Press build update

Hey Fred! I just have a bit of input on the bolts..... I don't know if this is your first press or not, but from experience, I'd recommend going another route....like TACK welding your die holders in place.
The bolts, that close to dies will soak up heat, then cool, then soak up heat, and cool, and within just a short while, those bolts will become very brittle and break off....usually just flush with where they are threaded in. (Not like that's ever happened to me) :cool:

The other reason to only TACK weld around the die areas....is that if you ever get off center when pressing something, and cause things to "wrack" or "tweak" some.....the tack weld will break (which is easy to repair) before you destroy any other/major piece on the press. The heating/cooling cycles, along with the force of the repetitions we put on these presses is incredibly stressful to the structure(s) of the press.

Your at the really exciting time now...just about got it complete....and if you're like me, your just dying to put it to use! :)
 
How big and long is the Cylinder?? Where did you get it? I have an old log splitter that I plan on building one of these problem is the Cylinder is like 3ft long!!
 
When choosing a cylinder for a forging press, the key is DIAMETER..... the larger the better. Why? Unless you have all your hydraulic hoses custom made, they are only rated for 3,000 psi. (custom hose can be made in up to 5000+ psi but they get REALLY SPENDY the higher the rating).

The smaller the diameter the cylinder, the higher the system pressure must be to obtain a given tonnage value. Personally, I wouldn't use a cylinder less than 6" in diameter..... and of course those are more difficult to find, and expensive. During my career, I've been present a few times when bad things happened with forging presses that were built using smaller diameter cylinders (3-4")...... and it's just not worth the risk.

I'd recommend checking Surplus Center for a cylinder.......here's a link to 6"-6.9" diameter.....it looks like currently they have a decent selection.https://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydra...ATR_HydraulicCylinderBoreRange:6\"\+\-\+6.9\"

Can you image what kind of damage a pin hole in a hydraulic hose/line would do with only a few hundred PSI behind it? That turns into devastating with a few thousand psi (which is the kind of pressure present in smaller diameter cylinders.)
 
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Thanks for the info Ed I will forgo the bolts and tack the die holders in place , I had slotted the die holder to accommodate different thickness of die plates. My cyl is 4 in and my hyd system will be designed for 3000 psi , hoses 5000 psi working pressure.
 
Sure would like to see video of this squeezing some steelwhen it’s done. Nice build.
 
It is absolutely none of my business see you absolutely do not have to answer this but do you have a general idea of the cost of building this? I am debating a press build a power hammer build or getting a Mill in the coming year so I’m pricing a lot of things.
 
Well a little wiring and return and supply lines and it's smash time . I will give some build cost and build info when I am done
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FWIW I had a filter set up like that on mine. I had the filter blow off twice from pulse pressure. I’ve heard of this happening to others and getting coated with a spray of warm oil isn’t pleasant. The bigger problem is any oil spray on a hot piece of metal ignites instantly.

I took my filter out completely. It is a closed system that only does one thing, the oil won’t get dirty. Some might insist a filter is necessary and I get that too. I’m a rebel.
 
BossDog said:
FWIW I had a filter set up like that on mine. I had the filter blow off twice from pulse pressure. I’ve heard of this happening to others and getting coated with a spray of warm oil isn’t pleasant. The bigger problem is any oil spray on a hot piece of metal ignites instantly.

I took my filter out completely. It is a closed system that only does one thing, the oil won’t get dirty. Some might insist a filter is necessary and I get that too. I’m a rebel.
Click to expand...

Something like that happened to me, the check valve broke loose in the filter housing, clogging the line, blowing the return line off my control valve.
 
Wear your safety glasses and if you can put a divider/wall between the press and the forge would be a good idea.
I love my press. I would not trade it for anything! Well, maybe a few things!

I used Traveller ISO 46 hydraulic oil from tractor supply.
 

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