Compressing Aluminum, Steel, Copper, and Brass In A 150-ton Press

The Hydraulic Press Channel on YouTube is one of the more mystifying success stories in the world, right? Why do people like seeing crushed in a big old press so much?! Count us among the millions of people who like the videos but even we don’t really understand why we like it so much. Maybe it’s just the unknown or knowing that some junk usually happens that you don’t expect, right? This time it was all of that.

With a newly installed gauge on the press to measure the forced being exerted on the stuff in between its plates, we get a new appreciation for the suffering of the objects that end up as test subjects here. In this case it is four short pieces of round stock. Copper, Brass, Steel, and Aluminum are all tested out. As you can  see in the lead image, the brass REALLY hated being hammered down like this press does and eventually gave way, nearly killing people and blasting through a window at the shop.

Is it the highest brow entertainment? Hell no. Is it fun to watch? Hell yes.

Press play to see this video featuring the results of 150-tons of pressure!