[TheForge] Arbor Press

[Justin Fellenz]

So, Bob, could you do this with a fast hydraulic press or a fly press?
If not, what is it about an arbor press that works for this app?

Justin
--- Bob Ehrenberger <eforge at marktwain.net> wrote:

> Tom,
> 
> I wouldn't want to forge with an arbor press, but I have one that I
> use to
> form hot collars and it is great.  I have a collar fixture that I
> patterned
> from a design in the Blacksmith journal,  I then make a top die that
> matches
> the bars that I'm going to collar together. Once I figure out the
> precise
> lenth of the strap I cut them, get them hot, lay across the fixture,
> and run
> the ram down.  It comes out as a U with equal sides and nice clean
> bends.  I
> then reheat, put over my mandral and make the last two bends by hand
> at the
> anvil. I can keep several pieces hot and make hundreds of collar in
> an
> afternoon.
> 
> Robert Ehrenberger
> Shelbyville, Mo.
> 
> 
> ----Original Message------
> Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 23:47:39 -0500
> From: "Thomas A. Troszak" <tom at tomtroszak.com>
> Subject: [TheForge] Re: TheForge Digest, Vol 12, Issue 74
> To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
> 
> 
> 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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