pycharm Posted July 20, 2020 Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) Looking at moving into making strobe rockets, but as you all know, it requires a press with a blast guard. I found a pneumatic press for around 600, but there are cheaper hand pump 15t presses for about 300. In your experience, is a hand pump press suitable? I'm thinking of putting the blast guard so it covers around the handle. Wasn't sure if hand pumping (which takes longer) might cause more friction than the air operated. Edited July 20, 2020 by pycharm
MadMat Posted July 20, 2020 Posted July 20, 2020 Other than the extra effort involved, a hand press is just fine. I made my own press for around $40 with steel from a scrap yard, a bottle jack, some large diameter threaded rod and 1/2" polycarbonate. The bottle jack and poly made up most of the price. 1
pycharm Posted July 20, 2020 Author Posted July 20, 2020 Other than the extra effort involved, a hand press is just fine. I made my own press for around $40 with steel from a scrap yard, a bottle jack, some large diameter threaded rod and 1/2" polycarbonate. The bottle jack and poly made up most of the price.Awesome! I saw some even cheaper that I may look into getting just to start out with. What's the minimum pressure press you'd recommend?
MadMat Posted July 21, 2020 Posted July 21, 2020 The minimum pressure required depends solely on what you plan to use your press for. In my case, I primarily use it for corning BP. My "rig" for pressing the BP pucks is a piece of three inch PVC pipe and two 3" fiberglass reinforced polyester pistons, cast to fit snugly inside the pvc pipe. For this I chose an 8 ton bottle jack. Yes it is small, but it has performed adequately for everything I have ever used it for and that includes pressing a few, experimental 1lb. BP rockets
pycharm Posted July 21, 2020 Author Posted July 21, 2020 I have a 5t I can get for free, is why I ask. Maybe it will suffice. Thanks for the help!
Mumbles Posted July 21, 2020 Posted July 21, 2020 5 tons of force should be sufficient for all but the largest rockets. You're probably okay up to around 4lb (1.25" ID), but 6lb (1.5" ID) might be pushing it. For other items, 5 ton is probably sufficient for comets up to around 3".
pycharm Posted July 22, 2020 Author Posted July 22, 2020 5 tons of force should be sufficient for all but the largest rockets. You're probably okay up to around 4lb (1.25" ID), but 6lb (1.5" ID) might be pushing it. For other items, 5 ton is probably sufficient for comets up to around 3". I'm thinking 1lb 3/4" should be perfect. So I'm happy to hear that.
MadMat Posted July 23, 2020 Posted July 23, 2020 Opps!! I need to make a correction... the bottle jack in my press is actually a 5 ton! I have shop jack that is 8 ton and I guess I got them mixed up... so yeah I can back up what Mumbles said with real world experience
pycharm Posted July 23, 2020 Author Posted July 23, 2020 Opps!! I need to make a correction... the bottle jack in my press is actually a 5 ton! I have shop jack that is 8 ton and I guess I got them mixed up... so yeah I can back up what Mumbles said with real world experienceGreat!
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