished.

Good Luck

Bill

 

[Bruce Bump]

Boogers, I think 25 ton is minimum. 20 ton should work fine but when you work big round stock down you want some real power. Mine bounces off the pop-off at about 30 tons. Bigger is better if you can adjust the pressure for doing fine forging. They make easily adjustable pop-off valves, mine I have to take a cap off and use an allen wrench. I want one with the knob I can turn by hand.