[TheForge] Hydraulic Forging Press

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

okay...This is gonna sound foolish...what do you use a forging press for?  I 
can think of a few uses, but most of the ones I can think of could be better 
done with a hammer.  Most of the conversations about various machines have 
given me ideas about how I could use them in my shop to make better curves, 
better welds, or increase speed of production runs.......

so besides pressing on bearings, and bending something between some dies (which 
is why I has a hossfeld).....What is this for?  can you weld with it?  Is it 
better than a powerhammer?  I seem to remember something about damascus 
billets.  Are they fast?  I have seen plans for homemade hand operated ones 
that use carjacks.  Will these do the same job?...I guess the practical upshot 
of this is....why should I want one?

dan
http://www.irontreeworks.com/the_shop.htm