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Enerpac Pump and Hydraulic Press

Jewelry Discussion
#1

Greetings,

Has any one out their in Orchidland made their own Hydraulic Press
as per the directions in Susan Kinglsey’s Book, “Hydraulic Die
Forming for Jewelers and Metalsmiths”.

I would like any helpful tips available before I make the attempt.

I can’t seem to locate the Enerpac Pump and Cylinder set as
recommended on pg.88 of her book. Does anyone know of the new item
numbers for this, or an alternative pump with a gauge that would also
work well? (I have contacted Enerpac and am waiting for a reply)

Thanks!
Margaret

#2

Margaret - I am not familiar with Susan’s book, but I have a
homemade 30 ton hydraulic press for paper making. My dh had it made
for me after I finished my MFA. He had a metal shop construct the
frame based on measurements of one at my graduate school. Then he
bought a 30 ton hydraulic press, probably from Grainger, and had it
all put together. It really just consists of a frame to hold the top
and bottom plates, and the pump. E-mail me off-list if you want me
to take a digital photo and send it to you. I don’t think it was
very complicated to make. It is MUCH larger than the jewelry press I
have seen (hi Celia!), but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, or why
you couldn’t adjust the plate size to your specifications.

Good luck!
Beth in SC

#3

I have a sort of homemade hydraulic press. I looked into buying the
gauge and hydraulic jack separately, but the prices I founded added
up to basically the same as the Bonny Doon Jack, so I bought that
rather than risk ruining the jack while trying to install the gauge.

My frame is a welded one that a local college had made up – they
did up a bunch of them and sold them to students. It’s made from
steel stock that looks like small I-beams.

I wanted to be able to use all the great Bonny Doon accessories, so
I had made steel platens just like the ones on the Bonny Doon press,
with the holes in the same place.

The one in the Susan Kinglsey book, I would not use in a classroom
setting, but I would be willing to use at home.

Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
Studio 925; established 1992
@E_Luther

#4

Margaret - I am not familiar with Susan’s book, but I have a homemade
30 ton hydraulic press for paper making. My dh had it made for me
after I finished my MFA. He had a metal shop construct the frame
based on measurements of one at my graduate school. Then he bought a
30 ton hydraulic press, probably from Grainger, and had it all put
together. It really just consists of a frame to hold the top and
bottom plates, and the pump. E-mail me off-list if you want me to
take a digital photo and send it to you. I don’t think it was very
complicated to make. It is MUCH larger than the jewelry press I have
seen (hi Celia!), but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, or why you
couldn’t adjust the plate size to your specifications.

Good luck!
Beth in SC