Multi angle bevel dies for the hydraulic press.

[Fred.Rowe]

The dies are ground 60/40. Sixty flat and 40 beveled. The slanted end is ground at a 4 degree angle on each die. When there mounted in the press it gives an 8 degree inclusive angle.

When you lay each die out it "must" be welded in such a manner that the dies match up when reversed.

The dies are mounted and are set with the 8 degree inclusive angle on the right.

Below the bottom die has been reversed which gives you a 4 degree angle on both sides with an 1 3/4" flat in the center.
This set up makes pressing the bevels and keeping the flat areas flat easy.

Above is a days forging using 1/2 x 1 1/4 x 6 inch W2 flat stock .

 

[East Branch Knives]

Those are awesome! Are they 4140?

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Yes they are 4140. When I bought the press I got two sets of 2X4 flat dies. One set I made into drawing dies, with the radius-ed crown, the other I ground into this set of beveling dies. It speeds the forging process by 30 or 40 percent. I always liked forging blades on the Big Blue 100 lb air hammer, but since I got this set of dies made up, I prefer the press, much more controllable.

I'm working on a way to rotate the drawing dies so they sit both cross ways in straight, that way you can draw length wise or across the blade if you need to widen the stock.

I'm getting a few years on my so less hammer work on the anvil, is a positive.


Thanks, Fred

 

[jdm61]

Fred, I have a set like that. They are 3 inches wide, so my 18 ton press is not really powerful enough to get a real good bevel stomp unless I nibble, but what they are REALLY good for is getting the edge and the bevels dead nuts straight when you are cleaning up the forging. That alone is worth the price of admission IMO.