Auction Day! Bought a Honkin' Big Arbor Press and More!

The machine I had intended on buying went higher than I had wanted to pay, so that's a bummer. (Boschert power notcher)

Wasn't really planning on buying an arbor press, but I ended up winning a couple smaller items. When that happened, I figured I may as well make it worth my trip.

Its a beast, an Atlas No. 5. Has 15 tons of compound pressing powa! I paid market price for it, around 1k, but I do need an arbor press in the shop more often than I'd like to admit.



While I got outbid on the Boschert, I did end up with this little Pexto notcher as a consolation prize. It can do up to 16ga. $150 for that.



I also bought this Miller Spoolmatic 30A for only $200. A bit older, but a new one will set you back $1500! This will be handy for quickie MIG jobs where I don't want to hook up the push-pull gun and deal with threading 25 feet of wire through the leads!



Auction isn't over yet, they have another day of lots, but I don't think I'll bid on anything else. Hopefully I can get a decent deal from the onsite riggers to load the press, as they won't let me rig my own stuff without a lot of extra insurance.

Probably won't be able to get up to GR and pick this stuff up for another week or so, stand by for rigging adventures.

Nice work on the #5! I have a #4 which is going into the shop (someday) if I ever get the drywall finished. It seems like yours is missing the "Geneva wheel" but that's not too difficult to fab...I find myself using drilled or punched plates anyway on most work where I want full circumferential support. As I recall I rigged mine using the compound leverage pin on the top and a sling.

Do you already have a finger brake...because that's an automatic partner for the corner notcher. I keep my notcher stored on a pallet rack...not needed often but when it is...nothing else will suffice....I've Metabo'd some corners on some rough work but its nowhere the same.

I hope the riggers don't jack you too bad....that and the Buyer's Ripoff, I mean, er, Premium. Some of my favorite auctions where I spent more than I should have were because the plant skilled trades did the loading for free...

That arbor press is awesome! Lots of stroke for broaching.

Good price on the 30A[emoji481]

matt_i said:

Nice work on the #5! I have a #4 which is going into the shop (someday) if I ever get the drywall finished. It seems like yours is missing the "Geneva wheel" but that's not too difficult to fab...I find myself using drilled or punched plates anyway on most work where I want full circumferential support. As I recall I rigged mine using the compound leverage pin on the top and a sling.

Do you already have a finger brake...because that's an automatic partner for the corner notcher. I keep my notcher stored on a pallet rack...not needed often but when it is...nothing else will suffice....I've Metabo'd some corners on some rough work but its nowhere the same.

I hope the riggers don't jack you too bad....that and the Buyer's Ripoff, I mean, er, Premium. Some of my favorite auctions where I spent more than I should have were because the plant skilled trades did the loading for free...

Click to expand...

Yeah, I have to make a "geneva wheel" as you call it. I probably will make up a couple different ones, so I have solid surfaces for bearings or other flat work as well as some notches for broaching. I'll probably have my buddy cut a couple on his waterjet for me.

Yes, I have a 14ga Barth brake to compliment the notcher, I have a soft spot for manual sheet metal equipment, despite the obvious benefits of hydraulics.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362160

Buyer's ripoff was 18% on this auction, but they'll knock off a couple percent if I wire the money within 48 hours.

I'm hoping the riggers will be willing to work for cash on site for cheap, but I don't think they'll rip me too bad for 10 minutes of forklift work. These are pretty easy rigs to make.

dr_clyde said:

I'm hoping the riggers will be willing to work for cash on site for cheap, but I don't think they'll rip me too bad for 10 minutes of forklift work. These are pretty easy rigs to make.

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Just make sure the forker secures that press to the truck before moving it....even if he's sling loading it.

I don't even know why I bother, just when I think a 12 ton is big, you post up a 15 ton, did you get jelly or where you just trying to one up me????











Nice buy!

Does the table swing to the side?

Strouty said:

I don't even know why I bother, just when I think a 12 ton is big, you post up a 15 ton, did you get jelly or where you just trying to one up me????











Nice buy!

Does the table swing to the side?

Click to expand...

Hahahahaha its always my goal to one up you Strouty.

Actually, I went back and checked yours after I bought this because I couldn't remember if yours was 12 or 15. I actually like Greenerd better than Atlas, but this is the one I ended up with. I am excited for my own "A.P.E.".

And yes, the tables swing out of the way for taller stuff.

Did a little googling, Dake corp purchased the Atlas Press Co. in 1945. I don't know how long they kept the "Atlas" branding, but I would put this press in the 40's for age.

The Dake catalog's picture from then shows this exact press in the literature. In 1946 they used the code name "Percy" for the model 5 on the shop floor. I guess we'll have to call this press Percy now.

They list the weight at 1780 lbs, and a list price of $453.00, which adjusted for inflation puts it at $6265.14.

Anyone curious just look at toolarchives.com and they have an excellent scan of a 1946 Dake catalog.

I had dug into that a bit too when I got my (much smaller) Dake no 1-1/2. It has Dake markings an Atlas Press Co. metal tag riveted to the side. I've been able to roughly estimate 45-55, however I haven't seen any others marked and tagged like mine.

Regardless, nice grab!

I can safely say that mine is older, Percy will fit right in with all your other stuff, guess I need to figure out a name for mine now.

I also have the same spoolmatic gun, they offer a flexible nozzle and it is a great addition. I have never used it for regular steel, just aluminum, but I have some spools of regular wire, I always figured it would be useful for welding something on the top of a truck.