Hydraulic Forging Press: Part 2

[@grizzly22485]

As usual, the teacher always comes out. Thanks for a great demo, Randy.................Ross

[@drgnfly4g]

I agree. Since these videos I have removed the mild steel plates and replaced them with 4140 ones, hardened and tempered. I also beefed up the holding bolts. I'm also very careful to keep the metal hot at all time as when it cools that's when the press pushes tooling out and towards you. I've also made a lot more tooling and a rack to hold the tooling, so I'm really getting a lot of use from this press.

[@Darfail]

hi great video thank you I'm just curious to know why the plates bend like that upon pressing, isn't that dangerous?

[@drgnfly4g]

@powerimprint That's a coal forge in the background. As it burns the coal turns to coke, coal with the imprurities burned out of it. There's also a fan/blower with a reostat to control the amount of heat. More oxygen, more heat. I do have propane forges, too.

[@mossyhollow3732]

I enjoyed your highly detailed book. Thanks for sharing the knowlege.

[@2x4tube]

thats tops! well done! I'm looking at building one like this at some stage soon. Is there any design features you would change if you were going to build another? Thanks Randy

[@Zoch]

Wow, this is so impressive. A question though, what is the real advantage of a press compared with a hammer :

[@bkforge]

Randy, don't you worry about your slide in tooling when doing a taper--it really tilts around and seems loose--ejecting from the press. I realize that friction at that point is doing all the holding, not the little toggle bar, but it still seems sloppy...

[@jefflyon100]

I really like the press design utilizing a cutout in a beam. It looks like a beast. I think your aware of your die holding issues. The press looks like the carriage racks both side to side and in and out independent of the die movement. Did you make the guides adjustable to accommodate wear and slop?

[@drgnfly4g]

Yes, I know. Thanks.

[@juanmarquez7043]

this guy knows what he's doing. which is very rare these days

[@2x4tube]

Thanks for the reply.. i will use that when i start building my badboy. Did you have any problems with the hydraulics? The construction and electrical side is no issue for me, however, finding good info on setting up the hydraulics is proving tough. I'm thinking of getting some plans for a log splitter for the info on setting up the hydraulics safely... Do you have any advice there where i can get some good info? Thanks Mate! Ben in OZ.

[@drgnfly4g]

No hot punching full tooling yet as I don't have a job that requires it. I'm sure it will happen some day. Just punches to open up a hole in a box, so not all of the way through. I've done that in 3" x 3" stock.

[@drgnfly4g]

@2x4tube Yes, I'd make the drop in feature of the top and bottom plates deeper so that there is more support for them and larger bolts could be used for better stability and strength. Also I'd raise the unit up even 6" so it's easier to view what's happening when it's squishing instead of leaning over to see tooling alignment and how far it's squished. A limit switch to control where it stops would regulate how far it pushes would be beneficial also. Other than that it's great!

[@Rhandahl]

Great press! I wish I had a shop like that:)

[@tsukinoda]

Awesome technique, thank you so much for the great videos!

[@drgnfly4g]

@2x4tube Best source of information is a book called, "Build Your Own Hydraulic Forging Press", by James L. Batson. Some of the knife making websites sell it. Shows frames, hydraulics and the works. The guy who designed and built mine used that book for this one and others. Good luck and be safe!

[@drgnfly4g]

@powerimprint Depends on where you live. Best thing is to find your local Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA) chapter by going to their website. Then you can contact local smiths to see where they get it or maybe they sell it. Otherwise you want bituminous (soft) coal and coal yards, feed stores and the like have it.

[@haroldhall4926]

Any way I can get diagram of this with specs

[@drgnfly4g]

You need to decide what frame style and tonnage you need based on what you want to make, not based on one you've seen. Each press is designed for both. Someone made this for me so plans are not available. My book is to help you figure which is best for you and if you decide to build instead of buy then James Batson's book is what you want.

[@drgnfly4g]

Only a litle bit as the opening is just 7"h x 11" wide, so doesn't allow a very big piece.

[@steveray4870]

what rpm is the elect motor on your press? thank u

[@daviddrinen1265]

I don't like to see the top tool moving like it is with that much presser.

[@buantiang3811]

thank you for sharing. Great Job!

[@lorgematt]

can you weld with the press

[@NathanNostaw]

yes, very well.

[@harleypiper]

After 3 minutes ,I'd place back in the furance.I dont keep working with anything less then 1300 degrees.especially 718

[@frostcb2]

The dies should not move.

[@tylerdugray]

cool!

[@baduktiger7661]

apparently a guy named eggerling made his press. randy mcdaniel did NOT make this or any prress

[@yzujq]

wicked

[@StepSherpa]

heavier "press" in a press per dollar

[@Xxsamisthemanxx]

Your art is really good, but GOD your blades are bad. keep practicing, and don't use a blowtorch to temper it... even I know that...