1/4" thick press plates

[Kip Kern]

In need of 2 each, 1/4" thick, 2" x 8" hardened press plates to do crank work, used on 20 ton press, any suggestions out there?  Thanks

[Daniel P. McEntee]

Find some one that makes replacement leaf springs. I'm sure they have  some drops or left overs from cutting leaf springs to length before heat treating. Just have them heat treat the pieces while straight. You might be able to find an old leaf that is straight enough on the ends. Would cold rolled steel be good enough? That's easy to find. Good luck with it!
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[t20sl]

Might check Ebay or your local steel distributor.  I would think 4142 chrome moly which comes pre hardened and then tempered to around Rc30 would work fine.  Tough but not brittle.  Usually it, as does A2, O1 and other tool steels come in your 1/4 thickness and variety of widths.  Lengths are usually in 18" or 36" lengths.  Then cut to your requirements.

[Daniel P. McEntee]

quote:Originally posted by t20sl

Might check Ebay or your local steel distributor.  I would think 4142 chrome moly which comes pre hardened and then tempered to around Rc30 would work fine.  Tough but not brittle.  Usually it, as does A2, O1 and other tool steels come in your 1/4 thickness and variety of widths.  Lengths are usually in 18" or 36" lengths.  Then cut to your requirements.

    Check out the McMaster-Carr catalog or their web site for this kind of material, if there isn't any place near you to purchase a small quantity. They have no minimums and ship fast. I just didn't think about them in my first post.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[JP Morgen]

If you get a piece of thick wall tubing, with the inside diameter just bigger than your crank od, cut a notch in one end for the rod to protrude, you can get away with using a regular old hot or cold rolled steel plate, takes the plate out of a bending load and puts it into a shear load, much stiffer that way. I do Maico cranks that way, and there are none tougher!