Updup Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Hey everyone, i'm new to the whole pyro thing but i want to exersize alot of safety, i'm i'm about to go away from blackpowder type comps to make comps with metels in them (mainly for fountians) but dont want to be ramming metels, do any of ya'll know where i could get a cheap press (of anytype)? and how much force do i need? is 1.5 tonns good? Cheers [= Updup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonny Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Hey everyone, i'm new to the whole pyro thing but i want to exersize alot of safety, i'm i'm about to go away from blackpowder type comps to make comps with metels in them (mainly for fountians) but dont want to be ramming metels, do any of ya'll know where i could get a cheap press (of anytype)? and how much force do i need? is 1.5 tonns good? Cheers [= Updup There is a whole thread on presses in the rocketry section... 1.5ton is pretty weak, I'd start with a 6ton jack at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 About the absolute cheapest ready-made press is going to cost about $100 before shipping. They have "A" frame and "H" frame presses, and if you are going to buy one, consider that one day you might be pressing giant rockets, so be sure it has the stroke and size you need. It is possible to make a press, but to get into the heavier pressing regimes requires some very stout steel framing, and in the end, it is sometimes cheaper to buy a Chinese press ready-made. For benchtop, light work, a car bottle and a lighter framing can be put together pretty cheaply, but keep in mind the power of the jack - the frame needs to be REALLY stout. Maybe 1" dia. threaded rod, plus a few square-sectioned tube steel members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Updup Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 About the absolute cheapest ready-made press is going to cost about $100 before shipping. They have "A" frame and "H" frame presses, and if you are going to buy one, consider that one day you might be pressing giant rockets, so be sure it has the stroke and size you need. It is possible to make a press, but to get into the heavier pressing regimes requires some very stout steel framing, and in the end, it is sometimes cheaper to buy a Chinese press ready-made. For benchtop, light work, a car bottle and a lighter framing can be put together pretty cheaply, but keep in mind the power of the jack - the frame needs to be REALLY stout. Maybe 1" dia. threaded rod, plus a few square-sectioned tube steel members. Okay thanks, i have a 1.5 tonn bottle jack but it aperes that might not be good, and if i dont have a welder i cant make a fram to put in in anyway. thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Study the pressure that the compound needs then limit the diameter of the product to that which suits the jack that you can get. Watching some 4" fountains being pressed at Kimbolton they needed a big press but if you are going to press 3/4 or 1" fountains then you will need less ram force to get the same pressure on the reduced area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonny Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 A steel frame press can be built without welding, by simply bolting the componenets. Even a wood frame can be made using hardwood. As Arther said, if pressing small fountains, lower pressure is fine. I have done small fountains (1") using a pipe clamp and they worked just fine. You might also want to look into a small arbor press. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEskimo Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Dunno how they are, but here's a good selection of prebuilt presses. Add a blast shield, and you should be ready to go.http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...matchallpartial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Updup Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Fantastic, I appreciate all your help guys, I think if I built a strong wood/metal frame I could make this work, as I will only be pressing 1" ID MAX, and I have a 1.5 ton bottle jack [= oh and I just looked at ebay and found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/1-2-TON-HEAVY-DUTY-ARBOR-PRESS-PRESSES-ASSEMBLY-LEVER_W0QQitemZ300348152951QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ee251c77 might it work for small fountains and rockets? and would getting a press allow me to pack more comp in my tube than hammering it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonny Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) Fantastic, I appreciate all your help guys, I think if I built a strong wood/metal frame I could make this work, as I will only be pressing 1" ID MAX, and I have a 1.5 ton bottle jack [= oh and I just looked at ebay and found this: http://cgi.ebay.com/1-2-TON-HEAVY-DUTY-ARBOR-PRESS-PRESSES-ASSEMBLY-LEVER_W0QQitemZ300348152951QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ee251c77 might it work for small fountains and rockets? and would getting a press allow me to pack more comp in my tube than hammering it? That arbor press should work for 1" fountains... I have the same one (different colour, but likely from the same Chinese factory). The only problem is the working height is very low, so as the comp builds up in the tube, you have no room for the rammer. You will have to raise it up by adding threaded rods and a plate or clamping it on blocks and pressing direcrtly on a strudy surface/table.See here for some great info:wichitabuggywhip.com/fireworks/rockets/presses.html Edited October 9, 2009 by Bonny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostfido Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...32763_200332763 I bought this press because it is semi-portable.I can throw it in my Suburban and bring it with me up to the lake, or bring it to the PGI or club shoots if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twotails Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 I have a 6ton bottle jack that im altering with heavy caridge springs. Im also installing a 1in bullet proof glass sheld to the front, and Heavy duty plexi-glass side extenders. Im making it so I can operate it from a distance. Hopefully i will get it done by fall of 2010. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Updup Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Okay my bottle jack is 2 tons, i just need a strong frame and i can do an inverted press setup, having the jack at the bottom, pushing up on the fountain with the ramming rod aganst the top of my strong frame. this should work, i guess i dont need a press till i get metel powders, which i dont think i'll be getting till after x-mas. again i really like you guy's help [= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycastlefish Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I have a question related to this topic. Ti and black powder can be rammed, right? Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the author of Turbo Pyro show himself ramming a bp/ferro ti mix in his fountain video? Why would he recommend this if it wasn’t an acceptable practice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSidewinder Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Personally, I wouldn't ram it. (I'd only press it.) But I'd like to hear other opinions about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twotails Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 For me, its dependednt apon size, I almost never make fouintins larger than 1in ID, and i never make tham more than 6in long. when im packing comps with metal, I tend to dampen it with a solvent, somthing that nothing is going to react with, I dampen it, mostly with no binder (although i have beed using 2% RG in my latest fountins), They do take a while to dry, but i think they work well. The fountins that i make to be shot off that night, i dont dampen them, and i gently press the composition down in managable layers, giving it a few light taps with a rubber mallet to compact it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumbles Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I've done it before, and I'm not sure how I feel about it really. I've never had an accident, and have heard of many others doing the same. I really can't recommend it but there are worse things to do, like drilling into this comp with a power drill. It's good practice to ram/press the first increment with BP or fountain mix without metal in any case. That way you're not drilling into metal comp or ramming it on a steel spindle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPAZ Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Harry Gilliam has detailed instructions on how to make your own hydraulic press. Link... http://blog.skylighter.com/fireworks/2008/...cket-press.html It is fairly simple as long as you have a friend that has a metal shop for those large holes in the thick metal bases. I made one myself, including installing the pressure guage, for about $75. I use it for making comets and making BP pucks. Works great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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