Oil-hydraulic presses are typically used to weld folded billets of metal. However, oil-hydraulic presses are very expensive and bulky for knife makers. This also applies to forging presses from China, which are also offered in Germany. Oil-hydraulic workshop presses are a more affordable option; these are not specifically designed for knife making but rather for machine and steel construction. However, some of these have hand pumps. Presses with electric or pneumatic motors cost somewhat more, but their power is insufficient for forging Damascus steel knives, resulting in a slow pressing speed. The molten metal cools down too quickly. Furthermore, workshop presses are bulky and require a lot of space.

Our range includes compact forging presses suitable for tabletop use. They are powered by standard pressure washers; the higher the pressure, the faster the presses operate. Pressure washers up to a maximum of 210 bar deliver a pressing force of 35 tons.

Water circulates in a closed loop. Connecting the pressure washer to the mains water supply will maintain the washing function.

The first image shows our 34-ton press with a 200-bar pressure washer from the Italian manufacturer Comet, model K200 12/200 T Classic. It's a high-speed press, therefore inexpensive, but at 86 dB, it's not exactly quiet. The forging press has a force of 34 tons and a pressing speed of 12 mm/sec.

Next to the pressure washer are the water reservoir and the foot control at the base.

As an alternative with the same appearance, the slower-speed pressure washer model K 250 11/210 T Classic, also from Comet, offers 210 bar and a flow rate of 11 liters/min. This press has a pressing force of 35 tons and a pressing speed of 11 mm/sec.

We also have customers who only have single-phase power available. Image 2 shows the press from the previous image with a compact 220-volt pressure washer under the table. Pressing force is 25 tons.

Pressing speed of the high-pressure cleaner with a flow rate of 10 l/min is 1 cm/sec.

Access to the press chamber is 102 mm wide and 200 mm high. Instead of the usual design of forging presses with lateral columns for guidance, we simply extended the cylinder tube, and windows allow access to the press chamber. The tube walls heat up and radiate heat back, thus slowing down the cooling process.

The height is 20 cm, the width 102 mm and the depth = tube diameter 180 mm. The arrows indicate the respective magnets. The second photo shows the strength of the magnets. In addition, the mould holder plates have M 10 threads.