Arbor Press - Sizes and capabilities

The J · Jan 10, 2011

Hey guys, I need your opinions on arbor presses.

I'm looking to be able to press in suspension bushings, motor mount inserts, control arm bushings, etc. without having to go to a shop. I won't be doing anything bigger than this. If it's bigger, I'll walk down the street to the truck shop and have them do it.

So is an arbor press sufficient? 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 2 ton?

I'm not opposed to getting a larger 10 ton or 20 ton unit, but I don't want to buy one if I don't need one, and don't have a lot of free space for a large press.

Pic for clicks

mrholeshot · Jan 10, 2011

Not a good choice for pressing control arm bushings and such. I'd move into at least a small 20 ton press. Opens up a lot more options

airbuff101 · Jan 10, 2011

J,
For the typical automotive presswork that you want to do a 20T (or larger) hydraulic press is the only real answer.
Arbor presses have their place but usually not so much in automotive work.
I'd look around for some variant of this type-used.

There's a lot of spindly **** out there both new and used but if you keep your eye open a good old US one will turn up for under a couple hundred...maybe a lot under a couple hundred if you are patient. Even if the bottle jack is bad, it's a cheap easy replacement.
I'm not an Arbor Press hater. I've had a good sized one for 20 years. It is very useful for drying sneakers and crushing beer cans.........

Rob

83diesel · Jan 10, 2011

I would just get a 20 ton shop press. You can find them on sale all the time. The arbor pressed I have only seen them used in alternator shops pushing in small bushings. Any suspension work most shops use 20 or greater ton presses. A good foreign press will pay for itself in one job. I bought a closeout Grizzly 30 ton for Semi transmission and differential work. Works just fine or me.

Ign · Jan 10, 2011

Arbor presses are nice for light press fits and instances where you want more feel to the pressing operation. I've got a Dake #1 which I think they claim is a 3 ton unit. It's not exactly a baby as consumer arbor presses go, but I recently had to throw a cheater on it just to break free a tiny stuck bearing in an electric die grinder

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84627

For the money, a 20T hydraulic really probably is your best bet and value. Watching the gage on my hydraulic press, not much usually happens under 5tons for most pressing jobs.

A hydraulic can also hold maintained pressure. We've all had those moments, cringing, waiting, praying........and before you go to pump that handle one more time - POP!

Charles (in GA) · Jan 10, 2011

Every tool has its place. For the suspension work you want to do, a 20 or 25 ton hydraulic press would be much more suited.

I have a Dake 25 ton hydraulic press, and also have a Greenard #3 (If I recall correctly) Arbor press. Its useful, just for smaller things requiring less pressure and more feel for the work. Wished it had the ratchet type handle on it.

Wished I had a 50 or 75 ton KR Wilson hydraulic press........... wish, wish, wish....... but really don't have a good need for it.

Charles

The J · Jan 11, 2011

Thanks a lot for all the replies. This is extremely helpful.

It's been tough to gage how much force is actually needed for jobs without the hands-on experience.

I'll keep a lookout for a used 20 ton press and make room for it. I'm sure I'll find more uses in the future too, doing small jobs for friends in similar situations instead of paying garages a few bucks here and there for pressing in/out bushings.

Thanks again guys. :beer:

amorrow · Jan 11, 2011

I use a Dake 1.5 ton press, similar to the one pictured, to install things like Del-a-Lum leaf spring bushings, steel sleeves for roller-bearing steering/suspension components, etc in cars and it's been very handy and doesn't take up too much space. However some of the leaf spring bushings have come close to approaching the limit of the press, given the original-length lever arm. If all you do is vintage Mustang parts similar to what I use, a 1.5 ton press would be perfect, though.

Kenwc · Jan 11, 2011

If you ever need one to just mow your yard you can borrow one of mine....

airbuff101 · Jan 11, 2011

Excellent!!

Rob

mjozefow · Jan 13, 2011

Kenwc said:
If you ever need one to just mow your yard you can borrow one of mine....

That is a beautiful chunk 'o' iron Ken! Take care of that baby!

Bull · Feb 4, 2011

My brother told me a store near him has a selection of arbor presses of various sizes, made in Nashua NH for around $40 and up. He asked me if I wanted one, and I didn't really know the answer.

This thread makes me feel like they aren't all that exciting of a tool to own....

airbuff101 · Feb 4, 2011

Bull,
For Those prices, You want one!

Easily impresses when non-toolies come over.
You can just hitch up your pants and say stuff like: "yep, had ta use the arbor press on that one the other day" "It was a tough ******, good thing I had Ol' blue"
Just owning one makes for real manly talk.

Rob

Bull · Feb 4, 2011

I like the sounds of that. Best to have a beer in hand while giving that talk, too!

$40 is a good price, then? He had no clue about size or anything, just said he felt like some were larger than others.

airbuff101 said:
Bull,
For Those prices, You want one!

Easily impresses when non-toolies come over.
You can just hitch up your pants and say stuff like: "yep, had ta use the arbor press on that one the other day" "It was a tough ******, good thing I had Ol' blue"
Just owning one makes for real manly talk.

Rob

red92s · Feb 4, 2011

Bull said:
My brother told me a store near him has a selection of arbor presses of various sizes, made in Nashua NH for around $40 and up. He asked me if I wanted one, and I didn't really know the answer.

This thread makes me feel like they aren't all that exciting of a tool to own....

If they were made in Nashua, they are probably made by Greenard, and well worth $40. They make some very large, very nice hydraulic gap-frame and 4-post presses for manufacturing lines . . . but have also been making arbor presses for a better part of this century.

Not sure if they are still doing casting and stuff in house for arbor press frames, as I got the feeling they were focused more on the large scale stuff these days when I went up there for work. But they said they still offer support and parts for the old stuff.

Bull · Feb 4, 2011

I'm trying to think of any recent project where I would have wanted one of these, and a, coming up blank so far.

Anything on them break that I should tell my brother to look for before he grabs one?

mossyboy6 · Feb 4, 2011

I use the exact press pictured in the op almost every day at my work.

It works very well for what it is, but it may leave you wanting a larger one.

Bull · Feb 4, 2011

mossyboy6 said:
I use the exact press pictured in the op almost every day at my work.

It works very well for what it is, but it may leave you wanting a larger one.

Well, what are you doing with it every day?

I learn best with examples!

jkeyser14 · Feb 4, 2011

I'll just confirm what others have already said. An arbor press is mostly useful for very small things where you need "feedback" when installing them for precision assemblies. 3 tons isn't enough for much in terms of automotive work. I wouldn't get anything short of a 20 ton hydraulic press for auto work. You can get one for ~$300 shipped if you don't mind a cheap import one.

scott37300 · Feb 4, 2011

When I worked in a paper mill we used them for pressing bearings. Some machines had thousands of bearings on rollers for the belts. It would take forever to do it with a hydralic press, lots quicker by hand. It's nice on little bearings and press fit things. Nice to have a hand feel sometimes. I would love to have a little arbor press, it's not something I would use everyday but would be nice when you need it. I did some work on power tools in the last couple years and it would have came in handy. For under a hundred bucks I would pick one up, you'll find some uses for it.

Charles (in GA) · Feb 4, 2011

red92s said:
If they were made in Nashua, they are probably made by Greenard, and well worth $40. They make some very large, very nice hydraulic gap-frame and 4-post presses for manufacturing lines . . . but have also been making arbor presses for a better part of this century.

Gosh I hope so, and the better part of the last century too!!!

I have a Greenard arbor press, it is a nice one.

Charles

Busted_Knuckles · Feb 4, 2011

I picked up this Famco 3 for $75 at a sale, and this other China no name model for around $50 at the same sale.

I use them for light/small automotive/general bearing and bushing removal, when I dont want to use the hydraulic press.

The J · Mar 16, 2011

Had to revisit this thread, great responses guys. Thanks!

I ended up with a 12 ton shop press from harbor freight, $99 w/ coupon.
Haven't used it yet, but it should serve me well.

mike13u · Mar 29, 2011

a broach set and arbor press is how you cut keyways in steel without a milling machine,

trythis · Mar 30, 2011

I use my old 1150 powermatic drill press as an arbor press to cut key-ways in up to 1/2 inch diameter holes. I know, you are all cringing, but it works. If the table starts flexing or the head unit starts to slide up the post, I decide its time to do something different.

Bolster · Mar 30, 2011

I wish I had an arbor press. Never knew I needed one until I got into machining. They come in very handy for force-fit operations.

I totally screwed up a piece of aluminum work once by drilling a through hole instead of a blind hole. I used an arbor press to press in a plug of aluminum, and when done, you couldn't see the repair unless you have a magnifying glass. That was at the school's shop. Don't have a press at home, and want one bad. I'll buy Bull's if he doesn't want it!!

2oolhound · Mar 30, 2011

There sure are a lot of choices on arbor presses between cheap simple chinese ones starting at around $40.00 to the larger industrial models. This site has a good variety of various types:

http://www.mile-x.com/arbor-presses.aspx?gclid=CPez3p_l9acCFQ12gwodGEMTcQ

blazemaster83 · Mar 30, 2011

I have a Jet 3 ton press thats made in china, I got it off CL for $80. It didnt come with a press plate, and the handle was welded into the machine. Luckily I had a stainless rod 1 inch longer than the original, so I cut out the original and replaced it. It works great, I have used it on all kinds of stuff. I must have been used on an assembly line or something, cause it came with a specialized magnetic die, and the machine was fitted with a magnet so any punch you put in it gets held in by the magnet. Its pretty slick, I just need to find a press plate...

PowerDubs · Oct 12, 2011

I got this from some old lady's basement and have used it to press bearings into brake drums.

fireman164 · Oct 29, 2012

found this little jewel on craigslist , it was rusted and pretty rough, just finished it. painted rustoleum hammered blue,love stuff made in usa

Nelson58 · Nov 13, 2012

I need to flatten some 1/16" steel wire to make some antique clock parts and my 1/2 ton arbor isn't strong enough. Guess I need one of these 2 or 3 ton monsters to get er done.

Nelson

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