Hydraulic Forge Presses - Complete Guide to the Knife Maker's Most Powerful Tool
Blacksmiths and knife makers both use hydraulic forge presses, one of the most powerful tools in the world for moving hot steel. In this video, sword maker Walter Sorrells tells you everything you need to know about this amazing machine. Presses are used for forging Damascus steel, forging blades, drawing out steel stock and a ton of other tasks.
Buy your own hydraulic forge press from Riverside Machine! www.riversidemachine.net
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Ive been following you for years. Its always a pleasure to see you work...and hopefully for many more years to come. 🤠
I built a 37 ton press for my blacksmith shop for my tool making side business. Only tool used more is my forge.
I’ve had my Big Al’s Riverside Machine press for 4 years now. Best purchase I ever made. And yes, I was attempting damascus when I decided to buy it.
You inspired me to make knifes and I’m 13 ❤
After about 10 years I invested in a 12 ton coal iron works forge press. It's thier smallest model with an assortment of dies. Best money I ever spent. For 12 ton it's a beast, and moves big layer billets swiftly and efficiently.
I just bought a Juggernaut press from Broad River Forge in Ontario, Canada. It has hand and foot controls and this thing is AWESOME! I'm not a knifemaker but I started doing artistic blacksmithing as a hobby about 5 years ago. I will be 60 soon and this thing saves my elbow from a ton of drawing out. Just wanted to give a shout out for any Canadians out there who were looking for a press that doesn't kill them on duty fees.
Noted!!
Cool to see Brad’s press plugged here. I bought my power hammer from him couple years ago, and I’m holding out hope he brings back that combination power hammer/forge press, since I can’t fit both in my current shop.
I had to give him a plug as the press is perfect for me. I didn't know he made something like that but that's maybe a good thing as my neighbours are close by and wouldn't appreciate hearing a power hammer at 10 PM lol.@@julianitama468
Great info and very well laid out. Thanks again Walter!
Love my press!
Thanks for the honest afvice as always
Thank you for the content... you are the OG of the knife....
Wow - thanks!
They are super fun indeed
Awesome, thanks Walter! First of me hearing about the newer presses having a stroke depth setting so you don't need to mess with kiss blocks. Any idea how that works? Cheers!
I love my log splitter press, only thing it doesn't like to do is sqoosh thin stock lower than 1/4", perfect for knives.
Very informitive
Thanks for the video! I was wondering about those 200 dollar hand krank presses, now I know not to bother with them 🔥⚒️👍
I can't swing a hammer any way because of bad tendons and frozen shoulder. Some day I'll get a press and hopefully be able to make Damascus. Good video.
Nice hydraulic press channel music reference
First time I tried making damascus by hand, called Big Blu and had Andy ship one out to me at once. At $1000 a set for dies, you had better be able to make your own. Have made about 20 or more different ones for mine. Got used to using the shop was working at 150 ton press, they have a 300 ton also. Don't get fooled bigger is definitely better when it comes to a forging press. The only one at the time was Blu unless you wanted to make your own. Until recently now Coal Iron stepped up its efforts to compete in the 50 ton market. Then upped the game with its computerized controller, also a dual foot switch available.
What model is this one?
The only thing I'd add to your fine video is to buy a more powerful press than you think you'll need. I'm still happy with my 12-ton but wish I'd gotten a 25, as I'm making more and more damascus and have less and less patience!
❤
Will a 12 ton press work?
I broke down 2 inch round for a specific drift I needed took me 2 days and was a pain
Quick question, how do you get 25 tons with such a small hydraulic cylinder?
It’s probably not as small as you think it is. 5” dia rams are common for about that tonnage.
Lol, any striker trying to find a dark spot with my daughters would find they bit off a little more than they can swallow, my daughters were taught special skills for defending themselves.
good to know they make one with a hand control press on it..me being in a wheelchair would never be able to use that cute little foot pedal
💪👍🇺🇸
Your press looks like a Box Troll… “JELLY!!!!!!”. I hurt my back a long time ago and it’s dictated my life for the last decade. Even after surgeries and an internal spinal stimulator it still affects my “daily enjoyment of life”( that’s what the VA healthcare system labels it as… I’m only able to spend maybe 30-45 minutes forging if I’m lucky. I’ve wanted to do this for so long that I do my time and make sure it’s at a good time and I have no plans for the next 3 days, because I’ll be stuck in bed. I’ve been trying to figure out which of the 2 machines (press or power hammer) would be best. I decided a press would be best. I’ve even tried drawing out a plan to build one, powered by the same motor as my belt grinder. Unfortunately that would require some skills I just don’t have. Welding or a welder being a big one of those. My cheapest option I’ve come up with is buying an electric log splitter and have someone weld on the pieces to hold the jaw inserts… but then I’d still need a welder to make the actual insert! I’m just going to buy one of the cheap $300 dollar MiG welders. You can find them for a third of the price as new, but I’ll still have to figure out what to do next. My Disability pay leaves us with a rather tight, really fixed budget. Spending the $100 for the cheap welder is on hold until I can get the rest put aside. Buying an elec/hydraulic powered press straight out, or even finding a used one is just to much…. It would allow me to work more than once a week on a good week.
The modified log splitter is the way to go if you are on a budget.If you buy a cheap stick welder and some electrodes, there maybe someone nearby that can weld the pieces up for you. Good luck to you mate.
$4600 ... wow. What a mark up. You could throw together some old parts and build one yourself for much cheaper, if you're handy like that.
If
what hydraulic pump my qochin
Well I gotta say I'm pretty damn relieved that thing won't sneak away into dark places with my daughter... I'd truly fear for her safety! If it ever changes its mind, I'll be sure to remind it I don't have a daughter...
I have the same press and there is not a better hydraulic press on the market that offers more bang for your buck.
What kind of accent is this? It's like your vocal chords are too long for what you want to say. Do you start your sentence with empty lungs to master this accent? Where do you come from?