[TheForge] Re: TheForge Digest, Vol 12, Issue 74

[Justin Fellenz]

Andrew,

Yes, that's exactly the kind of press I'm thinking of...the ram has
teeth, and you pull a big lever to run it down to the base. Small ones
make about 4 tons and the big dakes (and atlas before that and eames
before that) make up to 16 tons. The ram can literally drop  so contact
time is minimal but with a compound unit (the big ones) I'm not sure
how fast you can move the ram under pressure. Haven't seen a big one in
the flesh. They're pretty cheap though, used, and it seems to me they
would give the same kind of repeatability as a fly press, and maybe
faster and with more power too.

As for not wearing out the body--you're right, that point bears
repeating. I repeat it to myself every time I do something the hard
dumb way rather than the easy smart way. So I hear it a lot. That's why
I figure I should go press shopping.

J
 
--- Andrew Vida <osan at netlabs.net> wrote:

> Tom brings up an excellent point here, and one that bears repetition.
> 
> While I believe it is a great learning experience for each person to 
> reinvent the various wheels in the search for what we may call "real 
> learning", I also see no reason whatsoever to ruin one's health.  The
> 
> technology of blacksmithing has evolved as it has largely because of
> the 
> damaging effects that such work had upon the body.  Old world
> technology 
> is amazing, wondrous stuff, but much of it is also hell on the
> various 
> body parts and IMO one should make the effort to discover
> (beforehand) 
> what the hazards are, and make all reasonable efforts to avoid 
> destroying their health unnecessarily.  The years will take their
> toll 
> on you no matter what.  I see no reason to help it along too much.
> 
> Justin, when you say "arbor press", are you referring to something
> like 
> a Dake press, or something else?  Just wondering.
> 
> 	-Andy
> 
> 
> Thomas A. Troszak wrote:
> > 
> > On Jan 21, 2005, at 12:00 AM, theforge-request at mailman.qth.net
> wrote:
> > 
> >> why
> >> a *fly* press? To me they look like a little obsolete. . Can
> someone
> >> enlighten me?
> > 
> > 
> > Dear Justin,
> > 
> > I used to do forging with an arbor press, and it is a great way to 
> > destroy your arms, if you don't want to take my word for it, go
> ahead 
> > and try it. I made thousands of parts, but the jarring of the
> handle is 
> > injurious to the body over time. By the way, I see broken arbor
> presses 
> > in the scrapyard every couple of months.
> > 
> > A fly press has weights which provide momentum energy to do the
> nasty 
> > work of the forging, (instead of your arms) and they are designed
> for 
> > the work. They also have great feel without the sudden jolt at the
> end 
> > of the stroke, in other words, they rock!
> > 
> > By all means, by yourself a cheap chinese arbor press, break it and
> your 
> > wrists, and learn from the experience.
> > 
> > Tom Troszak
> > 
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> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> 	-Andy V.
> 
> Alright, I am so tired of the way some Sumerians are always
> ready to blame the Indus.  Meluhha-luhha lo mekka heinie ho.
> You can only use wax spurs if you have a clay horse.
> Geeze I am so abstruse even I don't get it.
> 
> 				RtH
> 
> You're making perfect sense to me. I'm getting scared.
> 
> 				Frosty
> _______________________________________________
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