power hammer v/s hydraulic press

[TxMoon]

I am looking at building a power hammer but looks like to me a air over hydraulic press would be a lot easer to build .
question is what are the advantages of a power hammer over a press or is there?

[kbaknife]

I have a 50# Little Giant and could not make knives without it, since I mostly use large stock. I have spent very little time on a press, but it is the next major tool upgrade in my shop!!
It would be MUCH easier to build a reliable and efficient press than it would a power hammer.
The ease of interchange-ability of the dies on the press makes it a great advantage in a shop.
Don Fogg sells a manual for building a press that I think is invaluable for this purpose.
 http://www.dfoggknives.com/hydralic.htm
If you decide to build a press, please document the process, photograph it well, and come back and post it here!!!

[Kevin Evans]

I also have a 25# trip hammer and it is very good for many knife building tasks,but not relly big enough for making Damascus (IMO) it works but I usually go to friends house and use press to make Damascus.
My friend use the press for things I use my trip hammer for also.So if I had it to do over I would get a press.(maybe)
My next tool will be a Mill and then maybe a press.
I would also like you to show us pics if you build a press!!!

[Doug Campbell]

I started many years ago with my little 25# hammer have forged many #s of steel and made many #s of damascus with it so don't know any better    (Got a buddy with a 100#er that I'd love to have though.) I also got to work on a press quite a bit a few years ago till moving to MT and loved it. They both have thier strong points and are interchangable to a degree but if your building your own toys by all means go with the press. Got several of the components here so plan to put one together some day...

Oh yea Rooster, that mill is very handy to have around too!!