Arbor Press Mod Advice ??.......

[Crow Horse]

I just picked up a used arbor press (1ton) in really good shape. I plan to use it to press out roll pins and other small pressing jobs and maybe in the future I'd like to start making kydex sheaths which will require pressing in eyelets. What mods would be helpful. I'm considering drilling a 3/8" hole in the ram for tooling, but will this limit it's usefulness? Also considering the ratcheting mod (grind 2 teeth down) and fitting it with a hand wheel. Any ideas or experiences to share?

 

[Outlawmws]

Crow, if you are going to be doing a lot of repeat motions, a return spring, and a stop collar so you can limit the recovery movement of the ram. Saves LOT of wasted motion.

 

[devoncoolman]

I bought a small arbor press awhile back that had a coustom spring and stop mechanism. Was set up for a repeat proscess. Good if your going to do the same thing over and over again if not skip the spring idea.

 

[zkling]

What model is it? Round ram or square? I made an adapter to fit a drill chuck on the end of the ram of my 3 ton, basically a cup with set screw and then adapter for the chuck. Allows to hold all different diameter pin punches and keeps them centered while freeing hands to hold work piece and operate wheel. I'm not sure what other types of accessories you are talking about though.

Personally I wouldn't drill the ram face. I have another press that has the arbor drilled. It is kinda a pain at times.

 

[bluebolt]

What model is it? Round ram or square? I made an adapter to fit a drill chuck on the end of the ram of my 3 ton, basically a cup with set screw and then adapter for the chuck. Allows to hold all different diameter pin punches and keeps them centered while freeing hands to hold work piece and operate wheel. I'm not sure what other types of accessories you are talking about though.

Personally I wouldn't drill the ram face. I have another press that has the arbor drilled. It is kinda a pain at times.

Been thinking about getting one of these myself.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25125365546...AX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_559wt_1105

 

[zkling]

Been thinking about getting one of these myself.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25125365546...AX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_559wt_1105

If you have access to a lathe I'd just make one. The ram on my greenerd is round so it was easier. I'm not sure how much I would trust just magnets under pressure.

 

[rsanter]

If you have access to a lathe I'd just make one. The ram on my greenerd is round so it was easier. I'm not sure how much I would trust just magnets under pressure.

You do not need a lathe for that, a drill press will make one or those just fine

Bob

 

[zkling]

You do not need a lathe for that, a drill press will make one or those just fine

Bob

I'm talking about a different style, the one I made is basically a thick wall cup (round) that is a slip fit on the ram with set screw to hold it on. The walls of the cup keep it centered and prevent knocking it out of axial alignment while the set screw prevents it from falling off when the ram is raised. What I don't like about that magnet one is that there is no hard mechanical stop to prevent it from being knocked out of axial alignment. To each their own.

What model is it? Round ram or square? I made an adapter to fit a drill chuck on the end of the ram of my 3 ton, basically a cup with set screw and then adapter for the chuck. Allows to hold all different diameter pin punches and keeps them centered while freeing hands to hold work piece and operate wheel. I'm not sure what other types of accessories you are talking about though.

Personally I wouldn't drill the ram face. I have another press that has the arbor drilled. It is kinda a pain at times.

 

[Crow Horse]

What model is it? Round ram or square? I made an adapter to fit a drill chuck on the end of the ram of my 3 ton, basically a cup with set screw and then adapter for the chuck. Allows to hold all different diameter pin punches and keeps them centered while freeing hands to hold work piece and operate wheel. I'm not sure what other types of accessories you are talking about though.

Personally I wouldn't drill the ram face. I have another press that has the arbor drilled. It is kinda a pain at times.

It's a 1 ton import. I like the chuck idea but that would probably rob valuable work space on mine.....

Any pics of the return spring mod?

I probably will add a brass shim to the adjustment bolts (inside)

The ram is 1" square......

Anyone add a hand wheel?

 

[sasquatch12]

Re: Return spring:
Don't have a pic, but a number of old drill presses used a counterweight, hooked to a 1/8th cable that traveled on a pulley at the rear up to the front rotating shaft.
So, you pull the handle down, this winds the cable around the rotating shaft a couple of times, and when you raise the mandel the counterweight does most of the rewinding up of the handle.