How Blacksmiths Use Flypresses: Punching, Bending, Forming & Stamping

Most people who visit a forge expect the heat, the hammering, and the sparks.
But one of the most valuable tools in a blacksmith’s workshop doesn’t rely on fire or noise at all—it runs purely on leverage and precision.
That tool is the flypress.

If you’ve never heard of one, you’re not alone. Even many metalworkers today rely on hydraulic presses or power hammers without realising how capable a traditional flypress is. And yet, this simple machine can do incredibly accurate work with very little effort.

What Is a Flypress?

A flypress is a hand-powered screw press used to apply controlled force to metal.
Unlike a power hammer, which delivers impact, a flypress applies steady pressure. It’s ideal for accurate and repeatable forming, punching, bending, and stamping.

It works on a simple principle:

• A heavy screw moves up and down inside a frame

• The large handle (with weighted balls at each end) gives momentum

• When the handle is spun, the screw drives a tool down with considerable pressure

Despite having no motor, a flypress can apply a surprising amount of force, thanks to leverage and the weight of the flywheel balls.

How a Flypress Works

The magic of a flypress lies in three things:
leverage, gravity, and momentum.

1. The Screw Mechanism

When you pull the handle, you rotate a long, coarse-threaded screw.
Every turn of the screw forces the ram (the tool-holding part) to travel downward with precision. Because the screw is coarse-threaded, it moves a decent distance with each turn but gives you full control as it approaches the metal.

2. The Weighted Arms

The balls or weighted wheels at each end of the handle aren’t decorative—they generate momentum.
Once the handle is in motion, the weights keep it spinning, multiplying force without needing heavy physical effort.

3. Controlled Pressure

Unlike swinging a hammer, the press allows steady, even pressure. That means:

• straighter bends

• cleaner punches

• more accurate stamping

• less risk of distorting surrounding metal

This is exactly why flypress work looks cleaner and more consistent than hammering alone.

What a Flypress Can Do

Flypresses are incredibly versatile. A single machine can:

✔ Punch holes in solid or flat bar
✔ Stamp decorative shapes or textures
✔ Form scrolls and bends with precision
✔ Flatten, set, or upset metal
✔ Press collars and joints tightly
✔ Create repeatable parts for gates, railings, hinges, and brackets

Because it produces consistent results, the flypress is especially useful when making multiples of the same part—like scrolls, leaf veining, rosettes, brackets or hinge plates.

Why Blacksmiths Still Use Flypresses Today

Even with modern power tools available, the flypress hasn't disappeared. In fact, many blacksmiths still prefer it for certain jobs.

1. Control

It applies force gradually—you can "feel" the metal moving. There's no sudden impact or risk of over-striking.

2. No Electricity Needed

It’s silent, simple, and eco-friendly.
You can run a flypress all day without burning electricity or gas.

3. Precision

Perfect for delicate forming where a hammer or power press could distort the work.

4. Versatility

Swap out tools and it becomes a completely different machine:

• punch today

• stamp tomorrow

• bend or form next week

5. Strength

A flypress can exert impressive power. Big models can easily punch thick steel or upset bar ends without effort.

What Makes a Good Flypress?

Not all flypresses are the same. When choosing one, blacksmiths look for:

• A solid, rigid frame (no flexing)

• A good screw with tight play

• Smooth action in the handle

• A heavy ram for more pressing force

• A large enough throat for the workpiece

Old cast fly presses—often built in the UK or Europe—are particularly prized because they were built to last generations.

The Quiet Workhorse of the Forge

The flypress rarely gets much attention.
Visitors admire the fire, the hammer, the anvil.
But in the corner of the workshop, the flypress quietly creates the precision details that make ironwork fit together perfectly.

It’s the tool that turns a rough forging into something finished, clean, and accurate.

Whether we’re punching holes, pressing decorative textures, or bending tight curves, the flypress is one of the most reliable and versatile tools in the shop — and that’s why blacksmiths still depend on it today.

If you would like to discuss a potential project with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.