Shop press 20 or 25 ton?

[SteveU]

Was looking at getting a shop press & wondered which of these 2 would be better. Both weigh & cost about the same but one is a 20 while the other is a 25 ton. Working on cars & pickups is there any advantage to the extra 5 ton capacity? Are there any others close to this price range that are better?

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-6829-sunex-international-5220.aspx
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-4091-omega-60253.aspx

[alex71]

More is always better, but you probably know that already. Unless you need this thing NOW, and plan to use it a lot, you're probably better off waiting and buying a used one on craigslist. they pop up (around here at least) pretty frequently, and you can get a much better press than what you're looking at for the same money or less....

That aside... I've had a press for a few years, but most of the time all it does is take up space in the garage. I guess the times you need it, you need it, but I've come to the conclusion that an arbor press is probably more useful, plus cheaper and a lot smaller.

what do you intend to do with it?

[SteveU]

More is always better, but you probably know that already. Unless you need this thing NOW, and plan to use it a lot, you're probably better off waiting and buying a used one on craigslist. they pop up (around here at least) pretty frequently, and you can get a much better press than what you're looking at for the same money or less....

That aside... I've had a press for a few years, but most of the time all it does is take up space in the garage. I guess the times you need it, you need it, but I've come to the conclusion that an arbor press is probably more useful, plus cheaper and a lot smaller.

what do you intend to do with it?

Press bushings in & out mainly.

[krusty the clown]

for what you are going to do, this will work AND half the money besides they are all imports anyway.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32879

[SteveU]

for what you are going to do, this will work AND half the money besides they are all imports anyway.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32879


Looks interesting, will have to do some searching to find reviews on this. Seems like HF quality is ok for some things but not for others. I will be using it infrequently but when you need something pressed in & all you have are woodworking clamps it makes for a not so relaxing day.

[alex71]

I've had that unit for a number of years. works fine for occasional use... Throw away the fasteners that it comes with and use some decent stuff. If you try to tighten what they give you to the proper torque they either snap off or strip out.

[Art From De Leon]

When I set up my shop for my retirement hobby, I bought an Arcan 20 ton from Northern Tool (Suppossedly American made, with a Chinese jack), to press bearings on and off, but in 5 years I have never used it.
Do I regret buying it, no, it was one of the things i had planned for my 'dream', and I had the money at the time, which may never happen again.

[SteveU]

I've had that unit for a number of years. works fine for occasional use... Throw away the fasteners that it comes with and use some decent stuff. If you try to tighten what they give you to the proper torque they either snap off or strip out.

So plan on getting grade 8 bolts, nuts, & real steel plates & it will work ok for bearing, bushing, & ball joints?

[alex71]

Grade 5 will be fine. The stuff that ships with it is pot metal. Replacing the arbor plates with steel is also a good idea, I'm glad you mentioned that. A number of people have been injured or nearly injured when the cast-iron arbor plates that come with it shatter.

Yes, it will work for that stuff and more. I've even used mine to bend 3/8" plate in a crude home-made brake, and it did that without issue.

[stock z/28]

Hello,

I have several presses that I use various applications and I would say that the size of the parts you are working with may be a critical factor in a press selection. There has been several times I couldnt quite fit the part under the ram.



Another preference I have is for a press that may be easily adapted to a power source that I can control with my foot. I know that sounds rather stupid but on many occasions I find I "really" need both hands to hold various parts and tools.


Just my thoughts guys.

Jeff

[SteveU]

Hello,

I have several presses that I use various applications and I would say that the size of the parts you are working with may be a critical factor in a press selection. There has been several times I couldnt quite fit the part under the ram.



Another preference I have is for a press that may be easily adapted to a power source that I can control with my foot. I know that sounds rather stupid but on many occasions I find I "really" need both hands to hold various parts and tools.


Just my thoughts guys.

Jeff

What comes to mind are control arm bushings, tried to do one of these without a press & it wasn't fun.

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Hi Steve,
Just my 2 cents:
The SUNEX 5220 can be bought all day long for $299.00 weighs 265#

The HF is maybe even made by the same MFG. but weighs a litte less.

A DAKE 20ton is going cost about $2800.00 weighs about 485#

I'm with the other guys ,if you can wait for a used one it's going to be alot cheaper!!!

[Charles (in GA)]

The Omega is a better design than the Sunnex with a bottle jack in it.

Charles

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Charles is right!The ram design with the separate pump are better!Think of a portapower compared to a bottle jack.

[Brad54]

As for how often you'll use it:
I replaced the axle bearings on my '57 Chevy. Started it on a Saturday. needed to press the bearings off. No press. Wait until Monday morning, find a shop that will actually bother with me, drop it off at lunch, they couldn't get to it that day, so wait until Tuesday. They pressed off the old, pressed on the new, charged me $40 for it, so my Saturday project was finally done by Tuesday night.

Bought my own press. Needed to change axle bearings on my '62 Suburban. 20 minutes later, I was putting the axles back in the new rear end. Oh yeah, it was sweet.

I've also used it to press hubs out of finned aluminum drums, and made my own little tool to bell-mouth exhaust tubing for another shop project I just did.

You won't use it often, but if you work on cars as a hobby, it's gold.

I don't have an opinion on which you should get, but mine is like the red one you linked to, and I'm very happy with it.

-Brad

[SteveU]

Hi Steve,
Just my 2 cents:
The SUNEX 5220 can be bought all day long for $299.00 weighs 265#

The HF is maybe even made by the same MFG. but weighs a litte less.

A DAKE 20ton is going cost about $2800.00 weighs about 485#

I'm with the other guys ,if you can wait for a used one it's going to be alot cheaper!!!

Who has the sunex for 299? I can wait I've never had one before, just limits me on what I can do.

[bmwpower]

Don't get a bottle jack press if you are interested in precision. They are much too "sloppy" when it comes to pressing things that need to go in absolutely straight.

Get something with a moveable ram, if possible. Get something with a gauge so you don't overdo things. Get something with air/hydraulic power.

Get this:

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/20-Ton-Air-Hydraulic-Shop-Press-w-Gauge-p/ht0805.htm

[SteveU]

As for how often you'll use it:
I replaced the axle bearings on my '57 Chevy. Started it on a Saturday. needed to press the bearings off. No press. Wait until Monday morning, find a shop that will actually bother with me, drop it off at lunch, they couldn't get to it that day, so wait until Tuesday. They pressed off the old, pressed on the new, charged me $40 for it, so my Saturday project was finally done by Tuesday night.

Bought my own press. Needed to change axle bearings on my '62 Suburban. 20 minutes later, I was putting the axles back in the new rear end. Oh yeah, it was sweet.

I've also used it to press hubs out of finned aluminum drums, and made my own little tool to bell-mouth exhaust tubing for another shop project I just did.

You won't use it often, but if you work on cars as a hobby, it's gold.

I don't have an opinion on which you should get, but mine is like the red one you linked to, and I'm very happy with it.

-Brad

Brad, now that I have a lift more things are getting worked on than back when everything happened on ramps & jack stands. Back then I did tune-ups, oil changes, brakes, a couple exhausts, & put brake lines on 3 cars within a year that blew out, other than that it went to a shop. Since the lift have done a lot more suspension work than in the past. I agree that having the equipment & ability to do the work when it suits you is priceless, not having to wait for someone to get you in or for that matter pay shop rate pays for a lot of things pretty quick.:thumbup: My main goal is to be able to keep our daily drivers going plus help out a few friends do the same.

[SteveU]

Don't get a bottle jack press if you are interested in precision. They are much too "sloppy" when it comes to pressing things that need to go in absolutely straight.

Get something with a moveable ram, if possible. Get something with a gauge so you don't overdo things. Get something with air/hydraulic power.

Get this:

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/20-Ton-Air-Hydraulic-Shop-Press-w-Gauge-p/ht0805.htm

That looks like a good one.:thumbup: Even their 30 ton is less than the others, will have to see what shipping costs would be.

[bmwpower]

That looks like a good one.:thumbup: Even their 30 ton is less than the others, will have to see what shipping costs would be.

They have a location in Indiana, if that helps.

[sk farmer]

if you get any of the ones with a hydraulic jack replace it with an air over hydraulic jack. it lets you stand "away" from your work and also can see double duty by getting "away" from those touchy lifting jobs. just a little bit more safe feeling sometimes.

[krooser]

When I set up my shop for my retirement hobby, I bought an Arcan 20 ton from Northern Tool (Suppossedly American made, with a Chinese jack), to press bearings on and off, but in 5 years I have never used it.
Do I regret buying it, no, it was one of the things i had planned for my 'dream', and I had the money at the time, which may never happen again.

Made in South Carolina if I recall. I used to haul for Northern Tool... to and from the DC's, stores and suppliers.