Veneer/inlay press

[Gecko]

Here is my version of a veneer/inlay press. It has an inside dimension of 13"x18" with about 4-5" of height clearance. The design was based on a plan from an inlay book I have and from pictures of something like it on another forum. Testing will commence within a month or so. The band that is in the "in-use" picture was made before the press was built. Pictures can be found at http://www.thedragonslair.com as they are 1200x800 so detail can be seen better. Figured they were a bit large to post here.

[cabinetman]

That's a great looking press. Couple of questions. I'm assuming the whole framework is welded up steel (angle, I-beam, bar stock?), and the jacks are 3/4" pipe, threaded, with a "T" handle welded in the top? If I'm way off, what are the parts, and did you do the welding? It's really ingenious the way you engineered it. Got a larger one in mind for the future?

I have friends that have a shop, and they have a press large enough to do a 4' x 8' sheet. The press sits on top of their plywood rack, and from the floor it's hard to see how it's made. It's humongous, and heavy. I would guess it's the same principle as yours. It's all steel. I don't know if they bought it or had it made, but it turns out some nice sheets.
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"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[Gecko]

>That's a great looking press. Couple of questions. I'm
>assuming the whole framework is welded up steel (angle,
>I-beam, bar stock?), and the jacks are 3/4" pipe, threaded,
>with a "T" handle welded in the top? If I'm way off, what
>are the parts, and did you do the welding? It's really
>ingenious the way you engineered it. Got a larger one in
>mind for the future?

The frame work is made up from 1x1x1/8 angle except for the very bottom flange out. That is 1 1/2x 1 1/2x 1/8" angle. 1/4" plate was used where the nuts are welded on. The screws are 5/8" all-thread with 1/4" steel bar welded to them. I used what I had on hand that I thought would work and just kinda did the wing it thing. I did all the welding myself. I work in an HVAC shop. As far as a larger one; no. I made this one big enough to handle the sizes I might need for the boxes I make. Mainly it was made to produce inlay banding. Also, I barely have room in my shop for this let alone something larger. ;)One other thing; I will be putting washers under the screws when actually pressing so they don't dig into the top board.