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Modifications to the HF 12 ton and 20 ton Shop Press

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Muggzy

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Hey all, I just picked up the HF 20-ton shop press. For a great deal: between the 25% off coupon and the unadvertised temporary price reduction ($169) that I found when i got to the store, I only paid $127 for it

So I was about to put it together when I thought to check GJ for some upgrade ideas. I've seen several on GJ but when I look they're all over the place. So I thought I'd start a thread similar to the "Modifications to the 4 & 5 Drawer Service Cart" thread.

My immediate upgrades will be the pneumatic bottle jack from HF and casters so I can roll it out of the way since I figure that I'll only be using it a few times a year (I'm sure that'll change once I get more experience with it :)

My intended uses are the obvious - pressing bearings in and out of stuff but I also want to make an auxiliary gas tank for my four-wheeler out of sheet Alum. So I'm going to need to make a press brake out of it for that project.

Any and all advice is welcome

Muggzy
 
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6PTsocket

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Are you daying you are not ging to use the jack that came with it?


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6

6PTsocket

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Oops cut myself off. It is probably not the best but unless you have a better one on hand why wouldn't you use it until it gives you a reason not to. If it is not broken It should do 20 tons.

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JJThrasher

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6PTsocket said:
Oops cut myself off. It is probably not the best but unless you have a better one on hand why wouldn't you use it until it gives you a reason not to. If it is not broken It should do 20 tons.

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Click to expand...

The pneumatic jack is much quicker and easier to use. Definitely a worthwhile upgrade if you use it much.
 
6

6PTsocket

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Sorry, I missed the pneumatic part. I don't know if it makes a difference but my 20 ton has telescoping tubes on either side of the jack to prevent the bar, holding the jack from cocking. I picked it up years ago at the Carlisle swap meet. There are days that I am tempted to buy a pneumatic, too. The most useful accessory would be different size tips for the ram.

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rslaback

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I know the pneumatic jack is a popular upgrade. It is understandable as the original jack with mine took around 80 jacks to get it to travel fully. I wanted to maintain the ability to still feel resistance when I used mine so instead of the Harbor Freight pneumatic 20 ton I went with Northern Tools rapid jack 20ton model. The jack is designed to take about 6 times less pumps to extend. The model I bought isn't available anymore but they do have another option.

c69248285aa2f99621583f58087c2668.jpg

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Northern tool has a code (251087) that knocks the jack down to $45 shipped.
 

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Finky198

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A while back In the middle of building it. It has a winch, casters, and now has ply wood and milk crates in the bottom for storage.
34dgzno.jpg
 
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Muggzy

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Finky198 said:
A while back In the middle of building it. It has a winch, casters, and now has ply wood and milk crates in the bottom for storage.
34dgzno.jpg
Click to expand...
I like the winch idea. If I come up with one cheap, I'm definitely stealing that one. I may try to work it in as a side crank somehow.

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D45

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These are nice and all, but take up way too much floor space......

How often are you guys actually pressing in them????

I have the HF A Frame (6 ton), which was like $55 last summer.....which takes up no floor space and sits nicely on one of my work benches

I also have an older 1 ton arbor press that works nicely for smaller parts.......which also takes up no floor space
 
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Finky198

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Maybe not everyone needs one. I've used ours at least two dozen times this past year it's paid for itself and bailed me out on numerous occasions, I couldn't run our shop without it now. I'd like to build something bigger but in time.

The Floor space argument is negligible
when you have a lot of it...:scared:
 
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raffaelli

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I have the HF 12 ton.

I put 2" casters on it. I added cable through the springs to keep them in place if they should snap when extended. I need to add some reinforcement to the web of the two channels that make the shelf. One of the flanges deformed under load.
 
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Mr_B

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They don't take up huge amont of space, i modded mine to hold piller drill table and bench grinder when not in use so floor space usage worthwhile .
Useful tools and not expensive, makes quite a good metal brake too .
 
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454ragtop

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Muggzy said:
I like the winch idea. If I come up with one cheap, I'm definitely stealing that one. I may try to work it in as a side crank somehow.

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Click to expand...

Side crank is easy, look at the pics in my link above.
 
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Mr.N

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Muggzy said:
Hey all, I just picked up the HF 20-ton shop press. For a great deal: between the 25% off coupon and the unadvertised temporary price reduction ($169) that I found when i got to the store, I only paid $127 for it
Click to expand...
Price is now advertised

Did you us the 20% off of over 5,000 items coupon?
 
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Mr.N

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On the 12 ton
I welded a few pieces of solid 1/2" rod to hold different used races used in pressing.
Also welded in some steel mess to hold different small pieces. (I should've gotten more corrugated steel and done down my the feet)

Most important mod: Go to your local steel house and look for some left over 1" or thicker plate. Replace those junk plates that come with it.
You can order them from Swag for more money than the press, found scrap local at $20 for two. Yes, I need to cut them into shape. For some the extra $145 might be worth not cutting them.

p1010298-5-1.jpg
 
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Finky198

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The new plates on (20t) are not cast like the old ones.

They work just fine...



Question to ragtop and Muggzy

I top mounted the winch because I thought it would get in the way being on the sides, as you can't but things up next to it or large oddly shaped objects might interfere with adjusting mid use. and lastly the handle would pass in front of the carriage thus just being in the way all the time. Maybe I'm wrong???
 
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Muggzy

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Mr.N said:
On the 12 ton
I welded a few pieces of solid 1/2" rod to hold different used races used in pressing.
Also welded in some steel mess to hold different small pieces. (I should've gotten more corrugated steel and done down my the feet)
Click to expand...
Got some pics? Not sure I understand the first part.



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Finky198

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I believe he means kind of like a pegboard to hang small pieces off but in Steel... I've been meaning to do that. Our tubing bender has storage like that but I feel like we move it around too much to utilize it as it just falls off in transit then again I guess you could run a cable with a clip on the front to keep them in place.

Moving the Press is another story with a hundred pounds of steel pieces in the bottom crates but the two nice things is everything's within reach ( blocks, plates, round and square stock, tubing, ect) and because of its mass it doesn't move once parked...

The most used accessory I've come across was a box of two dozen steel bars 1" by 3/4" stock 12-14" long. I used them as cribbing and they have solved a lot of problems.
 
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454ragtop

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Finky198 said:
The new plates on (20t) are not cast like the old ones.

They work just fine...



Question to ragtop and Muggzy

I top mounted the winch because I thought it would get in the way being on the sides, as you can't but things up next to it or large oddly shaped objects might interfere with adjusting mid use. and lastly the handle would pass in front of the carriage thus just being in the way all the time. Maybe I'm wrong???
Click to expand...

Finky, you're right you can't **** things right up to it, it sticks out some on the side, and some to the front. This hasn't been a problem for me, but I keep my press in a shipping container, along with a 5 ton arbor press, a couple brake lathes, and a bunch of shelving for storage. I could have made a more compact winch, the one I bought at a swap meet for $5. is way overkill, and I don't need much rope capacity, but this was just too easy. Never had a problem with it interfering with large oddly shaped objects, it moves with the table, and is always below the table height.
 
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Finky198

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At 300+ lbs total and at least 175 just in the base when I lock those wheels it doesn't move. Granted I only weigh about 150 so I'm no match for moving big objects without some mechanical advantage... I feel very comfortable in its stability...

It is a heavy piece of equipment and should be used with some respect to safety. As all equipment, shop, and garage stuff should be...
 
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clubairth

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To me bench space is WAY more valuable then floor space. Bad idea to clog benches up with tools that should be mobile. Just like a bench grinder-best thing I ever did was finally put it on it's own pedestal and get it OFF the bench.

Much like a kitchen. Keep the counter top clear for working room.

Hope to add casters to mine and a expanded metal basket at the bottom to hold jigs/tooling and to act as a counter balance.

Already added the air jack, handle holder and knob to release the jack.
.
.
.
 
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Muggzy

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clubairth said:
To me bench space is WAY more valuable then floor space. Bad idea to clog benches up with tools that should be mobile. Just like a bench grinder-best thing I ever did was finally put it on it's own pedestal and get it OFF the bench.

Much like a kitchen. Keep the counter top clear for working room.

Hope to add casters to mine and a expanded metal basket at the bottom to hold jigs/tooling and to act as a counter balance.

Already added the air jack, handle holder and knob to release the jack.
.
.
.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I got a little time today to assemble my HF20-Ton and I'm very pleased with it. I'll be parking it over my HF tire changer so I'll be making a sturdier base with casters as soon as I can get a hold of the steel and casters. That'll help lift it to a more comfortable work height as well.
a0c71a4cc07283ff1ad38f0e81a4ee6e.jpg
Just had to try it out on something . The golf ball was pretty cool, but I definitely gotta up the min pressure setting on my compressor...
https://vimeo.com/198523255

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Mr.N

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Muggzy said:
Got some pics? Not sure I understand the first part.
Click to expand...
It just looks like a bunch of figures sticking straight up on the top.

I like to store all the tools I use together in the same space.
Also look for scrap steel tube.
 
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wxm

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I replaced the long bolt from the top of the H-Frame with individual nut/bolt for stability and strength.

21acaa7e4c1bbcec4a8c088fd85226fe.jpg
 

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ndnchf

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I've been thinking about upgrading to a 20 ton from my old 12 ton. After reading about them on GJ and seeing they are currently priced at $169, I went to my local store today. I asked the cashier if they had the 60603, 2 box version - she said they had 5 in stock. So I pulled up the online 20% off coupon and bought it. A few minutes later the stock guy brings it up. I notice it's a 3 box set and not the 60603 version. So I send him back with it saying I specifically asked for the 60603 version. 10 minutes later he comes back with the 60603, 2 box version - yes!

I got it home and unpacked. All the parts look really good and properly welded. So far so good. It's 20 degrees in my garage, so i'll wait a few days for it to warm up before putting it together.

I want to put it on wheels and was looking at casters from TSC, northern tool and HF. Then I remembered I have a Harbor freight 18" x 30" wooden 4 wheel moving dolly. I set the base pieces on it, and I think it will work. The dolly is rated at 1000lbs. Anyone else done this? Thanks fellas!
 
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ndnchf

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Muggzy said:
Agreed. I got a little time today to assemble my HF20-Ton and I'm very pleased with it. I'll be parking it over my HF tire changer so I'll be making a sturdier base with casters as soon as I can get a hold of the steel and casters. That'll help lift it to a more comfortable work height as well.
a0c71a4cc07283ff1ad38f0e81a4ee6e.jpg
Just had to try it out on something . The golf ball was pretty cool, but I definitely gotta up the min pressure setting on my compressor...
https://vimeo.com/198523255

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Click to expand...

Muggzy - I noticed that you assembled the base sections backwards from the way my instruction sheet shows. Did you do that on purpose? Just wondering if there is a reason I should consider. Thanks.
 

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Muggzy

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ndnchf said:
Muggzy - I noticed that you assembled the base sections backwards from the way my instruction sheet shows. Did you do that on purpose? Just wondering if there is a reason I should consider. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm going to add a 'u' shaped base made out of 2x2x0.125 angle. The angle will go on the outside and under the press uprights (hope this makes sense)? The back (away from the operator side) of the base will stay open and the front will be closed. The fixed wheels on the narrow back legs and the swivel locking wheels on the front. This is so I can still park it over the tire changer as in the left-hand pic above. Sounds confusing but I'll post pics in a couple of weeks when I can get to actually build it. Picked up the material and casters today.

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