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Originally Posted by totaldla
The benefit of cast iron is that you can get it manufactured in China with less screwups.
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RCBS tried that for a while, then went back to U.S. made press frames.
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Originally Posted by totaldla
The cast iron press is in no way, shape, or form weaker than aluminum. Cast iron will ALWAYS win out in durability....
Look up the material properties and then comment.
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Aluminum is lighter than Cast Iron or steel by a factor of about 2.8 so is much lighter for its strength. The modulus of elasticity:
aluminum - 69 million pounds per square inch
Gray cast Iron 130
Wrought Iron or Steel 200
So, for the size, iron and steel are two to three times as strong as aluminum. However, Aluminum is lighter than steel by a factor of about 2.8. So Aluminum can be actually stronger (by weight) than steel.
I haven't found a handy source to compare the abrasion resistance of the three metals under discussion, but I thinkg everyone knows that cast iron is more abrasion resistant than aluminum , so will last much longer.
If anyone has comparative abrasion data, please contribute.
How do you define strength?
For my own self, I prefer my metals ferrous, whether cast or forged, but do recognize that aluminum does not rust, is cheaper and lighter. So I believe either choice is valid, so choose your poison and go in peace.
Lost Sheep