Best standalone base for an Arbor Press?

[MPOWERD]

I have a 1 ton Palmgren Arbor Press and I would like to mount it on a stand alone base. I have a small spot in the garage where I can fit it and would like to get some opinions on what would be best...

Are bench grinder bases any good for this?

 

[MPOWERD]

No opinions at all? I was thinking of using the HF Grinder stand and bolting it into the concrete... Then dual use it for my Arbor Press and my new Craftsman Pro 4/1 vise.

Is it any good for this?

 

[Provincial]

Due to the nature of the design of arbor presses, you are placing a strong downward force far in front of the ram by using the handle. This force tips the tool towards you as you push down on the handle.

There are several ways to counteract this. If you can anchor the base to a wall it will stabilize things. If the base is strong enough, anchoring it to the floor will accomplish the same thing. If you want the base to be mobile, you must extend the bottom support (feet) forward enough to be beneath the end of the handle (or cheater pipe, if you abuse tools) so that the downward force is absorbed directly under the pressure point.

Since the ram acts against the platen (the rotating part you push against), those forces mean nothing in designing a base.

 

[MPOWERD]

Due to the nature of the design of arbor presses, you are placing a strong downward force far in front of the ram by using the handle. This force tips the tool towards you as you push down on the handle.

There are several ways to counteract this. If you can anchor the base to a wall it will stabilize things. If the base is strong enough, anchoring it to the floor will accomplish the same thing. If you want the base to be mobile, you must extend the bottom support (feet) forward enough to be beneath the end of the handle (or cheater pipe, if you abuse tools) so that the downward force is absorbed directly under the pressure point.

Since the ram acts against the platen (the rotating part you push against), those forces mean nothing in designing a base.

Thank you for the information! I can anchor a base to the wall and floor no problem. I have nothing between it and the wall. However I dont want to use a base that will snap off the bolt mounts on its feet when pressure is applied to it. That is what I fear will happen with the bench grinder base from HF. Always doubt the quality of Chinese castings... Was hoping someone had some experience with one.

I understand the pressure point being forward of the center line and how longer legs can offset that. So... What would you recommend for a base?

 

[Provincial]

I'm not an engineer, but if you can anchor your unit to the wall, the wall will take most of the tipping force, and the base will take mostly downward force. I am not familiar with the HF cast grinder bases. The old ones with a steel base should be strong enough for your purposes. You are applying a force equal to your weight downward on the handle. If there are no side loads, it doesn't take much structure to handle that amount of force. A 1x1 wood stake can handle that force, but most of us would use a 4x4 to be safe.

I have an unknown brand arbor press of about 2-ton capacity mounted on a workbench that is supported directly underneath it by a 1x1x.063 square steel tube leg. The workbench is a 4-1/2"x30" gluelam beam eight feet long, so the leg has a lot of weight on that end just supporting the outside of the bench top, which is bolted to the wall with angle iron brackets. I put a lot more stress on the same size leg on the other end, which is under my vise. I have had no problems with either leg.

 

[gregthor]

I need to build a base for my arbor press also.( in a year or two) I can tell you what I think mine will look like. I will put the platen about the same height as my work bench 36-39 inches off the ground. This is a comfortable working height for me to hold a work piece. It will have a cut out for long peices of work. The stand will be heavy so the overall machine is not top heavy and I won't have to worry about it falling over. I am collecting the steel now for it out of the scrap hopper at work. So far I have collected 2x4 oval tube stock that is really cool looking. The base foot print will be bigger than the arbor. This was covered very well above. I will have a small table below to store tooling on. I will make sure there is no pinch point when I operate the handle. One last note, I will go to google, images, and type in "Arbor press stands" and spend a little time looking at each stand for ideas.

I hope that helps alittle.
Greg

 

[454ragtop]

Pretty sure a 1 ton Palmgren arbor press is pretty small, and should be fine on a grinder stand bolted to the floor. If I were to make one, I'd make it with 3 pipe legs, 2 in the front and 1 in the rear, with all 3 splayed outward away from each other slightly. Before I got my Greenerd 3 3/4 on factory stand, I had a good sized Sheldon, either 3 or 5 ton, that came on the spindliest looking stand I ever saw, was like 1/8" X 1/2" angle iron, but with splayed legs it was amazingly stable.
HTH, Jim

 

[MPOWERD]

Thank you for all the info guys. All of it was very helpful!

 

[MPOWERD]

This would be an awesome base to get... The press itself has a built in swivel base plate the base is mounted to...

 

[MPOWERD]

Hand made stand out of angle iron...

 

[MPOWERD]

I ended up going with the Bench Grinder base... I mounted it to the wall by tying it into the wall studs with some heavy duty corner steel and 1/2 inch bolts...

I am using it for my new Craftsman Professional Vise...

I am adding a second one for the Arbor Press... With the 20% off coupon from HF they only cost about $35.00 and the steel mounts, nuts, washers, and bolts about $10.00...

I still have to anchor the feet to the concrete...

What would be the best drill in anchor to use? The feet are predrilled to take a 1/2 inch bolt...

 

[Provincial]

I use the old standard - Red Head wedge anchors. If you want something that is flush, use internal threaded anchors with bolts instead of the protruding studs.