[TheForge] Kick Press

[Bob Ehrenberger]

Jay,
There are so many layers of green enamel paint the Make and model are 
hidden.  I'll have to take a closer look and see if it's there some place. 
There is a nice brass plate that shows it's internal inventory number, it 
must have come out of a pretty big factory, it has a pretty high number.

I haven't seen the fulcrum adjustment, it'll be easier to examine once I get 
it on a base.  The stroke length adjustment is there and pretty easy to use.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jay Hayes" <xmas4lites at earthlink.net>
To: "Bob Ehrenberger" <eforge at centurytel.net>; "Blacksmithing List Sponsored 
by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 6:46 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Kick Press


Bob, Just like fly presses and arbor presses, kick presses come in
several sizes. My smaller kick press is an Excelsior #10 and the larger
is a #20. Somewhere I have an old catalog that lists their specs. In the
mean time, I'll measure the table height on each when I'm in the shop
tomorrow.  The #10 is shorter and the foot pedal is a few inches off the
floor at the lowest point of the arc when it is kicked back. I have used
it standing up, but it is usually used sitting down in a production
setting. I find a taller stool is more comfortable with the #20.

For those who have never seen a kick press it is basically a punch press
that is actuated by foot power. The foot pedal is connected to a long
heavy curved lever that runs up the back side of the press. The fulcrum
point of the lever is behind the upper part of the ram and is
adjustable. A short cam shaped protrusion from the top front side of the
lever extends into a pocket in the ram.  As the foot pedal moves back
the ram moves down. The lever multiplies the kicking force with
mechanical advantage and the shear weight of the lever adds additional
force from inertia. It takes very little force to start the foot pedal
moving, but it packs a nice punch when the ram hits the work. There is
also a stroke adjustment on the top of the ram to limit how far the ram
can travel, which is handy for some operations. The bottom of the ram
has a hole that accepts tooling and the bed allows die sets or die
holders to be bolted down, similar to on a fly press or punch press.

Here is a link to one on craigs list
http://longisland.craigslist.org/tls/1792432539.html

Jay


Bob Ehrenberger wrote:
> Jay,
>
> I have a follow up question.  How tall is the base that comes with the
> press?  Do you want it so the kick arm just miss the floor? or does it 
> have
> quite a bit of clearance so the work table is at a standard height? Do you
> usually sit down to use it, or can you work it standing up?
>
> The kick arm on mine is about 26" from the bottom of the press.
>
> Robert Ehrenberger
> Shelbyville, Mo.
> eforge at centurytel.net
>
>
>