Pressworks
Here's where it gets interesting. Where I get to see what the press will do for me in the shop. Since I had never used one, there was still some doubt to it's potential. Kinda like the weight machine on T.V. that's guaranteed to give you washboard abs. Let me tell you, after using the press for most of the morning today (Wednesday August 17, 2005) I'm sold and wish I'd built the thing a long time ago.
My first victims. I actually only worked on the stack to the far left. This was initially a stack of six alternating layers of 1095 and L6 I believe. Can't remember now 'cause once I got the first weld, I cut it into thirds, folded it, and couldn't ever get it to weld again. It sat in my shop for months waiting for the press to squish the crap out of it.
O.K. now I've succesfully welded it and folded again. I was suprised how easy the press made it to flatten, draw, and true up the billet. You gotta remember here, I've been doing things with a hand hammer, treadle hammer, and just recently the rolling mill. More on the mill later.
Welded and stretched again. I've never been able to do one or two folds and welds in one session before. Probably because I've never been trained how to do it and not enough POWER.
Finished folding. Stretched to final shape before cutting in for ladder pattern. About 3/8" thick, 1" wide and 14" long. At this point I'm alternating between the press and the rolling mill. The press moves things quickly and the mill flattens it all out the entire length of the billet.
