Metal Artist Forum

Any reason you couldn't put a lighter wheel(or handle and ball weight system) on a #8 flypress for lighter work?

I can't see any reason it wouldn't work.

The weight of the flywheel is part of what determines the size of the press. Stroke size is also a factor.

You may be able to retrofit a flywheel but why

If you would see what we do with a #6 you wouldn't be asking this. Unless you really want to move big stuff then make a hydrolic ram press it's easier on your body and it doesn't take as much work as it would to modify a #8

Pook,

I don't have enough experience with flypresses to make definitive response, but I would think that even with a lighter flywheel, the bigger press would be more work to use than a corresponding smaller press because of the size and inherent inertial, friction, etc. of the screw itself. I have read of folks adding extra weight to a flypress, but you would still have the smaller throat and height to contend with, and I'm sure there is a practical limit to how much weight you could add. Like Stretch said, there have been more times he needed a bigger press than times he needed a smaller one. Sometimes I wish I had purchased a larger power hammer, but with my S5 flypress, size has not been the limiting factor.

Take care,

Dave

Grizz Wrote:The weight of the flywheel is part of what determines the size of the press. Stroke size is also a factor.

You may be able to retrofit a flywheel but why

If you would see what we do with a #6 you wouldn't be asking this. Unless you really want to move big stuff then make a hydrolic ram press it's easier on your body and it doesn't take as much work as it would to modify a #8

I'm looking at the ability to work material up to a max of 4" square and round stock for slitting/drifting and tenon work but typicaly material would be between 1 and 2" diameter.

I allready use alot of stock 1" and bigger on a regular basis. I can do most of these operations on my Nazel, but am looking at a quiet alternative so I can continue working later at night when the powerhammers are to much for the neighbours. I typically have to shut down just when I get into my groove. I'm a night person

I do have a 50ton c frame hyrdraulic press thats almost ready to run which I was hoping would do most of this work, but since using the smaller fly press for smaller work, I liked the control and feel it gave, but it didn't have the oomph I hoped it would. My guess it was a #4or#5 press going by weights given on the websites selling flypress's

David S. Wrote:Pook,

I don't have enough experience with flypresses to make definitive response, but I would think that even with a lighter flywheel, the bigger press would be more work to use than a corresponding smaller press because of the size and inherent inertial, friction, etc. of the screw itself. I have read of folks adding extra weight to a flypress, but you would still have the smaller throat and height to contend with, and I'm sure there is a practical limit to how much weight you could add. Like Stretch said, there have been more times he needed a bigger press than times he needed a smaller one. Sometimes I wish I had purchased a larger power hammer, but with my S5 flypress, size has not been the limiting factor.

Take care,

Dave

I know the diameter of the screw goes up to 3" compared to the 2-3/8"screw on a #6, and also the weight of the ram itself. Other than those to things I don't think a #8 flypress with the weight of the number #5 would be that much harder to spin.

I'm wondering though if the thread pitch is different.



I know I wouldn't be maxing out a #5 or 6 on aregular basis but if I have the abiltity to down size a #8 to make it work like a #5 or #6 with all the benefits of more work space fro tooling and jigs under the ram plus the abilty to really work hard as a #8 when needed, the extra few $ upfront seems reasonable. Instead of getting something thats isn't quite big enough to do a job.

Pook Wrote:Instead of getting something thats isn't quite big enough to do a job.

I agree with this logic but 4" stock? I'm going to go out on a limb and say no way. How would you handle 4" stock and run your press? I don't think even an #8 will manipulate 4" stock very well (if at all) and even if it did it will take a lot of effort.

Pook...it sounds like you need two presses. There is not a one size fits all press here with your requirements and easy working.

Yeah I agree matt. 2 press's would be better. I'm going to look at a few local ones Monday, then I'm going to make a decision. if the prices are good on the local ones, and they are as big as the guy says they are I may end up also buying a #5 or #6 in the near future.

I'm rearranging the shop for overhead crane so now's the time to get things laid out and setup. My wife has also rented a studio in our downtown for her photography work, so I've been able to claim her old 300sq' of shop space as mine

4" stock would be a very rare thing indeed and maybe out of reach of the #8. But being able to move and manipulate big stock is the reason for the overhead crane getting built. My dad's business sells Bollards to the city's and they are always looking for new fancy alternatives to the basic pipe ones and have a few things drawn up. If it won't work on the flypress they'll have to get done on the Nazel.

Pook,

I am just a neophyte here, so take my opinions accordingly: heck, 3 years ago I thought a flypress would be something a dry cleaner might use on men's trousers; but I think you might want to take a step back and think about just what you want a flypress to do. They are not a silent replacement for a powerhammer. If you think you need a big flypress to do big flypress things, then buy a big flypress. I'm sure you can do smaller work on a large press. I believe I could probably hold an egg upright in my press without cracking the shell, just have to be careful. I can bend 1/2" steel bar cold just by pulling the wheel around in my #S5, not even bumping it; have no idea how large a size stock I could manipulate hot, but I bet hanging on to the stock by myself and spinning the flywheel would be more of a challenge than mashing it!!

All this flypress talk is making me want to grab a quart of Gatorade, a handful of salt tablets and go out to the shop and smash something. Good luck in your quest for the ultimate flypress(es).

Dave

I don't think there would be a problem putting less weight on a big flypress. It would work just fine. i put more weight on mine and took it off. It was scary how much work it did and how much everything flexed when I did some work. I put enough weight on to make it about a 14 ton, It scared me so I took it off. Didn't want the flywheel coming off someday because I was under it. Less weight you just do less work.

sounds like what you need is a powered fly press !! they work faster than a hydraulic press and i think with more control ..But you dont have to swing a big flywheel ! i have used one at a friends shop and they are nice! might look into that for what your doing ...

Quote:Posted by Pook - 07-14-2007 12:02 AM
Yeah I agree matt. 2 press's would be better. I'm going to look at a few local ones Monday, then I'm going to make a decision. if the prices are good on the local ones, and they are as big as the guy says they are I may end up also buying a #5 or #6 in the near future.

Hey Pook, if you dont buy them get a number to me, Ive been looking for one......Kerry