Thanks for that. I was thinking about this at one point, but ended up not wanting to drill the holes and all that. I cleaned up all the threads really well and used a ton of thread locker and that seemed to do the trick, for a while. These bolts need a somewhat constant re-tightening due to the wear plates.

I appreciate this info. The funny thing is I recently got turned on to McMaster, and I wish I’d heard of them sooner.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks One more idea, with the blacksmith tools you have and talent take a washer large enough and slam a hex into it to fit the bolts add a hole in that and safety wire that together. Just a thought. Cheers!

It was definitely the bolts not locking in. I’ve since fixed the issues. The bronze wears really well.

I hear you about being underpowered. It was a great starter, but I’ve progressed into needing more power. I’ll look into those presses. Thanks a bunch.

Thank you!! I appreciate your comment 😁

Eventually I'll make pieces of varying length, instead of stacking numerous pieces of metal on top of one another. hahaha. That's an awesome idea on the bolts. Thank you!

I’m trying the thread lock again, time with the high strength stuff. If it backs out, then I’ll do what you’re recommending. How are you liking the press, so far?

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks my son and I are loving it! Game changer for sure. Bought the drift punch die set and I am currently making an axe. My son is making a knife. Life is good

That’s great to hear!! Are you on IG?

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks no, I don’t like social media much (other than UKposts)

Thank you! They’re great little machines.

You’re very welcome! Are you referring to the bolts coming loose on the wear plates? If so, I cleaned up the bolts and holes really well, and used the strong thread locker. It’s been staying out, but hopefully I can get it apart when it comes time to tighten them.

Hahaha. I bet they’d do it for you. If I was to do it again, I’d do the 25 ton. I got the 12 ton mainly for space, but after I built my bench for it, I’m sure it takes up just as much space.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks i thought about the 25t, but I don't see myself working on anything big enough to warrant it. I was down to the 16 or 16+. The guys said that the higher speed of the 16+ is an advantage for drawing out big billets of damascus, but I'm thinking that the extra money might be better spent on some more dies.

The fast speeds are definitely worth it. The problem is that as material gets thinner, the press isn’t as effective. On mine, when the material gets to about ½” thick, the flat dies don’t really work anymore, then I have to switch to drawing dies. This is fine, unless I really don’t want to be drawing in one direction.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks I don't think the power makes a huge difference with a press. When you get thin, you have issues no matter. One thing I would consider would be a 16 ton and a McDonald sytle rolling mill if I could find someone who builds them. There is one guy but he charges WAY too much and another guy who I think charges too little , but\ he is the mystery man and you apparently have to ge through mutiple people to get to him .LOL The other option would be a small hammer like the Anyang 33/34, but any hammer is crazy expensive these days and even small ones are noisy.

I’d have to disagree with that. I’ve used a 25 ton press, and flat dies will work on much thinner material than the 12 ton.

Thanks for the tip.

They definitely need to provide us with some sort of fix for it. It shouldn’t be up to us to make their machine function properly.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks this was their solution....lol

My typical stack would be about 32 layers of ⅛” steel, but I know I can make a larger stack than that. It opens to about 5.5”, so I wouldn’t go much thicker than a 5” stack.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks wow. That's really impressive for a small press.

It does a great job.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a 12 ton. Really excited for it to get here.

Very nice! I think you’ll like it.

I do recommend this press, especially if it’s within your budget, or you’re lacking space, or if you’re doing smaller stuff. For me, right now, I wish I’d gone with the 25 ton. This thing has been great, and still is. I’ve just done a few things that I could’ve used more power. I definitely don’t regret the purchase. It was a game changer when I got it.

Thanks for the feedback, Have you forged any hammers/ axes with it? thats probably the only other larger thing i could see my self doing. @@Hathenbrucksteelworks

I haven’t, but it’ll take care of that project just fine.

The biggest issue is the thinner your steel gets, the more power you need to get it thinner…Or you switch to fullering or drawing does. Of course a more power machine is going to do it all a little quicker.

thank you very much @@Hathenbrucksteelworks

It comes with this handle, but I know you can buy a foot treadle with it.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks would you provide a link for the model, that will be very helpful. Thanks

www.knifekits.com/vcom/ckk-riveteyelet-flaring-press-master-series-for-sheathholster-making-p-634.html

Hahahaha. Yeah. I can get the billet thinner with the drawing/rounding dies, but the 12 ton just doesn’t have enough power to do it with the flat dies. I’m with you there, I wish I had the 25 ton, but my shop space is very limited.

I was going to do this as my last resort, but I cleaned up the bolts really well and got a stronger thread lock. It seems to be holding alright for now.

Yeah. That’s actually what’s on there now. The bolts aren’t supposed to be torqued very tight, so I think that’s why lock washers don’t work.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks i meant star lock washers, sorry. how about double nutting the bolts

I assumed that’s what you meant 😁. The bolts don’t go all the way through, so there’s no nuts on the ends.

@@Hathenbrucksteelworks thats all i got sorry lol

Hahaha. I appreciate your help.

Mine just has the 2 HP motor. The 12 ton moves plant fast with a 2 HP motor. When I get the 25 ton, I'll definitely get the 5 HP motor.

Unfortunately, there are no nuts. I recently cleaned up the holes and the bolts, and put liberal amount of the red thread locker. It's been holding alright. If it ends up coming loose, I'll drill holes in the bolt heads and do the wire lock.