• Home
  • About John P.
  • Contact
  • Terms
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

One Man's Blog

Specialization is for Insects.

  • 10 Best
  • Art
  • Computing
  • Fun Stuff
  • Gadgets
  • Videos
  • Photography
  • Travel
  • Tutorials
  • Health & Fitness
  • Politics
  • Thoughts
  • Food
  • Reviews
  • 10 Best
  • Art
  • Computing
  • Fun Stuff
  • Gadgets
  • Videos
  • Photography
  • Travel
  • Tutorials
  • Health & Fitness
  • Politics
  • Thoughts
  • Food
  • Reviews
Home / Tools / I Bought a 16 Ton Hydraulic Forging Press!

I Bought a 16 Ton Hydraulic Forging Press!

John P.

June 9, 2016 By John P.

Well, after about a decade, I finally broke down and bought a forging press! And right about now, most of you are going… what the heck is a forging press?!? So Let me explain.

Hydraulics are used in all kinds of manufacturing processes. They are used to put engine parts together, or to stamp things out of metal, or to compress springs, and even to make cars hop up and down! But forging presses are unique, because they’re designed to work hot steel and therefore have to be able to provide a great deal of force, but also move quickly.

A forging press can be used in many different forging operations, but mostly I intend to use it for making Damascus steel. Which will look something like this…

The New Forging Press

One of the problems with getting a forging press is just finding one. Ron Claiborne makes one for sale, or at least he did but it’s hard to know because that page hasn’t been updated in a decade. Uncle Al also sells a forging press, and I’ve used one several times at the ABS School – though it can be finicky. Probably because of all the people who use and abuse it…

You could also try and build your own. There are books on the subject. And 99% of the ones you come across are homemade.

I too was planning on building my own, but then I came across the guys at Coal Ironworks of Indiana. Nathan and Andy are a couple of artisan blacksmiths who build forging presses for sale – and use their presses for their own work.

My New Hydraulic Forging Press

The guys offer two different press models. They have a 16 ton that will run on 110v electric (20 amp), and they have a heavy duty 25 ton unit.

16 Ton Press
Specs on the 16 Ton unit:

  • 2hp Motor
  • Plug into any 110v 20 amp outlet!
  • 11 GPM 2-Stage Pump
  • 10 Inch Stroke, 4″ Cylinder
  • 5″ x 6″ Die Plates, 3.5″ x 6″ Useable Die area
  • Hand and Foot Pedal Control
  • Incredibly Quiet in use, suitable for small shops with neighbors!
  • On Casters for great mobility around the workshop

Also, the unit stands about 7′ tall, and weighs about 550 pounds.

And here’s a video of it in action.

When I asked Nathan about the difference between the 16 and 25 ton models, here’s what he told me:

The 16 ton will do everything that a 25 ton will do but is built for a hobbyist. It’s a light weight machine and very quiet. The larger 25 ton is much more robust. It uses a much heavier I-beam and weighs more than double. It is still moveable on a flat level surface though. It’s built for someone that’s going to run their machine day in and day out, 8 hours a day.

The 25 Ton costs $5200 and we would need about 2 extra weeks to complete it (4 total). I use a 25 ton in my shop and used the extra tonnage when I was forging my last sculpture. I was pulling 8 ft tapers on 1.25″ x 5″ bars for up to 10 hours a day for 10 months. The extra tonnage shines when your steel is beginning to cool and you need to keep moving.

So personally, I would rather have a 550 pound tool to roll around rather than a 1,000+ pounder. And since I’m not going to be using it 10 hours a day for 10 months straight, I think the 16 ton will be just fine. ;-)

The guys are going to take pictures as they go with the construction of my new press, so keep an eye on their Facebook, or any of my social accounts for updates. And in a couple of weeks I’ll head up from Dallas, TX to Indianapolis, IN to pick up my new baby! The last time I was there, was for the Indy 500!

So excited!!!!

PS – God only knows what I’m going to be crushing in the new Hydraulic press… I’ll put it right beside my killer bandsaw.

Related

Filed Under: Tools, Videos Tagged With: Blacksmith, Bladesmithing, Hydraulic Press, Tools, Videos

About John P.

John P. is a former CEO, former TV Show Host, and the Founder and Wizard behind Texas Metal Works. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Feel free to send shoutouts, insults, and praise. Or Money. Money is good.

Comments

  1. Jerry says

    February 8, 2017 at 8:40 pm

    Hey John,
    Does this press use American Made components? Prince, Leeson, etc.? Also what pressure is it running at? How do you like it?

    • John P. says

      February 9, 2017 at 11:58 pm

      It’s a great press, but I can’t answer the question about the origin of the components. I’m not a hydraulics guy, so I have no idea. But if you want to ping the guys who made it I’m sure they could answer! And if you specifically wanted particular parts I’m sure they’d accomodate.

      • Jerry Goettig says

        February 11, 2017 at 6:21 pm

        Will do, thanks John!

  2. James says

    June 15, 2016 at 8:24 am

    Hydraulic Press Channel Mk.II incoming?

    Looks super fun, a bit jealous! :)

  3. MotorBeam says

    June 10, 2016 at 10:43 pm

    You are super crazy

  4. Clive Edmead says

    June 10, 2016 at 7:24 pm

    Still following you here John but used to enjoy watching you for years unboxing and demonstrating new electronic equipment at the Geek House but knew it would all end in tears from the amount of money the build was consuming.
    Since you are not on air there any more are you operating any other similar non subscription podcasts.

    • John P. says

      June 10, 2016 at 8:16 pm

      Thanks for watching and following along Clive!

      Actually, the money was never the problem. Despite anything you may have ever heard, we have plenty and were in good financial shape with revenues increasing YOY on average over 50%. But things change, and people went in different directions. C’est la vie…

      I don’t have another show or anything, but I might start making videos again in the future. The only thing I miss is the community… not the job. :-)

  5. Pat says

    June 10, 2016 at 12:01 pm

    Just what you need for cracking open Brazil nuts.

John P’s Tweets

Tweets by johnpoz

John P. on Instagram

johnpoz

Ok, what we're gonna do, see, is jack this bitch u Ok, what we're gonna do, see, is jack this bitch up so high you need a ladder to get in it. Then put low profile tires on it.

Makes sense.
Let them eat turkey... I mean cake. Let them eat turkey... I mean cake.
Need I say more? Need I say more?
Cleaned my vehicles with @ArmorAllUSA Ultra Shine Cleaned my vehicles with @ArmorAllUSA Ultra Shine Wash Wipes. Here's the story! http://onemansblog.com/ultrawipes

#ArmorAll - #Ad - #YeeHaw
Tomorrow I'm getting my new forklift from @quality Tomorrow I'm getting my new forklift from @quality_equipment! Can't wait to start forking stuff. ;-)
Aaarrgh! What should I choose? Aaarrgh! What should I choose?
Have I died and gone to heaven? Have I died and gone to heaven?
Hard boiled chili quail eggs anyone? Hard boiled chili quail eggs anyone?
I'll take two! I'll take two!
This exists. This exists.
Over two pounds of pizza! Over two pounds of pizza!
Where should I start? Where should I start?
Give it a minute. You'll get it... Give it a minute. You'll get it...
Instagram post 17855855425047701 Instagram post 17855855425047701
Instagram post 17849137462070109 Instagram post 17849137462070109
It'll tickle yore innards! It'll tickle yore innards!
Instagram post 17855388973056226 Instagram post 17855388973056226
The @genyhitch is a massive 80 pound drop hitch wi The @genyhitch is a massive 80 pound drop hitch with a bonus - it can absorb the shock from twists, turns and bumps in the road, providing cushioning for both the tow vehicle and whatever it's pulling.
Who's up for some ghost pepper powder in their sal Who's up for some ghost pepper powder in their salt?
Downloading at around 140 MB/S. That's a full Gig Downloading at around 140 MB/S.  That's a full Gigabit download speed from the World of Warcraft servers to the new @Acer Predator desktop machine.
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

Copyright © 2021 · Local Media on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Follow Along for E-Mail Updates
Don't miss any of John P's craziness! Just shove your email address in the slot below and we'll take care of the rest! :-)
Arrow

Email: