Finally scored a Dake arbor press

[Bill Ramsey]

There are just those tools that you don't need very often, but when you do need it, it's just awesome to have the "right tool." Every time I need to press something together, or apart, or punch something, or just apply some targeted but controlled force, I think, "%^$# I wish I had a small arbor press." I couldn't justify buying a new one for as little as I might use it, and they almost never come up for sale around here. So when this 3-ton Dake #1 came up on CL, I grabbed it. It's got all the original parts, and a cool little adjustable depth stop. It works fine. The rust isn't as bad as it looks, and I think the application of the usual GJ rust-removal techniques can have it spiffed up. I've had it apart and the rack & pinion gears are in good shape. The ram moves smoothly with almost no slop. It has a 1/2" bore on the bottom of the ram, with a threaded hole for (I'm assuming) a set screw. I figure that's for holding punches or attachments. It might be an OEM feature, but I'm guessing some PO added that because it's not machined particularly well (but my machinist cousin has the reamer to correct that).

One question for those who have one: do you lube the gears and pinion shaft with grease or with oil? I would have thought a high-pressure grease, but notice the casting has a couple holes that would appear to be for oiling.

I know some of you may not think highly of these, or prefer hydraulic presses, etc. But like a good pair of needle-nose pliers, I think it'll be dang handy for those moments when nothing else serves quite as well (the BFH can't possibly solve all force problems, can it?). I have access to a 20T hydraulic press across town for those times when the heavy guns are required. Besides, for $75 I can at worst simply regard it as cool shop art.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3853&pictureid=43459

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3853&pictureid=43458

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3853&pictureid=43460

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3853&pictureid=43453


EDIT: SEE POST #10 FOR A LINK TO MORE PHOTOS

 

[bluebolt]

Congrats, I have the exact same one. $75 is a You **** price too. We need pics! Did it come with a stand? I just lube mine with PB Blaster Garage Door Lube, not oily when it dries.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Sorry, the pics I took this afternoon were small file size. I'll edit to update that when I get the chance. And no stand...can't have everything.

 

[A_Pmech]

OIL!

Grease will gum up the works.

 

[zkling]

If you have what I think you have, I have the same one. They are very nice. As AP said above, use a med weight oil. Grease on open gears is a bad idea, especially in a shop environment.

If you are talking about the hole on the left side of the ram, with a set screw in it. Be careful removing as it contains a spring and metal plunger to keep friction on the ram as a brake. I just drop the oil down the top of the pinion every once in a while.

I'm not sure if the ram came tapped from the factory or not, but it is very common to find them tapped. One of the most useful additions IMHO is a old drill press chuck to act as a punch holder.

 

[Ign]

Nice. For press fits the feel afforded by the manual press is awesome. Also for smaller broaching jobs, which I did in my Dake the other day.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

If you are talking about the hole on the left side of the ram, with a set screw in it. Be careful removing as it contains a spring and metal plunger to keep friction on the ram as a brake.

I was talking about two holes in the top of the casting, that connect to the spindle's bore. But I'm glad you mentioned the spring, because there's no plunger on mine; the spring rides directly on the ram. When I read your comment, I checked the parts drawing at Dake's web site and realize I'm missing a piece I'll need to order.

 

[JoeMA]

Very nice. I would love to find one at that price.

 

[zkling]

I was talking about two holes in the top of the casting, that connect to the spindle's bore. But I'm glad you mentioned the spring, because there's no plunger on mine; the spring rides directly on the ram. When I read your comment, I checked the parts drawing at Dake's web site and realize I'm missing a piece I'll need to order.

Not sure on those, I don't recall mine having two holes on the top of the casting. Probably oil ports for the pinion shaft. Maybe yours is an older model?

 

[Bill Ramsey]

I swear, one of these days I'll figure out how to put pictures in a post. But you can view my Dake album here...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=3853

...where you can click any of the thumbnails for a larger view. (When I link them to this post, I lose that "larger view" capability)

You'll see the two holes discussed in Posts 1, 5, 6, and 8 in pictures P9222077 and P9222078. They lead directly to the pinion shaft and I'm just sure they're for adding oil to keep that spindle and pinion gear lubricated.

Does anyone have any idea of the age of this press? And is this original paint?

 

[zkling]

O... and you got the work plate. Those holes are oil holes, I wonder if those were added or subtracted in the later models. The threaded hole on the backside is a bit odd, usually when people tap them they tap them on the end of the ram. Here is bad pic of mine, no oil holes on the pinion.

 

[930dreamer]

Great Dake score.

 

[jakemac]

OK, now that I can see pictures I can be jealous. I like the color. I've been keeping an eye out for an affordable arbor press, but the only ones that come up in my area are at ebay prices. So, regardless of what you paid for it, I'm going to give you a You **** anyway.

 

[Tim338]

I have one too but it's an Atlas. Dake bought out Atlas sometime in the 50's or 60's but used the same castings and designs. Very handy to have.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

OK, now that I can see pictures I can be jealous. I like the color. I've been keeping an eye out for an affordable arbor press, but the only ones that come up in my area are at ebay prices. So, regardless of what you paid for it, I'm going to give you a You **** anyway.

I have been looking on and off for 2 years, in two cities. So don't lose hope...like all good scores, it'll happen when you least expect it. And I forgot to mention earlier: I drove 220 miles round-trip to get it, so add $25 to the price, for gas. But I got to stop and visit my sister, so it was worth it.

O... and you got the work plate.

Funny thing about that. The ad had been up for several weeks before I saw it. I emailed the seller, expecting it to be sold, but it wasn't. The ad had only 3 photos, and the plate was not in any of them. I called Dake and a replacement is $73 plus shipping. I asked the seller about the plate and he sent me additional pictures that included the plate! It's amazing what CL sellers will do to shoot themselves in the foot. Had the original ad included a pic of that plate, it would have sold same day.

The threaded hole on the backside is a bit odd, usually when people tap them they tap them on the end of the ram.

That threaded hole is for a setscrew. There is a 0.485 hole (unthreaded) in the end of the ram.

 

[bluebolt]

That one's a little nicer than mine LOL. Here it is mounted up on a stand. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229092