Port a Power units

RivennHewn · Jan 19, 2014

I am not an auto body guy. At all. I am amazed at what I see you guys do.

I just passed on a CL port a power deal, because I am not sure how, when, why to use one. Kinda wishing I'd have grab it but I'm sure another will come along.

I'd love to see pics of yours in action, and a little description of what/how you're doing.

justanengineer · Jan 19, 2014

Ive used them for everything from straightening tweaked frames and body panels to pulling pressed on parts, the bigger the equipment the more handy they are IMHO. Depending on the Portapower tho, you can do a lot more. Ive been trying to buy an early Portapower press cart setup like the restored one shown below for years but cant justify the price. ~$300 is my budget on these and Ive been dam close several times. The first one I ever saw was setup with a custom bending jig table on top, a 2" plate with holes bored so you could put the portapower sideways and install pins/dies to bend ironwork or tubing around.

Link to thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125488&showall=1

Xtremetalworks2 · Jan 19, 2014

I dont have any pictures in action but we mainly use them to straighten tubular weldments straight due to weld distortion. Maintaining hole centers etc. We also build alot of railings out of stainless which wanders all over so use porta-power to spread warped portions. If you buy one invest in a good one like enerpac wouldnt recommend Harbor freight they dont always release when you have them under pressure!

Provincial · Jan 20, 2014

No pictures, but I have used porta-power units for a lot more than body work. Lifting a house, adjusting beams in construction, forming structural components in metal fabrication, even (carefully) assisting in jacking a vehicle too heavy for the floor jack. I even used a 30-ton cylinder and a 20 lb. sledge hammer to straighten the side rails of a "Trailer Train" rail car!

By using attachments line puller arms, or strongbacks made of beams, channel irons, and high-strength threaded rod you can disassemble, reassemble, or bend/straighten things that you wouldn't think possible.

A 4-ton unit has limited use, mostly for tighter quarters and lighter structures. A 10-ton unit is the bread-and-butter size. Buying an accessory kit of specialty cylinders (which includes a pull-back ram) greatly expands the capabilities of your unit.

pilotman81 · Jan 20, 2014

I work on big engines, compressors, etc. We use these things for everything from pulling power cylinders, pushing slugging wrenches to break nuts loose, aligning parts, and the list goes on and on.

bygasper · Jan 20, 2014

One was used with a duckbill attachment to pry open my gun safe when I was robbed. That sucked...

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srmofo · Jan 20, 2014

I picked one up stupid cheap and have used it several times for various things like mentioned above, but not once have I used it for body work. Mines just a cheap Cornwell chinese version ( I think) and its worked fine for the little use it sees.

To the guy above. That had to be someone that knew you. How else would they know to bring a portaram for a burglary

bygasper · Jan 20, 2014

Srmofo...yes. We figured that as well.

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wrench · Jan 20, 2014

justanengineer said:
Ive used them for everything from straightening tweaked frames and body panels to pulling pressed on parts, the bigger the equipment the more handy they are IMHO. Depending on the Portapower tho, you can do a lot more. Ive been trying to buy an early Portapower press cart setup like the restored one shown below for years but cant justify the price. ~$300 is my budget on these and Ive been dam close several times. The first one I ever saw was setup with a custom bending jig table on top, a 2" plate with holes bored so you could put the portapower sideways and install pins/dies to bend ironwork or tubing around.

Link to thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125488&showall=1

A friend of mine bought some shelving at an auction at a long closed service station.I went the next day to help him load his truck,and there was a porto-power cabinet like the one pictured loaded with rams,pumps and just about every kind of porto-power accessory available.even manuals.The guy at the garage said it was sold for scrap,and he did'nt know who bought it. A lot of the tools looked like they had never been used.

Port a Power units

RivennHewn

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justanengineer

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Xtremetalworks2

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Provincial

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pilotman81

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bygasper

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srmofo

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bygasper

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wrench

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