Please teach me about metal presses

[grommit]

Well,
Owen,Mick,john,Dave,Will,,Matt n all the guys who have either replied,PM'd or texted reference power hammers! I just want to say my little Geordie head is fried
I've watched utube on power hammers and pattern welding til the point that I am happy, ordered books, watched dvd'd, the latest ones were well advanced by Ed Caffrey and chad Nichols.
And this is all before I even see one in the flesh

Now what has really mashed my brain is what Owen was getting at on one of his replies to my thread
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...mer&highlight=
And especially his closing comments:
I would add that any power hammer is infinitely better than none, they are life changers second to none when it comes to forging, well unless you want to talk about presses.......

Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
My head hurts,
Nearly every DVD or utube clip I have watched in the last few days the guys have been using various presses.
So please can you guys help me work out if I need a press or hammer for my initial plan.

Owen
You crafty so n so! You knew it would be a matter of time till I asked about presses.
My plan to forge to bar of Damascus then eventually forge a full blade stays the same.

I think you may ask what my opinion is,well I initially think a press would be GEORDIE friendly..or more useable for me.
TBT in the long run when my pension lump sum comes through I'll prob buy both, but I think the proof is simple.
Get my butt over to you guys for teaching n see what's what, but jus wanted expert opinions?
My transport problems ain't gonna be that much of a problem with a brand new truck at work with a lovely big winch...pity its painted green n stands out like a saw thumb!

Sorry for doing all you bladesmiths heads in over the past few weeks, but I am consistent
Take care
Bri