I built the batson H press from the book plans ABANA sells. It works well and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. A highly worth while project and a tool that will change your forging substantially.
sourcing the metal can take some effort. I was lucky and had a metal dealer that sold small cuts. I paid the the yard man 40 bucks to cut the various metal pieces to size in his spare time from end cuts and stock he had laying around.
Some of the thicknesses that require welding are substantial and you need at least a 250amp welder. Again, not a deal breaker. I went to a local neighbor farmer that did metal fab work on the side and we used his welder as mine at the time was only 180amp. We used a MIG but a heavy buzz box with sticks can handle it also. Lot's of root passes and filler passes.
The hydraulic parts I got from Northern Tool. I installed and later removed the in line oil filter. It blew off twice with pressure pulses and sprayed oil all over. It's a closed system and nothing really can get into it so I didn't see much harm in taking it off. I'm sure some might disagree.
I mounted the motor and tank on a rolling frame and added hydraulic quick disconnects on the hoses so I could move the press (mounted on wheels) and the tank/motor (also on wheels) one part at a time.
Do make a shield of some sort for the hoses so when hot slag drips off the billets during a squeeze it doesn't melt a hole in a hose spraying 2,500psi oil all over.
look around the net for how dies can be mounted and changed out. I ended up changing mine from the plans a bit to make changing dies in and out a bit easier.
I ordered the book. Now need to find some Steel!!
