I'm looking for a simple arbor press to do rivets, eyelets, and snaps in leather and kydex. Is there any major differences in quality between brands worth mentioning for my intended light use application?
My intentions were to simply use this to install sheath hardware primarily and occasionally use it to straighten the occasional knife blade after heat treat. For sheath hardware a 1/2 ton is more than adequate but to do the occasional knife blade straightening I think going up to a 1-ton option may be helpful and won't cost a significant more money. All things said, I'd want about 3.5-4" of throat and 2.5-3" of working height and could do anything I intend to use it for with that. It won't be used a lot or as a commercial machine. It also won't be subjected to heavy or abusive use or be left in poor weather. What I'd be most concerned with is that the base be flat, the ram be parallel to the base, and the ram not have a ton of deflection under load or runout due to loose tolerances. Below are the 4 that have caught my eye:
1) http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-ton-arbor-press-3551.html
This is dirt cheap and likely adequate for sheath work as a hobbyist. I don't need anything more for sheaths, however it might be light on pressure for straightening thicker blades and as with all HF items quality may be a moot shot. Several manufacturers seem to share the same casted frame and design with different paint jobs and paper labels. It's likely the same as several other "brands" I've seen online.
2) http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html
This is the next size up and still affordable but still has questionable quality.
3) https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00068U7QS/ezarborpresses-20
Only slightly more cash than the larger HF press, but likely better quality and rated to the same 2000lb pressure standards. This is one of the only ones I've seen with specific specifications for deflection and squareness listed. If the 0.002" can be believed it'll be more than tight enough tolerances for my needs.
4) https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00068U7WM/ezarborpresses-20
I've never used one with a wheel feature. The wheel may be nice to ease down on some of the small and fragile eyelets or may be a completely unnecessary feature. Also, amazon lists this as having less force than the smaller unit. This could be a typo, I don't know. Either way it would likely have plenty of power for my needs and maybe the extra throat and height would be handy but not needed. Maybe the wheel would be handy.
My intentions were to simply use this to install sheath hardware primarily and occasionally use it to straighten the occasional knife blade after heat treat. For sheath hardware a 1/2 ton is more than adequate but to do the occasional knife blade straightening I think going up to a 1-ton option may be helpful and won't cost a significant more money. All things said, I'd want about 3.5-4" of throat and 2.5-3" of working height and could do anything I intend to use it for with that. It won't be used a lot or as a commercial machine. It also won't be subjected to heavy or abusive use or be left in poor weather. What I'd be most concerned with is that the base be flat, the ram be parallel to the base, and the ram not have a ton of deflection under load or runout due to loose tolerances. Below are the 4 that have caught my eye:
1) http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-ton-arbor-press-3551.html
This is dirt cheap and likely adequate for sheath work as a hobbyist. I don't need anything more for sheaths, however it might be light on pressure for straightening thicker blades and as with all HF items quality may be a moot shot. Several manufacturers seem to share the same casted frame and design with different paint jobs and paper labels. It's likely the same as several other "brands" I've seen online.
2) http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html
This is the next size up and still affordable but still has questionable quality.
3) https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00068U7QS/ezarborpresses-20
Only slightly more cash than the larger HF press, but likely better quality and rated to the same 2000lb pressure standards. This is one of the only ones I've seen with specific specifications for deflection and squareness listed. If the 0.002" can be believed it'll be more than tight enough tolerances for my needs.
4) https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00068U7WM/ezarborpresses-20
I've never used one with a wheel feature. The wheel may be nice to ease down on some of the small and fragile eyelets or may be a completely unnecessary feature. Also, amazon lists this as having less force than the smaller unit. This could be a typo, I don't know. Either way it would likely have plenty of power for my needs and maybe the extra throat and height would be handy but not needed. Maybe the wheel would be handy.
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