[TheForge] press design

[Andrew Vida]

James Binnion wrote:
> I might suggest that you think about finding a 3000 psi pump and use
> that to drive your cylinder. Much faster and if you are forging small
> stock like knives and such the 30 tons you would get would be just
> fine.
> 

I'd have to agree with Jim on this one.  Your equipment is way overkill 
for welding billets. If you could find a ready made press that had such 
hydraulics, that is one thing, but this seems a bit over the top for 
what you are looking to accomplish.

I passed up two presses at a blacksmith auction for which I have been 
kicking myself for 10 years.  One was a 450t press for $450 and the 
other a 1000t 4-post press for $1000.  Both had 35KPSI Enerpac systems. 
  That is a lot of push.  The posts on the big press were 8" diameter 
steel tied together with a large forged steel frame and bolted through 
with  nuts that were at least 10" across the flats, if not 12.  It was a 
magnificent piece of engineering - at least to my eyes.