Help With Clicking Press!

[najram2007]

Yes a safety routine is a great way to keep your pointers from being squished. It is great to see that people have these great old restored machines and they keep working. Wind Power your linkage block sounds like just what I need to push me to buy this machine. Can you please post pictures of the linkage setup. It would be so much appreciated by me and by anyone in the future who comes across one of these old beauties and is worried about the safety issues. I uploaded the video onto youtube. Please have a look and tell me what you all think?? It does look a really large machine even next to the gentleman operating it. Thanks. Marj

Edited August 12, 2013 by najram2007

[wind power]

Hi Marj, It looks likes its missing every now and then either he is trying to click it again before the clutch reengages or it needs adjustment....a quick adjustment can be made in the handle arm, by slightly adjusting it in or out or slightly bending it...those machines were designed to be within a range of height cutting board and die....stll a lot of adjustment there! Power off the machine if you feel its in the machine and not the operator cycling it too fas....t adjust the arm and cycle the machine over by hand...make sure you have the power off!...cycling by hand will tell you if your adjustment will allow it to go over a complete cycle without jamming the linkage..if it jams just reverse it slightly and readjust the arm until you get it to completely cycle

[Trevor]

Hi there Najram. There seems like a few people that would like to see you buy this thing. I have a Hydraulic clicking press (Atom 18 ton) that I bought second hand and its the best thing I ever did. Its got a huge flat piece of Aluminum under the head which allows me to cut big items etc. This was supplied by the guy who was the dealer. Its an asset to my company and the only thing I replace is the little micro switches in the handles which crap out every so often. There must be places that sell second hand leather machinery where you are and the only thing I can say is to look around and buy good. Are you running a business or a museum?? ha ha. your increased leatherwork with a good clicker will pay for it in no time. Take a loan or borrow. I run a small business under my Home in Auckland New Zealand so Im not that far away and know what you are up against. If you are worried about single phase not a problem. A good engineer will change a motor for you in no time and select the same or similar HP output that you require. Here are some pics of my press for you to look at. This has been changed to single phase. Good luck mate Cheers TRK

[Trox]

It would be easy to make a spring loaded linkage block on the top of the moving head, that block the downward travel of the trigger linkage. Then a small handle you have to bend aside with the free hand. Then you need both your hands to trigger it. I do not want to be nonchalant about safety, I am careful working with all machines. You can build on a belt cover, I have belt covers on all my machines (except one Pfaff). I have eleven leather working machines (not included bench machines) some are old others new. Some of the best ones are old. I do not do mass production, I use my clicker for both embossing and cutting. I was doing mass producing I would have purchased a new machine. (By the way there was no other used machines for sale where I live). Now I see no reason why I should spend several K of dollars for a new one, when this do the job just as fast and good. I started with needles and awls, bought inn machines when I could afford it. Most members here starts with old museums pieces, I do not see any problems with that. No loans here, I own my stuff myself. Then no bank will come and take your business away either.

[Trox]

http://www.ebay.com/...=item43be6d3778

You see this one has a rebuilt double electrical trigger on it. Everything is possible. Look at the last picture and you see how they did it, with an electrical solenoid. That would not be difficult to build on.

Tor

Edited August 12, 2013 by Trox

[najram2007]

There was a nice newer clicking press on ebay last week that looked very similar to yours Trevor that was 3 phase and sold for $1600, Around $2000 with delivery. I was told by many people that the only way I could run it at home was to get 3 phase power hooked up. That would cost around $800? But not sure if I could anyway as our power bill is on the low scale. So it is possible to replace the motor to single phase? Interesting! That would be done by an Electrical engineer right?? What would it roughly cost to get the motor relaced to single phase Trevor? If I had to pick I would go with a newer press no matter how much I love museum pieces :-) And this old press would take up a lot of space im not sure I have at the moment. Or it will be a really tight fit. It would be at least 1.5x2meters. Thanks Tor, Now I see how that linkage blocker switch works. Doesn't seem to difficult to get installed. I was worried that my can might get caught in that belt. Would need a belt cover also. One of my dilemmas is these Machines don't come up very often. So its a matter of should I buy it now when I possibly don't need it or wait till the business is swinging and look for one then. I still am considering a converted 20ton shop press that will cost around $400 and take up a lot less room. I have been using a clicking press for a small fee at a little handbag workshop which is fine but it has been a hassle driving 40 minutes every time I need to use it. Everywhere is a long drive in Australia!

Edited August 12, 2013 by najram2007

[Trox]

There was a nice newer clicking press on ebay last week that looked very similar to yours Trevor that was 3 phase and sold for $1600, Around $2000 with delivery. I was told by many people that the only way I could run it at home was to get 3 phase power hooked up. That would cost around $800? But not sure if I could anyway as our power bill is on the low scale. So it is possible to replace the motor to single phase? Interesting! That would be done by an Electrical engineer right?? What would it roughly cost to get the motor relaced to single phase Trevor? If I had to pick I would go with a newer press no matter how much I love museum pieces :-) And this old press would take up a lot of space im not sure I have at the moment. Or it will be a really tight fit. It would be at least 1.5x2meters. Thanks Tor, Now I see how that linkage blocker switch works. Doesn't seem to difficult to get installed. I was worried that my can might get caught in that belt. Would need a belt cover also. One of my dilemmas is these Machines don't come up very often. So its a matter of should I buy it now when I possibly don't need it or wait till the business is swinging and look for one then. I still am considering a converted 20ton shop press that will cost around $400 and take up a lot less room. I have been using a clicking press for a small fee at a little handbag workshop which is fine but it has been a hassle driving 40 minutes every time I need to use it. Everywhere is a long drive in Australia!

Every AC motor is originally a 3 phase motor, you rebuild them to a single PH with mirroring one phase, and use a big capacitor. You loose some power on the motor this way. I have a friend who rebuilt motors, on big motors (1 KW or more) he use an extra capacitor and do it in such way that he loose very little power. He rebuilt my clicker motor to a single phase and it works better now than it did on three phase (it was some other faults on that motor too). You could change the motor for a bigger single phase to prevent the power lost on converting it to single. Do not use a frequency converter on such motor, because then you would loose more power that way. Convert it with extra big capacitors to keep the start up force on it, when the motor runs on top rpm it will be enough power anyway.

If you can buy something good for 400 $ that does not need any work, then you should do it.

Thats not much when it comes to a clicking press.

Tor

[najram2007]

Can I get some honest opinions on this press? Is it worth investing in? It seems to run OK. All up it will cost about $700 - $800 AUD with delivery. I haven't seen it in person. I have only seen the video. I guess these old machines where made to last but I am worried about major repairs. Should I be? Thanks. Marj

[najram2007]

I have decided to jump in and buy this clicking press. My local used sewing machine salesman has offered to bring it back with him on his next trip down to Melbourne in the next couple of weeks. He seems to know some things about these old presses and has been very helpful. It will only set me back $650 AUD all up. Which is in my budget.

[Trox]

I have decided to jump in and buy this clicking press. My local used sewing machine salesman has offered to bring it back with him on his next trip down to Melbourne in the next couple of weeks. He seems to know some things about these old presses and has been very helpful. It will only set me back $650 AUD all up. Which is in my budget.

Good luck.

Tor