Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press Modifications Video

[ndnchf]

A couple years ago I bought a HF 20 ton press, part number 60603. Subsequently, I made a number of modifications and improvements that made it much more user friendly. I've had quite a few questions about it, so I decided to make a short video explaining what I did. I hope you guys find it useful.

 

[BikeRider]

That's some impressive press, way more than I'm likely to need any time soon. I'm actually thinking of building a small press to go along with a 6-ton bottle jack I recently picked up at Sears. Would have come in handy when I recently had to press out a hub from a bad bearing and saved me $20.

Nothing fancy, just something that can handle what a 6-ton press puts out and won't bend or break under pressure. Ideally something that I can build out of parts I can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's, or maybe even find in a salvage yard. I'm thinking basically H, I or L-beams and some heavy-duty bolts. I have no way to cut metal (hacksaw?) but I can probably manage to drill holes.

Any ideas or better yet links to existing DIY sites or videos? My view is why buy it if you can build it.

 

[got2boostit2]

Nice work.

 

[TommyK]

Nice job on the press and the video!

 

[ndnchf]

That's some impressive press, way more than I'm likely to need any time soon. I'm actually thinking of building a small press to go along with a 6-ton bottle jack I recently picked up at Sears. Would have come in handy when I recently had to press out a hub from a bad bearing and saved me $20.

Nothing fancy, just something that can handle what a 6-ton press puts out and won't bend or break under pressure. Ideally something that I can build out of parts I can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's, or maybe even find in a salvage yard. I'm thinking basically H, I or L-beams and some heavy-duty bolts. I have no way to cut metal (hacksaw?) but I can probably manage to drill holes.

Any ideas or better yet links to existing DIY sites or videos? My view is why buy it if you can build it.

The HF 20 ton press can be bought for under $150. That's a bargain compared to all the time and effort you would put into scrounging for scrap, paying for metal and parts from Lowes etc. If you dont have the proper tools for cutting and fabricating heavy steel, you'll have a tough time. A poorly designed or constructed press can be dangerous. With the pressures these jacks can make, if something breaks, steel can go flying.

You may not think you need a press this big, but you'll be surprised at how many uses you'll find for it. For $150, these are hard to beat.

 

[dusterdude]

I recently watched a vid on youtube,pretty much did the same thing you did.was it your video?btw,nice work

Sent from my LG-US601 using Tapatalk

 

[krdiesel03]

Nice job, Great idea on the winch.

 

[BikeRider]

The HF 20 ton press can be bought for under $150. That's a bargain compared to all the time and effort you would put into scrounging for scrap, paying for metal and parts from Lowes etc. If you dont have the proper tools for cutting and fabricating heavy steel, you'll have a tough time. A poorly designed or constructed press can be dangerous. With the pressures these jacks can make, if something breaks, steel can go flying.

You may not think you need a press this big, but you'll be surprised at how many uses you'll find for it. For $150, these are hard to beat.

Sure, I'm trying to save money, but the main issue is space. I literally have no place for a press the size of yours. The idea behind the kind of DIY I'm talking about is that it would be a lot smaller, and I could take it apart and store it when not using it. Of course, if you think it would be unsafe to use, then that outweighs all else. I wonder if there is a "kit" one could buy for a mini-press, with all the parts you'll need that you assemble yourself. I think there'd be a market for it.

 

[Sty57]

Very nice!
I've been doing a lot of the same things on mine.
I'm still trying to get it finished up.
The break press should come in very handy around the house.

 

[Qualitytools]

Great job, thanks for sharing!

 

[Showkey]

My view is why buy it if you can build it.

Start with the HF or similar and make the modifications...........money ahead unless your getting the all materials for free.

It’s like trying to home built trailer and trying compete witha manufactures buying materials at a huge discount. Compared to retail plus at Lowe’s with steel prices that are $$$$.

 

[ndnchf]

Sty57 - nice work. I see you have reenforced the top cross brace above the jack. That seems like a pretty good idea. I can see how that area could possibly flex under a severe load. I may do that too. Thanks.

 

[jumpstart]

Nice video. Might do some of the mods on mine. Thanks for taking the time to make the video.

 

[Sty57]

Sty57 - nice work. I see you have reenforced the top cross brace above the jack. That seems like a pretty good idea. I can see how that area could possibly flex under a severe load. I may do that too. Thanks.

I actually dropped a piece of C-channel
Down in the top plus put the gussets on the outside.
Then I welded it all up.
It's probably Overkill but better to be overbuilt. Then have it fail.

 

[FlaGman]

Very nice!
I've been doing a lot of the same things on mine.
I'm still trying to get it finished up.
The break press should come in very handy around the house.

That is one beefy looking little press brake! Can you share the details?

 

[Sty57]

That is one beefy looking little press brake! Can you share the details?

The 4-way and top dies I cut off some old dies we had at work.
The rest is just scrap steel I had laying around the house.
I cut a couple different lengths of top dies so I can change them out. They are just sandwiched in-between some flat-stock.
I will make a few different top dies as needed.
The springs are some old RB Mopar valve springs I had laying around.

The whole thing is removable in a few minutes and I can use the press normally.
I need to finish up a shelf on the bottom to store it all when not in use.

 

[ndnchf]

Press brakes are a very handy accessory. I got this one off Ebay ready to use for about $200.

 

[crrcoal]

That was a great video you did. Thank you for sharing!

Another mod video in two parts that a machinist did. Some good stuff!

part 1

part 2

 

[Sty57]

Shelf done enough for now. Looks like I'll have to trim the sides of the brake base so it sits down flat. But that will have to wait.

Mama is yelling at me to get ready for Easter.

 

[Sty57]

Press brakes are a very handy accessory. I got this one off Ebay ready to use for about $200.

I've seen them before, that's where I got the idea to build one.

How thick of material can you form on them?

 

[ndnchf]

I've seen them before, that's where I got the idea to build one.

How thick of material can you form on them?

I don't recall, but the ebay ad says what it will handle. I've only done 1/8" so far, but I know it will do a lot more.

 

[Sty57]

I don't recall, but the ebay ad says what it will handle. I've only done 1/8" so far, but I know it will do a lot more.

2" x 1/2" is the thickest I've done on mine.
I'm thinking that is going to be about the limit.
But should be plenty for around the house. If I need something bigger ill just have to take it to work and brake it there.

 

[ndnchf]

Thats pretty powerful. Here is the ebay ad for the brake I bought. It says it will handle up to 5/8" x 3".

https://www.ebay.com/c/1255466061

 

[Sty57]

Thats pretty powerful. Here is the ebay ad for the brake I bought. It says it will handle up to 5/8" x 3".



https://www.ebay.com/c/1255466061

5/8" would take alot of force to break.
On a 5" opening it would be around 42 tons to break a 12" piece.

It does go down as the piece gets shorter.

 

[ndnchf]

5/8" would take alot of force to break.
On a 5" opening it would be around 42 tons to break a 12" piece.

It does go down as the piece gets shorter.

42 tons - wow! I have to say I'm very happy with my press. It does everything I've ask of it. I probably have more money in the upgrades than I paid for the press - Lol! But they are well worthwhile for my use.

 

[Sty57]

Finished up mine this afternoon.
It's good enough for who it's for. LoL

 

[BukitCase]

Older HF press w/air hydraulic mod - jig is all 3/4x3 FB, mouth is 2/5" x3"wide and beveled, pusher is 1.5" round. Material being bent is 1/2"x3" FB, needed to fit 1.5" pins on my Case 580 (building QA for loader, for faster swaps between brush forks, forklift, grapple and eventual articulated linkage for my hydraulic sickle bar trimmer)

The pic with oil - that ONLY happened after I eased off and added a couple squirts of 30w.

Didn't notice BEFORE the bend, but when I released pressure the press frame straightened back out a bit

Last 3 pics are further operations on the QA - all materials are either 1/2" or 3/4" steel.

I'd say I found the limits of that press; don't think I'd wanna put a twenty-ONE ton jack on 'er ... Steve

PS - after that first push, I put a longer air hose on the jack so I could hide further away

 

[ndnchf]

Finished up mine this afternoon.
It's good enough for who it's for. LoL

Nice work, it looks great. I need to make a bottom tray like that.

 

[Sty57]

42 tons - wow! I have to say I'm very happy with my press. It does everything I've ask of it. I probably have more money in the upgrades than I paid for the press - Lol! But they are well worthwhile for my use.

Normally you want between 8x - 10x the opening for the material your breaking.

So 5/8" material on a 5" opening would be 8x.

 

[Sty57]

Older HF press w/air hydraulic mod - jig is all 3/4x3 FB, mouth is 2/5" x3"wide and beveled, pusher is 1.5" round. Material being bent is 1/2"x3" FB, needed to fit 1.5" pins on my Case 580 (building QA for loader, for faster swaps between brush forks, forklift, grapple and eventual articulated linkage for my hydraulic sickle bar trimmer)



The pic with oil - that ONLY happened after I eased off and added a couple squirts of 30w.



Didn't notice BEFORE the bend, but when I released pressure the press frame straightened back out a bit



Last 3 pics are further operations on the QA - all materials are either 1/2" or 3/4" steel.



I'd say I found the limits of that press; don't think I'd wanna put a twenty-ONE ton jack on 'er ... Steve



PS - after that first push, I put a longer air hose on the jack so I could hide further away [emoji106]

That worked out great!