does anyone use an arbor press

[JeeperAz]

I often need a press for certain things but dont have the room for anything big.

I've eyed those cheapy arbor presses at harbor frieght and often wondered how what uses they have.


Anyone find them to be a worth while addition to the home garage? What do you use them for?

 

[bmwpower]

I'd like to know, too.

 

[kartracer55]

I dont own one, But I have acess to one, and it doesnt get used much. The are traditionally used for lathe work (pressing in arbors... duh) but people kidna use them for other stuff. Most of the time I just usea cheap socket in a bench vise and press it out that way. If you cna get oen for liek 50$, then go for it, but I dont find myself using it that much.


my .02

 

[swgray]

I've had a couple 2 ton models around (free give aways from work) and used it once to replace a couple of u-joints. I'm still up in the air whether or not it was easier than driving them apart with a hammer. It was an aluminum driveshaft and thought it would be prudent not to use a hammer.

Bigger may be better when it comes to these things, though.

 

[Goobzilla]

I just went for the 12 ton hydraulic press at HF for $109. It doesn't really take up THAT much room. It's only 19 1/2" wide. If you could swing it, that's how I'd go. If you were really desperate for floor space, there's only about 4 bolts that hold it together. It could be disassembled and stored flat when not in use, then throw it together on the occasions you need it.

 

[W-Cummins]

I have 2 of them, a 1.5 ton and a 3 ton both are dakes. Neither are small, both are usefull for a wide # of small pressing jobs. I use a 50 ton H frame hydraulic Dake for the larger stuff. The arbor press is so much faster for the smaller jobs I wouldn't want to not have it also.

William...

 

[imported_banzaitoyota]

I use arbor presses for jobs that require ""finese".ie pressing in rotor bearings for my Rotary Engines

 

[eschoendorff]

The owner of the local auto repair shop has one in one of his bays (looks exactly like the HF one, down to the orange paint) in his shop; I'm guessing he uses it for U-joints and suspension stuff. I don't need one for myself... yet. If you do alot of that sort of thing (esp. working on 4x4s), it may prove beneficial.

 

[Fast Orange]

As already said,an arbor press is great for "finess" jobs and where relatively low press power is needed,however,they wouldn't be my first choice if I were only going to have one press in my shop. There are just too many jobs for a press that need brute force and too few tasks that need "finess". Any of the bottle jack or hydraulic presses can be used for the jobs of an arbor press,they just take longer,due to the ram's slower travel speed.Another disadvantage of the arbor is that in all of them I've ever seen,the bottom platen is fixed,where it's adjustable over a wide range on most hydraulic units.

George

 

[chevy302dz]

A free standing 3 ton+ arbor press is definatily worth having if you find a good deal on one. As with most things you would be better off with a used American unit over a import.

 

[Steve_S]

I don't have personal experience with them, but I hear that the HF presses are very flexy compared to a quality US model. It would make me nervous watching that thing flex with 5 tons of pressure a few inches in front of my face. I think I would bite the bullet and buy a better made tool.

 

[rdnkjeeper]

Press

I don't have personal experience with them, but I hear that the HF presses are very flexy compared to a quality US model. It would make me nervous watching that thing flex with 5 tons of pressure a few inches in front of my face. I think I would bite the bullet and buy a better made tool.

I was going to make my own until I priced the metal.....the metal to make the one I wanted (20 ton) was well over $150....so then I priced out a 12 ton just a little cheaper...so I bought a HF one on ebay cheap, when it bends I should have enough scrap laying around to make it stronger.....I am only out around 60 bucks!

 

[Jay H 237]

I've yet to have any real use for one yet.

My father does use one quite a bit though for repairs of post war Lionel trains. Most of the wheels and axles are pressed together on the engines and requires "finesse" work like somebody already mentioned.

The one he has is either a 1 or 2 ton (not sure off hand) Dayton that he ordered through Grainger. I know the thing is quite heavy for it's size and could double as a boat anchor!

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I've had a couple 2 ton models around (free give aways from work) and used it once to replace a couple of u-joints. I'm still up in the air whether or not it was easier than driving them apart with a hammer. It was an aluminum driveshaft and thought it would be prudent not to use a hammer.

Bigger may be better when it comes to these things, though.

I would like to own one(arbor press) at a very cheap price for the control you might have, I made a 12 ton hydraulic and use it for bearings to tire bead breaking, And for u-joints. we have had the best luck know with a Harbor Freight C-Clamp style one for u-joint and ball joints, we have done several u-joint and several ball joints with the tool and it seems to be above average quality or I was just lucky with the one I got. First ball joint c-clamp tool I used was a $200 tool exactly like the hf one. Ed ke6bnl

 

[eschoendorff]

I would like to own one(arbor press) at a very cheap price for the control you might have, I made a 12 ton hydraulic and use it for bearings to tire bead breaking, And for u-joints. we have had the best luck know with a Harbor Freight C-Clamp style one for u-joint and ball joints, we have done several u-joint and several ball joints with the tool and it seems to be above average quality or I was just lucky with the one I got. First ball joint c-clamp tool I used was a $200 tool exactly like the hf one. Ed ke6bnl

I have the same one. Haven't used it yet, but I have heard on other forums that they're actually pretty decent.

 

[red caddy]

I've got 2 arbor presses, 2 & 8 ton, I find they are often my first choice over the 50 ton hyd. I like the Feel and sensitivity, when brut strength isn't required. (punching forming and corner notching sheet metal, riveting, pushing out spring pins and so forth) axel bearings, wheel studs and such still go in the big press, it's just nice to have the option. I think they are well worth the shop space. RED

 

[JeeperAz]

I have the same one. Haven't used it yet, but I have heard on other forums that they're actually pretty decent.

I have it. Works great for ujoints and is the right price. A friend of mine here in Phx has a nice little write-up about it here: http://www.stu-offroad.com/misc/hfreight-1.htm


Thanks guys for the info on the arbor press.

 

[davejs]

Look around for a used one if you decide to buy. I have a 20 ton hyd press that I use for all sorts of things. One of the better usefull/useless things is crushing oil filters for recycling. Once the oil is out they will take them at recycling centers.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have an old Dake arbor press, 3-5 ton? I have been trying to find a good use for it for several years. I have yet to find a use for it! I would suggest a regular hyd press instead, and no, I do not want to sell the old Dake.

 

[W-Cummins]

I have an old Dake arbor press, 3-5 ton? I have been trying to find a good use for it for several years. I have yet to find a use for it! I would suggest a regular hyd press instead, and no, I do not want to sell the old Dake.

Dam now you went and done it I had to go and look at em Now in this corner fighting in the grey colors, a model #1, 3 ton weighing in @ 130 lbs and in the other corner wearing red paint is a model # 3A, 5 ton @ a trim 450 lbs! I'm going to mount the little one on the side of the 50 ton H frame press for thouse quick jobs.

William....