Press

Maybe? Is it an electric/hydraulic system?

Or is it a electric only system?
Either way, how many tons does it develop?
 
I will move this to the regular Shop Talk page.
Short answer is NO. The electric splitters are both too weak and too slow. Many folks have converted a gas log splitter to a press.
 
After watching a good number of YouTube videos detailing this, I tried it thinking, “how bad can it be?”
It sucked—worked kinda, but sucked in actual application. As Stacy said not enough power and too slow.
 
Here is the problem with electric over hydraulic splitters:
The electric run pump is very low GPM. This makes the ram move very slow. That is fine for splitting a log, but terrible for a forging press. A 16 ton E/H splitter has a 13 second cycle time. A forging press is usually 3 seconds or less.

"It is a 14 ton electric over hydraulic. But my cylinder is good for 20 tons"
If you are talking about changing the cylinder, the larger the cylinder you attach the slower it will run.

Additional issues:
A log splitter doesn't need to be all that robust. Logs split pretty easily, compared to squishing hot steel. The frames are not strong enough and will either break at the bolts or bend the frame. They need to have strengthening bars added to make them strong enough. Generally, a gas log splitter is more powerful and built heavier. They will work for a light duty forging press. Changing the pump to more GPM will help a bit if the gas motor is big enough for the extra power needed to run the larger pump.
 
jackpar said:
what about the SuperHandy 14t electric/hydraulic
Click to expand...
I looked at log splitter up, per the specs it has a 10 gpm 2 stage pump which good, "IF" it's actually putting out 10 gpm since the motor is only 1700 rpm. Two very important items are missing in the specs - PSI and cylinder diameter.

The travel speed is 1.25in/sec (20" in 16 sec) which is on the slow side, but can work since only an inch or so of travel is needed when using the press. The 16 ton Coal Iron press with 2hp is only 2in/sec travel for reference and works just fine. Again, 4"/sec would be better.

For 14 tons you a 3.5" cylinder would require 3,000 psi which would be more than I'd expect from a log splitter, but might be. A 4" cylinder would only require around 2300 psi.

From calculations it seems the pump is actually only around 5gpm and using a 4" cylinder which combination gives a 1.5"/sec travel.

Looking at the frame I'm not sure it's strong enough - you can always try it, it's only around $800.

Have fun working thru your decision and keep the thread going so we can follow along.
 
Ken H> said:
I looked at log splitter up, per the specs it has a 10 gpm 2 stage pump which good, "IF" it's actually putting out 10 gpm since the motor is only 1700 rpm. Two very important items are missing in the specs - PSI and cylinder diameter.

The travel speed is 1.25in/sec (20" in 16 sec) which is on the slow side, but can work since only an inch or so of travel is needed when using the press. The 16 ton Coal Iron press with 2hp is only 2in/sec travel for reference and works just fine. Again, 4"/sec would be better.

For 14 tons you a 3.5" cylinder would require 3,000 psi which would be more than I'd expect from a log splitter, but might be. A 4" cylinder would only require around 2300 psi.

From calculations it seems the pump is actually only around 5gpm and using a 4" cylinder which combination gives a 1.5"/sec travel.

Looking at the frame I'm not sure it's strong enough - you can always try it, it's only around $800.

Have fun working thru your decision and keep the thread going so we can follow along.
Click to expand...
I have a 4.5 cylinder and will build my own H frame. Then mount the power unit from the log splitter on that
 
jackpar said:
I have a 4.5 cylinder and will build my own H frame. Then mount the power unit from the log splitter on that
Click to expand...
Is the 4.5" cylinder from the log splitter? OR, is that a spare cylinder you have? How long is the ram? 20" ram is sorta on the long side for a forging press. A 3500PSI 4"X8" cylinder is around $300 or so. The pump and coupling is around a $100 or so. A 3hp 56C motor is $230 from Amazon. The adapter housing to connect the pump to motor is around $60 to $80 or so. Of course you've got the controls, hoses, etc you can use. Will you be able to adapt the hydraulic tank from the log splitter?

The only thing from the log splitter you plan to use is the power unit?
 
If all you are using is the power pack, then you need to look at (or calculate) the GPM output max at 3000PSI. That number plus your cylinder size info will give you the ram speed you will get.
Realize that many of the power numbers given for power tools are wishful thinking and not the real output. I have a shop-vac marked "6.5HP" that draws 9 amps????

Helpful Formulae (thanks Ken):
Tonnage - https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/cyl_calc.htm (divide by 200 to get tons)

Speed - https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/cyl_speed.htm

Motor size required - https://www.baumhydraulics.com/images/calculators/motor_calc.htm
 
Ken H> said:
Is the 4.5" cylinder from the log splitter? OR, is that a spare cylinder you have? How long is the ram? 20" ram is sorta on the long side for a forging press. A 3500PSI 4"X8" cylinder is around $300 or so. The pump and coupling is around a $100 or so. A 3hp 56C motor is $230 from Amazon. The adapter housing to connect the pump to motor is around $60 to $80 or so. Of course you've got the controls, hoses, etc you can use. Will you be able to adapt the hydraulic tank from the log splitter?

The only thing from the log splitter you plan to use is the power unit?
Click to expand...
The 4.5 is new. I ordered it.
 
jackpar said:
What if I got the log splitter and changed the hyd pump? Would that help me?
Click to expand...
What part of Alabama are you in? You can see I'm in Baldwin Co.

Take stock of the total costs of the parts you can use from the log splitter- it's around $800? For $800 you can purchase the parts That can be used. Do you already have the steel to make the "H" frame?

You can contact at sailingtoo at the gmail place.

Ken H>
 
What is your H-frame made of?

Just changing the pump won't solve the problem. The motor would need to be larger for a larger volume pump.
 
"I think it would be best if I build it"

Absolutely. A 4.5" cylinder, 2HP to 3HP motor, and a 16GPM pump will make a good press. Make the H-frame very heavy duty. 6X4X.375" at a minimum, 6X6X.5" is even better.
 
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