Potential Clicker Press?

[jtron5]

Greetings!

This is my first post/question, been perusing for some time and have learned a lot from these forums. Here comes the question... Does anybody think this particular machine would work as a clicker press? The issue I could see arising is that the die I would be cutting (hopefully) is roughly 7"x 9", the cutting surface is sufficient size for this. I'm just wondering if I would get consistent & even pressure for a uniform cut. The leather would be about 5 oz. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!!!

http://www.tecre.com/catalog.php?p=159

[Itch]

Honestly even with 2 handles I dont see this working very well..We use a big hydraulic press that works very well..If you are not doing a lot of production,why not just beef up your die with a piece of flat steel and tap it with a rubber mallet or so..I think you get the idea ?

[jtron5]

Thanks for the reply! That is something I have thought about using a mallet, but was concerned about damaging a non reinforced die. I'm hoping to do a run of a couple hundred pieces. Further digging brought up that the press has 2,000 ft lbs at bottom of stroke. There's a video somewhere of it cutting leather, but I can't track it down.

[Art]

Honestly, any of twelve or so folks on here have clickers and can do a small run for you. Anything from their leather to your leather. Some like me would even entertain you coming over and doing it yourself (after a bit of training). Where are you located?

Art

[cem]

I've seen a video of this it can do leather in the video though it looked like it was chrome tanned, also it only works on dies that fit completely under the the ram. If you look at the dies they sell they aren't that big. If you want a cheaper clicker press you would be better off modifying a shop press or looking into the ones Texas Custom Dies or Weaver sell.

Clair

[billymac814]

I just started making my own dies (steel rule dies w/plywood in the center) and I modified a 12 ton shop press. I used the plates weavers sells with their cutting pad and replaced the bottle jack with an air powered one. I have about 300 bucks invested in it and another 500 or so in the bender for the dies and some dies for it. My patterns are roughly 7" X5" and it takes a considerable amount of force to cut through 7-7.5 oz leather. I doubt that machine would do it but its hard to tell how big it is. The biggest downfall to the shop press is you need to have pieces that fit in between the arms. Some day ill get a real clicker press but for now this works better than any round knife I've ever used.

[billymac814]

I should also note that with my steel rule dies the cutting blade is actually pretty thin so it takes less pressure to push them through the leather than the heavier type dies.

Also if I were to do it over I would have got the 20 ton shop press, not because I need the extra power but because its wider. I originally bought the press to mold holsters though so I already had it.

[jtron5]

Thanks everybody, a lot to mull over. I actually currently use cnc laser to cut/engrave (long story), but don't like the charring, and would like to adopt a more traditional means of production. I did however successfully cut/engrave some embossing stamps from acrylic today via laser. The weaver clicker is tempting... though I'm currently in a place where a grand is hard to part with. The shop press route is tempting but also seems cumbersome. And to Art, I'm in Portland Oregon, and for as much production and industry we thankfully have around here, there is a lack of accessible presses.

[King's X]

For that price you can make a 12 ton & 20 ton press converted. My recent press conversion was less than $200. Good luck on your decision.

[cem]

The Weaver one I was referring to is the Heritage hydraulic bench press ( code: 65-6300), clicker plates with cutting pad (code: 65-6305). My catalogue is a couple of years old now so I'm not 100% sure if they still have it but the price of the already set up press and the plates is under what that machine costs so it might be worth contacting Weaver to find out if they do.

Clair