> I know that a hydraulic bladder press operates at about 30psi, so if you
> have a 10" diameter basket, that's about 78 sq in. Times 30, that's
> over 2300 lbs of weight on a one-to-one lever system. Note that as drawn
> your press has an effort arm (pivot to weight) about three times the
> length of the resistance arm (pivot to basket). This gives you a
> mechanical advantage of 3:1, so you would only need 1/3 the weight
> calculated. With a long enough lever arm, you could probably get the
> weight down to something manageable, but be sure to build stoutly.

Mike,
Are your sure about the calculation where you arrive at 2300
pounds? Wouldn't I only have to think about the 30 psi and ensure
I get that pressure on my round (or square) pressing plate?

Actually that does sound about right if you think about a 1 foot
square plate. That would be 144 sq inches, times 30 psi for 4320 pds.
Both numbers just seem like alot more weight then I thought it would
need. Even with the 3:1 multiplier that would be 767 pds in your
case and 1440 pds for my mine.

Is the 3:1 ratio set by the distance from the start of the cross
beam to the down tube and from the down tube to where the weight
is suspended, B/A in the below:

| B | B |
|o==============o============================o


I was considering a single 2x4 for the cross beam but perhaps
two would be better, something like this when viewed from the top:

|--------------------------------
hinge | O weight
|--------------------------------


Don