Press or Hammer: Which is Better?

jhiggins

jhiggins

Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Messages
3,258
I'm thinking of building either a hydraulic forging press or a power hammer of some kind. There are a lot of questions I have that still make me wonder about what would be the best choice. So many things I want to do, yet so little time. Which one is better? One will squish the steel, while the other strikes it - hammers it.

Which one is cheaper to operate?
Which one is more accurate?
Which one is faster?

:confused:
 
Years ago Rex sent me an article describing an industry experiment where in they described the the resultant grain structure from a press, roller and hammer after working down stock from the same bar. When it came to grain refinement and stuff I feel is important to a knife the hammer won. That does not necessairly mean you can't make a good knife blade from the other processes. I figure this is in reference to accuracy. That comes from practice.
 
I don't think I could do without either one. I consider the hammer my "speed" and the press my "precision." I can do things with the press that I can't with the hammer, and vise-versa.
 
Gee thanks for the input, but you guys are killing me! :D Guess I'll have to make a press and THEN a hammer. :D
 
I'm with Bill and Ray. I've worked on quite a few hammers and quite a few presses... which is why I ultimately knew I wanted both. BUT... to start off, I think the press would lead the race as per benefits.

Another side note... building a GOOD hammer is really difficult. Bill here is one of the few that has succeeded in this task. I've seen MANY a home built hammer that were weak, wild, and eractic... none of the things you want when working hot steel!

So get both Jeff! :D
-Nick-
 
Raymond Richard said:
What you need is a hammer/press so lets get working on it. There's pro/con's for both.
Click to expand...

HMMMM... Jeff ?? Michine shop :confused: HMMMMM
yeahup about time for a hammer/press I'd say.. :D



you just need to add a jack hammer to a press right? :confused: :p
 
I don't know how much research you've done but there are plans available on ebay that can show you how to build a hydraulic press. The hammer looks like a much more difficult project for a backyard mechanic type, but I haven't seen plans for those yet. A third option is a McDonald style rolling mill, basically rolls the metal out to lengthen it with minimal sideways growth. Probably a lot more limited in terms of patterns but also probably cheaper and simpler to start with??? I'm going to try one later this year, then maybe move on to the press.
-Jeramy
 
grawulf said:
I don't know how much research you've done but there are plans available on ebay that can show you how to build a hydraulic press. The hammer looks like a much more difficult project for a backyard mechanic type, but I haven't seen plans for those yet. A third option is a McDonald style rolling mill, basically rolls the metal out to lengthen it with minimal sideways growth. Probably a lot more limited in terms of patterns but also probably cheaper and simpler to start with??? I'm going to try one later this year, then maybe move on to the press.
-Jeramy
Click to expand...

:p there's a ton of that stuff right here Jeramy
and in the minds of these guys :)
jeff was I think asking the why reather that the hows :D
look here if you'd like to look at some of the info we've biult from this Forum.
http://www.knivesby.com/knifemaking.html and there is so much more...
 
I have the Batson press-building plans. I think that's how I am going to proceed. I like a C-style press, but I admire the strength of a H-style press. I've seen IG's press, which is a C-style press, break while that big moose of a man, Ray Richards used it. I think an H-press is in my future.

That said, I was considering alternative methods of powering it, thinking of perhaps saving some money on electricity. I thought about possibly using a gas engine, but the price of gas is way through the roof, and maybe going to get worse. They jack the price 50 cents, and lower it 25, and leave it there. Rita is going to hammer the prices back up there and we are going to see prices eventually stabilize higher than what they are right now. So I guess a combustion engine to run the hydraulic pump would be out of the question.

An electric motor would seem to be my only alternative.
 
Elec motor is the way to go the cost would be way less than gas and some thing you have not thought of is the pump running all the time will heat up the fluid and it will lose it viscosity not good .you would have to have a very large tank to keep the oil cool or a cooling system very costly . the machine is only turned on when your ready to us it but if you like cranking gas motor every minute go with it but im thinking you want to do that .
I to would if I had to have one or the other even though I like both I would stick with the press,
Bowie
 
their is a new hammer going around that runs on a rubber tire might be worth looking into .they have workshops to build them im thinking its Abana. good looking machine and homeshop buildable
 
jhiggins said:
I have the Batson press-building plans. I think that's how I am going to proceed. I like a C-style press, but I admire the strength of a H-style press. I've seen IG's press, which is a C-style press, break while that big moose of a man, Ray Richards used it. I think an H-press is in my future.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good idea. At IG's last party (where were you? :D ), Mike Spengler said that they've had some problems with uneven pressure with Bertha because it's C-style.

Dan Pierson
 
I built a press (H model) from the Batson plans. Also have a 100 lb. Little Giant, and a Blu air hammer. I probably hover around my press more than any of the others, except when I need to do something in a hurry. This would be drawing out a large stacked billet with the least heats. I could live with the press alone though, plus it doesn't splatter hot stuff all down my shorts.
 
dlpierson said:
Sounds like a good idea. At IG's last party (where were you? :D ), Mike Spengler said that they've had some problems with uneven pressure with Bertha because it's C-style.

Dan Pierson
Click to expand...

That's the main problem with a C-style, but I know a lot of folks who use them and have overcome the problem. While the C may be more versatile, I'll go with the H just for peace of mind. :)
 
tire hammer http://www.forgemagic.com/bsgview.php?photo=239&cat=M&by=
home page for the pics
http://www.forgemagic.com/bsgview.php?cat=M
good discussion on building one
http://www.blacksmithforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=274

dead simple press

http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=3632

more press
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=3632
dies
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=3425
more press
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=3284

good info on press design from experience
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=3181


press over hammer. I dunno kinda makes a difference what you are doing. Forgeing, big stuff or breaking down stock a hammer would be faster.
Making mostly damascus my choice would be a press.

Course Ray Kirk uses his roller to do most of the work I mentioned above.

http://www.rakerknives.com/ check out his damscus:cool:
 
for me its a little giant hammer and a rolling mill !! pound it out then roll it to length , it really work's well.
 
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