7" Press Tonnage

[2043]

Hey Everybody,

I have been looking at different pressing options and was wondering the following:

It seems that the press tonnage for 12" records generally falls in the 100-125 ton range for manual presses like Hamiltons and Finebilts for example. I think 3 post Alpha brochure shows 108 tons.

So for 7" records would a 50-80 ton press be appropriate? It's not often I see one and when I do the nameplates are difficult to read.

It seems like less mass to press would take less force. Not sure if it's a ratio or what. I'm horrible with physics...

Thanks in advance for knowledge sharing.
--Mike

[Aussie0zborn]

You're on the right track, Toolex AD12 12"press is 108 tonnes. Toolex also made a smaller press, the AD7 for 7" records, as did Lened.I don't know the tonnage of these dedicated 7" presses but they are certainly less. I would think there is no point in making a dedicated 7" press these days - probably best to make one press that can make 7", 10" and 12" records.

[mossboss]

There is tonnage and tonnage, what you need to keep in mind is not only the pressure in tonnes but the projected area of the record, 70 to 80 tonne range garage presses are plentiful they will not press a record you need the area of the piston that exerts the pressure about the same diameter if not around 10% greater, the dedicated AD1207 have a piston slightly bigger than a 7" record, they made two versions one that run on low pressure hydraulic system with a 20% larger piston the other on high pressure about the same as the 7" record high pressure 200 Bar 2850 PSI low pressure 100 bar 1450 odd PSI Leneds always around 2000 PSI, SMT dual 7" same deal 2000 psi primary pressure but they both have pressure multipliers at the final squeeze which get the pressure up, two to one if memory serves me at all
Best