Tips on buying a used single sided fly press.

If your thinking of purchasing a new fly press then its best to consider the following issues before making the purchase.

• What force do you need? The presses are rated normally in tons with the press number usually denoting their capacity. E.g. A Norton #6 can give 6 tons force with two balls on the arm.

• What space do I have available for the press? This is important to consider as with some of the larger presses say #6 s have a span across the arm of up to 4 foot. {1.3 M} You need space to rotate the arm.
  

• What throat do you need?  This is the distance from the centre of the presses ram to the back of the presses frame. If your going to be working on large sheets of metal then you need to know how far in from the edge of the sheet you will be working. If your clinching a nut into a sheet of metal 10 inches in from the sheet edge, then its not wise to buy a fly press with just a 7 inch throat, Generally you want a throat at least an inch more than what you consider to be you maximum working distance from the sheet edge.

 

• What daylight do you need? This is the distance between the end of the slides {that hold the ram in place} and the machined base of the press. It’s important to know, as it determines how big a tool you can fit in the press. If you have a die set, that in its closed position has a height of say 8-1/2 inches {over the stub} then you need to get press with a shut height of 9 inches or more.  Note the stub {or stem} is the round arbor that fits in to the hole in the ram of the press. You need to remember its there as if you don’t take its height into account, you will not be able to get you tool into the press.

• What stroke do I need to make the tool work? 95% of fly press applications use a short stroke{less than an inch of travel} but there are tools out there that require more. So you need to consider the stroke.

 

• Do I want it supplied on a table? This is really a transport cost issue, Its some time cheaper to just have the press shipped and for you to make a table yourself.

• Do you need a hole in the press base? If your punching metal or cropping metal then you need to consider where the scarp is going?. If you have a hole through the base it will be possible to design your tools so the slugs fall straight through the tool and through the hole in the base. This means you will not have to stop work continually to clear away debris – off cuts. 
  

•   How do assess the presses general condition? You need to consider, if there are any cracks in the frame or arm? Are the tee shots in good condition? Is there play back in the screw/ram? Is there excessive play in the ram slide? Has the arm ever been welded after it broke?

• How can I get the press into my place? Even the small #1 & #2 fly presses have bit of weight in them. You certainly would not want to drop one on your foot. Above the #2 models weight starts to shoot up. A #6 press for instant can weight 500Lbs. You need to give careful consideration therefore how you’re going to handle the press on arrival. Don’t try and muddle through when taking delivery of the press, get friends to help or even bring professionals in to put the press in place. If you get it wrong the press can fall, and as the frame is cast iron it could crack. Worst still someone could get seriously hurt.

That my tips for buying a single sided fly press hope it helps!

To undestand the terms used better see the photo below.