[TheForge] Upside down Press - oh what a tangled web we weave

[Chuck Robinson]

Hey Steve,
I have used a vertical press similar to the design you are thinking of, and 
several presses with a stationary bottom die and with the cylinder mounted 
above the top die.
Have even used a press with horizontal dies.
They are all usable but the presses with the moving bottom die was awkward 
to use, although better than the horizontal press. The press is really 
awkward to use when making large Damascus billets.
But your design should work.
Build it, use it, and  you will learn a lot  you can incorporate in your 
next press.
Bruce has got good design concepts
I worked out my original similar design with Jim Batson about 10 years ago.
He copied it with improvements.
Uncle Al modified it and began selling it about 9 years ago.
Wire grass forge used  my next design and added a few improvements.
 I helped build 4 more presses before my final design. (The pics I sent 
you).
The basic advantages are.
All hydraulic components are below the dies=
Less heat.
Less danger of a hydraulic leak  doing you in.
 Virtually no side loading of the ram seals at full cylinder extension.
Plenty of work room around the dies.
Top die is open to allow using large drifts.
Die height is adjustable to facilitate different pressing operations..
Press has an 11" stroke with 19" maximum opening to accommodate large work 
pieces.
( the  bottom die has a removable sow block to use with smaller work 
pieces).
The unit also has foot activated solenoid switches to allow use of both 
hands to control your work piece.

Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <smith at blacksmithing.org>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 9:50 AM
Subject: [TheForge] Upside down Press - oh what a tangled web we weave


Bruce wrote:
So, have you considered the possibility of a double-inversion?  [snip]
 --hmmm---he says well scratching his head: