Blacksmithing - Easy 4 or 5 Ton Princess Auto Log Splitter to a forge press? Will it work?
2024 ж. 9 Мам.
37 339 Рет қаралды
So this actually worked out very well. Perfect for small Damascus projects and for drawing out steel.
As i said before this is not a finished machine only a proof of concept, and yes as you have seen it can do the job just fine
Email : gcgerber@hotmail.com
Instagram : @cg_smithing
Great job! I just subscribed and will continue watching whatever you upload! I'd like to see your working of this after you get dies for drawing out. It would be great to see you make a small Damascus knife using this press to draw the billet out to a useable length. I have an 8 ton log splitter that uses a bottle jack and hand power to spit the logs and I want to convert it to hydraulic so that I can use it in my Smithy! I have yet to make ANY Damascus billets because I am disabled to the point that I don't have the strength anymore, to wield a heavy enough hammer to get the job done. You and a couple of other have inspired me to get the damn thing done so that I can begin to make some Damascus knives! Thanks for the video proving that a small spitter CAN be made into a forging press! AND thanks for the inspiration!! Being 67 is sometimes a problem because you KNOW how to do a lot of things but, EXISTING on Social Security and nothing else is a real pain in the patootie! Never enough money to get the parts to put together what you NEED in the Smithy! Thanks, again for the video and the inspiration!
You are very welcome sir!!! I will do my best and finish it as soon as possible. I am also bringing my other forge back because i think it will be able to reach forge welding temps now. My coal forge isnt good with the smoke aspect and i dont want to gas myself out this winter but i will keep on forging anyway i can.
Good on you Kim, stay active and do what you can! Work smarter not harder!
Wicked mod you still got a slitter genius !
Don't know if u will see this comment but I want u to know I've learned a lot from you working on my log splitter press now and I even made the barney edition 2x72 lol thanks for all your help
Damn straight i see every single comment hehehe thanx for the love man my barney is still ripping steel apart!!!
That is excellent, thanks for the video. Good enough for me. I have heard of other guys wiring a foot switch to the green button circuit. Nice demo.
I’m glad someone did this. I’ve been wanting to try it myself but Leary of the power but you solved the issue. One thing I would suggest is putting some sort of guides for the sides of the slide. Keep from getting the groves with a potential cold shut.
I need to round over the edges on my dies...and i need more practice hahahaha
Hey 👋 Brilliant result. Wood chopper to forgepress. Thank you for the demonstration 👍
I came over to your channel from HoJ Forge " Mr. Jacin " channel I have a 5 ton log splitter that I going to do this very thing with starting now Thanks I subscribed! May God Bless you and your family Greatly
This is awesome man! Been thinking along this line but wasn't sure. Now I'm sure. :) Looks like I'll be shopping for one of these in the near future. Thanks for sharing!
thank you for the proof of concept brother. this video helped me make the decision to pull the trigger on a similar 5 ton
You are welcome man!!!!
Looks good eh. Gotta love Canadian ingenuity. Thanks for sharing and you gotta love Princess Auto
Great idea I am going to start looking for one of these. This is wonderful creative idea.
Checkout the second video on it
You sir are a genius! Bravo
Your billets are about the same size i use when doing it by hand actually a lill bigger! Im digging this!
Thanks so much for sharing! You answered my questions word for word!
Checkout the latest video on it buddy more in there
This is a great idea and I have seen this done before in person at the shop I work at I suggest attaching a little arm to your foot lever that contacts your button so that when your foot hits the ram it also hits the button making both hands available.
Thank you! I was just gifted a 7 ton that looks almost identical to yours. Now I know it'll work!
you should see this thing draw out a piece of steel!!!!
Awesome mate....! just subscribed.....keep up the good work....also love the idea of using it as a log splitter too.... Cheers Rob
That is why im here broseph!!! Try my best to keep up the videos
Awesome video man!
Subscribed on the strength of this video alone. STRIKE TRUE BROTHER
Always!!!
That's fandamntastic! Love it!
At 10:57 you can see the press plate squeeze uneven. The two plates are not parallel to each other causing potential cold shuts on your work. Great job.
Thankyou for the example
Awesome stuff man
Glad you liked it
I’m convinced!
After watching your video I built myself one upright because I don’t need a log splitter. I love the proof of concept even though your videos a year old it was very helpful thanks man!
It is my great pleasure man. I have a second video on it too. And soon i will be making a third one but just an update....shes still going strong
You sir are a genius. Nice
And you are a legend!! Hope this helped buddy
Also great work! Now I want one.
You should!
This is a really good proof of concept thank you for making this video! A foot petal would be perfect for the button and safety lever and would be a relatively easy and inexpensive modification. I look forward to seeing your other dies and modifications going forward! Cheers
appreciate the comment thank you!!! ill post vids on the dies as soon as i get a chance
very cool mate. Must still be chilly in your neck of the woods, can see the cold steel sucking the heat out o the billet when it presses at the beginning, very awesome
Thanx buddy
Creative and crazy at the same time...😂👍
Thank you. I hope the newer vids got better atleast
That is awesome!!!!
Genius.... thanks for sharing...
You are very welcome!! Ill do a final build on the thing soon and throw it on the youtubes
Finally I am definitely going to have a go now maybe a clip on th button so you can just use the handle
Awesome thanks for sharing this
Editing the new video stay tuned
Finally!!! Someone had the same idea as me and gave it a try before I could 🤣 absolutely appreciate this!! I have pretty much the same one except mine is harbor freight brand and you turn the pump on, not a momentary switch like yours, and control forward and reverse with the lever, although there is one problem I need to figure out how to overcome with this model, it has a sort of "overload safety system" if you run the ram too hard say cutting hardwood and the pump runs down to the struggling point, something in it triggers and stops the fluid from flowing therefore rendering the machine useless until you've turned it completely off, letting pump stop turning, whatever that safety is then resets itself and when you turn it back on, everything works as normal operation until you hit a hard spot and cause another pump struggling situation to trigger that safety again🤦♂️ I understand it's probably a good way to save part from premature failure but, it is very limiting even for just splitting wood and irritating to reset every time.. I have to take it apart to see what this is and how I can remove it lol.. Anyways, my son and I are trying to get into forging and as we go we have to build what we use and learn what works and what won't, I am disabled and have some limitations with things but I do everything myself and don't take things to shops or purchase the best of everything, I make do with what I have, refurbished or build on my own.. This just makes me more interested and ready to get out in my shop I built and get this project started with my son, he is the only one out of my 10 children who really wants to do this so what can I say 🤷♂️... im just going to enjoy the time we will spend together and enjoy making the memories and possibly start a business for him to enjoy life with... Again, thank you for sharing this, absolutely amazing 👏 😁👍
You are incredibly welcome!!! I do have a second video where i finish the thing have a look and have fun!!!
Very cool!
Hell yeah! I've been meaning to try the same thing but have not wanted to waste the money if it didn't work. Great proof of concept. I would bypass the button though. Thanks!
Oooooh buddy believe me as soon as i get a chance that button is gone!!!!!
I bypassed the button with a clamp in the button and a foot peddle switch from harbour freight. Works great for splitting wood. I'll be doing the same, convention to forge press since for now, my work is all under 1" stock. Arm gets a little tired pounding on 1" 4140 or 5160 stock.
Thanks for the update. You've answered all my questions and your modifications were so straight-forward that even I could do it. Would I be a complete SOB to mention that if you put the switch on the left side of the lever it would be easier for your thumb to engage? Yeah. I probably am.
Hahahah and i was debating that same thing when i did it. But so far it aint bad at all man
I know you're getting a ton of them, but here's another one...Thank you. I, too, was wondering if this could work. Best of luck.
Just happy i could help man cheers!!!
Great information
Glad it was helpful!
Wish I was able to find someone like you down here in tucson Arizona to learn from
best i can do is keep makin vids Broseph and keep showing what i know....and then one day fly my ass down to the states to visit a few blacksmith brothers.
Frack yeah bud. That's awesome
will show ya some time how she draws out
@@CGSmithing man I'd get a harbor freight (same thing) if it worked like that. One piece at a time tho
The HF one is a 5 ton. I'm pretty sure it would do the same thing mabe a bit better. Try for a nice second hand one
Defintely want one of these after building a power hammer that didnt hit like expected, log splitters seem way easier to come by for sure.
Yeah man works pretty good too
Awsome im doin this
Great video and thanks for shereing. Im looking to make one and press down some leaf spring so i can make axes.
It works great for nice square billets and material but how it will do on thinner stock i have no idea
@@CGSmithing then i will try it when i find time to make the press. 😅
get rid of the push button switch for a standard on off switch so you have both hands freed up and put a small radius around your flat dies to help with cold shunts
Check the newer vid
The width of your dies matters. You've got four tons. If you put that into a narrower tool you can probably do thicker billets. Also you can see the heat being sucked out by the dies so a quicker release by your foot leaves more heat in the piece. Now if you could rig up an auto release switch triggered by the ram reaching a certain point it would be even easier.
if you watch the latest one you will see my easy solution...works like a charm!!!
You have a good working idea but as most log splitters are designed to split wood I have found from experience that the metal frame is to light for using metal for forging . Keep an eye on it for fractures and metal fatigue. But hey if it works for you supper job.
i hear ya!!!
Awesome
Hi m8 dont know if its been said or if this is an old video but you need taller dies and half round ones to stop the steps and then cold shuts happening , i think this maybe the first 4t log splitter conversion i have found on you tube in 6 years thanks Blacksmith UK wales .edit PS , spring system welded to the frame that pushed the button down and the lever that way you have both hands free
Yup you bet buddy its just a proof of concept but will be doing a better job at it pretty soon. I have a bunch of projects lined up first before i finish the press
I also built the damn thing because every one said it wouldn't work...i begged to differ
Make a paddle to push that button and pull the lever down at the same time.
Thanks for the great video. You answered two of my questions in one video. Would a smaller splitter like that work? And is there some way to set it up without having to totally redesign it? WANT!!!
Man you know what?! You are very welcome!!!
Great job. I was wondering if you could build a rest to steady your tongs. Might save a lot of muscle strain too. Love it though.
It is completely possible yes but the billets i do are light enough for me and i kinda rest it on the guard that is on the splitter too
Nice man. That is pretty sweet!!! Been seeing a 7 ton for $175 in my area and was wondering how it would do.
GET IT GET IT GET IT!!!!! even if you use this thing to just draw out steel save on some time. i didnt show how it draws out steel but it is INSANE!!! diff dies though
@@CGSmithing check this out, kzhead.info/sun/lNeBfrWDoYKliqc/bejne.html
Yes a good concept. From an industrial Blacksmith of 47 years in the trade. Some tips. Take half the bite you are taking first up. 1/2" instead of 1 inch. When driving a drift in to a piece of steel a 1/2 in wide drift will penatrate twice the depth of a 1 inch. Drift. Then you progress to a larger tapered drift to drift out the hole. Pushing metal sideways not out. Pre heat your dies first. You will get twice as many presses on the first attempt. If it does not weld on the first attempt you are wasting you efforts. Same with the anvil first up put a piece of plate into forge heat it to cherry lay it on your Anvil. Other wise the Anvil sucks the heat out of your in seconds. In my shop by morning tea i can cook bacon and eggs on my anvil face or a piece of steak. You should be able to keep a piece of steel hot just by working it on a hot anvil. Hope this helps. TheSmithy.....!
Thank you so much for the positive feedback. I will from now on do that!!!
@@CGSmithing not a problem anytime. I am a 7 generation Blacksmith. I now pass on my knowledge to who ever wants to learn. Cheers TheSmithy
Fu$@.... great info... tomorrow's my day off so I'll be heading to the metal supply store.... great job bro
Ey bud hang tight first ill be doin a full video on this soon step by step so hold up before you buy stuff unless you have a plan already
@@CGSmithing sorry for the late reply... I went to an auction and bought a 40 ton monster press.... getting myself ready for Forge in fire recording in October.... hope I win... need a little blue power hammer
@@dutchdemonlosangeles8667 well shiiiiiiiiit do what you need to do bud!!! My friend is a champ i know the pressure!!! Kick its ass and try to have fun my friend!!!
Couple of things just happened... 1. I subscribed to your channel 2. On marketplace looking for a electric log splitter 3. Regretting not doing this sooner
Whoooo hooooo one more for the cause!!!!! Glad to have you along buddy!!!!
Im only a few minutes in and i have to have 1!!
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE THIS THING CAN DRAW OUT STEEL LIKE CRAZY!!!! ill do a vid on how it draws out at some point for ya
I think if I did this I'd convert the power button to a switch so it's always on and use the foot treadle to actuate the compression, (kind of opposite of what you were doing), which would allow for a little more control I think. Nice though, been playing with the idea of using one of these splitters for some time now!
I just finished mine again so ill be uploading in a few days i think. I did get a great way of using the handle and button though
Cool project, maybe you could forge a funny shaped lever that can push the button at the same time, or maybe have a clamp holding down the button all the time it's used as a press
no one knows yet but, im gonna start the full build on it pretty soon
Nice job. Did you make the press attachments, if not, where did you get them?
I made them.
Beauty I got the same splitter 🇨🇦 I think it was mentioned, but use a piece of plate for a pedal, and make the linkage out of ready rod, with the switch wired into it so 2x hands are free, but better yet you should send this to princess auto, they have a contest for investors for $$ in store fyi
Sweeeeet!!!! Ive bin so busy with renos in the house i havent touched the splitter in a month yet but i have all the components to make it work just waiting on me.
I have access to a small hydraulic gas powered splitter I think 4-6 ton range if not more that I’m going to convert into a small press. It’s junk otherwise so may as well. Nice video
Sweet!!! Email me with pictures when ur done its in the description id like to see the end result
CG Smithing will do! I’m getting it from the farm next week along with a horizontal bandsaw. It’s going to take a while to get all the parts and things because it’s complete but the motor and hydraulics are bad so I need new ones. Really just the frame and the cylinder are good I believe
Awesome job...Do you plan on making it upright, by building a frame for support. May make it easier for the coordination problem? If not, maybe a tool rest that can help steady the steel so you don't have to float it while you're pressing? Again, Great Job!
Ive been thinking about it actually. A very near future vid will be me finishing the build and making a few adjustments. Some of these splitters have a tilt shut off safety feature so dont know if going vertical will happen or not i still need to see if mine has that feature but i have no issues with it its not really hard floating it the billets are nice and light too.
What brand & where do you purchase it? Good job, like you said it good for small stuff, save work.
Its a no name 4ton electric from princess auto
if you make rounded dies it will do better than the flat ones. Less surface area, then just straighten it up on the anvil.
yup done already
This video did it for me. Thanks! It looks like the WEN 6.5 which appears to be the same splitter with a little more squeeze. I was wondering if you have posted the dimensions of the steel you added to make it a press anywhere? I'm curious what the main tubes were?
Ill be doing a full build video on my splitter press one of these days where i re-do everything and improve it
Great video!!! What did you use to make the inserts to change it from a splitter to a press?
I used 3" pipe for the rams and coil spring for the dies
@@CGSmithing Thank you!!!!!
How did you form the piece around the splitter wedge, like the idea but I’m not much of a welder so might have trouble building this. I already have the splitter in 5 tons Princess Auto
I beat a pipe into a triangle...it sucked a lot
could adding a bigger motor could theoretically get it up to 15-20 tons? or would the other components fail?
i do not know......BUT...i think the other components would not be able to reliably keep on working
If I'm going to start forging, would you recommend H3 or H6 coal? :-P
RB12 BUDDY!!! lol
Good Job, can you punch a hole through 3/8 plate my guess is it will do it like a hot knife through butter but may struggle much bigger, would love too see how thick a material it can get through
Good idea!!!!! Ill see what i can come up with
And why the hell am i not subbed to your channel?!?!?! Prob solved
Lol cool, if you get time go check out mattyyoungcloudsart, and if you like his content throw him a sub as well
You could get a foot switch and wire it in place of the push button. Then you can hold it down with your foot and work the lever with your left hand. However, i love the idea, and may try to adapt my 25t gas powered splitter
I was thinking mabe moving the botton right on to the foot switch
@@CGSmithing that would work. Engage the electrical switch with your heal and engage the drive with the toe or ball of your foot.
Now thats an idea!!!!
@@CGSmithing im sure you could come up with a treadle switch, but just a simple on off, not a variable output like one for a tig rig or a sewing machine. Then fabricate mechanical linkage that works the drive lever.
That log splitter wants to take smaller bites of that hot steel =P
Rofl, the Owen Wilson caught me off guard
Wow...lol
I have a 7 ton splitter that I’ve tried to use for a press but it doesn’t seem to move metal anything like yours I don’t know why
How wide or big are your dies?
Looks like a low cost way to start and prove your interest or not
did you ever figure out how to bypass the button. I made one similar to yours but I have to hold the button down and i'd like to skip that part lol...
Man i have the perfect solution to your prob. Do you have HOJ forge on your sub list? I helped him out on his build but he did a bypass on his button. Think its his 3rd build video go check him out its a super simple modification.
Heres the video bud i hope this can help you out. kzhead.info/sun/fa2IhrquhGV-mIU/bejne.html
thank you I will go check it out now
almost a year later. this still working?
Yep still works lol
I have been looking at my log splitter for a while thinking why not a press,
DO IT!!!
How about an update? How did it hold up?
Thats a good idea ill make a video on it. There is a vid. 2.0 out but ill do an update....(still doing pretty damn good.)
@@CGSmithing That is great news. There is a Princess Auto near me so I will pick one up the next time they go on sale.
why did you leave it horizontal? thanks
Some of these splitters are designed to not work or trip out if the angle changes...a very shitty safety feature if you want to turn it into a press lol. Plus mine is still under construction I'm far from done with it but, I'm sure it has that feature.
CG Smithing thank you very much sir
Any time man
CG Smithing sorry one last question have you tried turning it vertical?
@@gabe.robins0n173 nope not yet i could try that out tomorrow and let you know. I built everything with what ever i had and as its standing. So ill check it out tomorrow and ill let you know
Bypass the button so it's foot pedal only.
I havent messed with the electronics yet but yes i want to try something like that now that i know that it works good
This is really nice, but I'm afraid you will run into trouble with the frame at one point. This thing is not made for this. Weld some steel plates on the sides of the splitter and you will be fine. You have steel and you can weld, so don't wait.
Still going strong after all this time and still works like a charm...but i did build a 50t press
To slow? Not powerful enough? Lot faster and a whole lot stronger than a hammer and 💪
For what it is its damn awesome!!!
If u remove the button and hard wire it as if the button is all ready pressed it will work on just foot pedal and then ur brain doesn't have to think about too much
So have it on permanently? As soon as it is plugged in? If so then it still wont work because the ram has no reverse option only when the machin is turned off will the ram reset...
@@CGSmithing ahh i didnt think of that. My bad
@@CGSmithing So you're saying for the ram to reverse both the button and the lever have to be released?
@@Perry_Wolf exactly. im busy as we speak with the new video on the press it will be out soon
Manual more faster
Awesome
thanx man!