Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press

[preeber]

I recently purchased the Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press and I thought that some of you maybe interested is seeing a short video on it.

 

[Bagherra]

Nice vid.

Been thinking about purchasing one myself..

Like your garage!!

 

[ndnchf]

They are nice - there are a lot of ways to improve it too. I did a few mods to mine and really like it. Wheels to move it around, winch system clips to hold the handle, and a better knob for jack valve.

Pimp your press!

 

[Shop Dad]

Wheels are a good addition. I have my handle in the same spot held by a small magnet.

 

[wcp0611]

They are nice - there are a lot of ways to improve it too. I did a few mods to mine and really like it. Wheels to move it around, winch system clips to hold the handle, and a better knob for jack valve.

Pimp your press!

Man, that's awesome!! I've used the heck out of mine over the years. I've worn the bottle jack down to needing replacement. Do you guys think it could handle a 30 ton jack? Not that I'm going to do that, but I do wonder...

 

[BukitCase]

Nope, that press is lucky to handle a 20 ton - here's a few pix of a quick attach (multiple implements in place of loader bucket on my old Case 580B) I've been letting other projects get ahead of for a while - the design needed thick "U" brackets for the upper loader pins to pick up WITHOUT having to remove pins.

The bent parts - 1/2"x3" flat bar.
The pusher - 1-1/2" CR steel, coupled by a 1-1/2" coupler sleeve.
The jig - 3/4"x3" flat bar, full gussets, welded everywhere EXCEPT the inside of the jig (didn't want it to "pull" that way)

Notice the "mouth" of the jig is beveled out 45* with radiused edges...
Even with all that, the last part of the push needed lube or the press stalled out -
At first I thought the air/hydraulic 20T jack I use wasn't seeing full pressure - so I put the jack handle back in, and COULDN'T MOVE IT - after lubing, finished the push with air. (BARELY.)

Finally, my point - I hadn't noticed this DURING the push, but when I RELEASED pressure, the FRAME STRAIGHTENED BACK OUT

It wasn't a LOT, but taught me than when HF says "20 tons", they do NOT mean 20.1 tons... Steve

Also, if anybody has the older (orange) version, do yourself a HUGE favor and use those bondo-filled cast plates for paper weights (BEFORE they hurt you) and get some STEEL ones, at LEAST 1" thick...

 

[ndnchf]

Nope, that press is lucky to handle a 20 ton - here's a few pix of a quick attach (multiple implements in place of loader bucket on my old Case 580B) I've been letting other projects get ahead of for a while - the design needed thick "U" brackets for the upper loader pins to pick up WITHOUT having to remove pins.

The bent parts - 1/2"x3" flat bar.
The pusher - 1-1/2" CR steel, coupled by a 1-1/2" coupler sleeve.
The jig - 3/4"x3" flat bar, full gussets, welded everywhere EXCEPT the inside of the jig (didn't want it to "pull" that way)

Notice the "mouth" of the jig is beveled out 45* with radiused edges...
Even with all that, the last part of the push needed lube or the press stalled out -
At first I thought the air/hydraulic 20T jack I use wasn't seeing full pressure - so I put the jack handle back in, and COULDN'T MOVE IT - after lubing, finished the push with air. (BARELY.)

Finally, my point - I hadn't noticed this DURING the push, but when I RELEASED pressure, the FRAME STRAIGHTENED BACK OUT

It wasn't a LOT, but taught me than when HF says "20 tons", they do NOT mean 20.1 tons... Steve

Also, if anybody has the older (orange) version, do yourself a HUGE favor and use those bondo-filled cast plates for paper weights (BEFORE they hurt you) and get some STEEL ones, at LEAST 1" thick...

Interesting, but scary observation!

One thing of note, the new #60603 20 ton presses are a bit different than the old orange versions. The beams are not formed to a U shape like on the orange version, they are forged square U-beams. Also be aware that there are two versions of the current gray 20 ton press. The bolt together #60603 and the welded together #32879. My preference is the 60603 because it can be assembled with good grade 8 bolts and trued up and squared during assembly. Unlike the 32879 that is welded (maybe good, maybe not) and sometimes it is not square. I think they are both an improvement over the old orange models. The 60603 comes with cut steel plates, not cast. I cant speak for the 32879, but I think they are cut steel too. Maybe someone can confirm that.

 

[BukitCase]

I've read that about the gray ones having actual steel plates too, no personal knowledge tho - I also find it interesting that HF shows NO DIFFERENCE in the two gray ones you posted, pics are identical - but unlike SOME of their stuff, the actual MANUALS DO show the difference, the 32879 manual shows WELDED joints at the top.

IIRC, my old orange press is welded at the top - but I'd never consider it a "precision" instrument anyway - I've been slowly (key word "slow") gathering stuff to build my OWN press, looking at 50 ton. Scored an Enerpac hyd. power unit in a trade a couple years ago, didn't realize just how well I fared in that deal til I found that model # on line for just under $6k (trade was for the last HALF payment for my older model MM211)

Still looking for a compatible 10k pound cylinder, the rest I'll just buy new steel. Looking at a LOT more functionality than the basic HF press, including sliding cylinder position, more open frame, wider frame, cage, adjustable rollers on the table, etc...

At 72, I may never GET there - but with all the projects I have in mind, I flat guarantee I won't die of BOREDOM either, so in the end it'll mean I WON :=)) Steve

 

[ndnchf]

I noticed they use the same photo for both also. It is rather misleading. A 50 ton press would be nice, I'd love to have one in my garage. But I'm pretty pleased with this one. I had an old 12 ton orange press for nearly 20 years and finally decided to upgrade. While its not perfect, its a big step up. With the mods I made, it is even better. For the price, its hard to beat. I forgot to mention that I also bought a metal brake to use with mine. Its another very handy tool.

For lighter work I have this Dake 3 ton press. Its much faster, but not near as powerful as the 20 tonner.

 

[BukitCase]

I wouldn't mind if a Dake like that came up on local CL for a good deal, but lately it seems like there's a LOT of dreamers/con men lookin' for morons with money to burn - been watching for a decent anvil for the last 10 years, you'd think they were made of platinum...

BTW, wcp0611 - if you're gonna replace the jack on your 20T and can spare another $40, HF has their 20T air/hydraulic on a coupon (# 44349586) for $89.99 - I like having that on mine, it's handy to just hold the air on to "run up" on it, then have the option of a slow, deliberate push with the jack handle... Steve

 

[gtr1999]

I like the winch setup. I took an old ball valve handle and peened it on my cylinder years ago. Works great. The cylinder was junk and failed about 3 months into use and I bought another Chinese bottle jack from Graingers that so far has lasted about 10+ years.

 

[BukitCase]

Yeah, I might add a winch to my HF press; by now, I know myself well enough to realize that'll happen a LOT sooner than that spiffy 50 ton "do everything" monster that keeps runnin' around in my head

The stock jacks (air or not) have just enough stroke to fake you into picking the WRONG pin holes, gettin' 200 lbs of fixturing stuff on there, then havin' to take it OFF while you pick the RIGHT set of holes - note to self: REMEMBER that, *******, the next time you're standin' around the shop on a rainy day tryin' to think of a fun/easy "mini-project" that doesn't require you to be OUTSIDE ...Steve

 

[ndnchf]

The air/hydraulic jack upgrade is next on my list. I was fortunate to find that Dake for $75 about 5 years ago. I recently stripped and restored it. Anvil prices do seem to be crazy, but every now and then a fair deal comes along. I got this 1870s vintage, 100lb Fisher anvil for $150 a while back. It was crusty then, but cleaned up pretty well.

The winch system was not expensive, maybe $40 in parts. It sure makes it easier and safer to raise and lower the table.

 

[BukitCase]

That DID clean up nice - around here, it's typical to see a 100-120 lb. anvil that spent the last 100+ years buried in a toxic swamp, MAYBE hosed off with liquid manure, listed on CL for $300 or more. I saw one Peter Wright 150 pounder on CL a couple weeks ago "getting out of biz" for $75 - by the time I saw it it was gone, only to reappear the next week (different poster) for $400...

I shoulda bought that George Ernst 120 pounder new when we still had horses decades ago - even tho I already knew THEN I'd rather pay somebody ELSE to ruin their back shoeing 1100 pound animals...

I already have a "take-off" winch in mind, left over when I converted a pickup crane into a "mini-jib" on one of my weld tables. Couple more cable clamps and some leftover parts from an exercize machine I scavenged and it should happen... Steve

 

[ADSR]

That DID clean up nice - around here, it's typical to see a 100-120 lb. anvil that spent the last 100+ years buried in a toxic swamp, MAYBE hosed off with liquid manure, listed on CL for $300 or more. I saw one Peter Wright 150 pounder on CL a couple weeks ago "getting out of biz" for $75 - by the time I saw it it was gone, only to reappear the next week (different poster) for $400...

I shoulda bought that George Ernst 120 pounder new when we still had horses decades ago - even tho I already knew THEN I'd rather pay somebody ELSE to ruin their back shoeing 1100 pound animals...

I already have a "take-off" winch in mind, left over when I converted a pickup crane into a "mini-jib" on one of my weld tables. Couple more cable clamps and some leftover parts from an exercize machine I scavenged and it should happen... Steve

That's a fantastic idea. I need to come up with something like this. My back can't take anymore heavy lifting.

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks, it works really well - jib is 2 pieces of heavy angle, separated by some 3/8 FB for a bit more width for the 1 ton trolley - winch is the HF worm gear, add a 19mm socket to a drill and lock the 2 nuts together on the shaft and you get power up/down. The vertical is 2"x1/4"wall tube. Table is 3/8" top, heavy angle frame, bought from work for "scrap" for $.05 a pound. weighs about 600 lbs, so far I've had over 200 lbs on the jib with no sign of tipping.

Your reason for wanting one is the same as mine, dang 72 year old bodies are a LOT wimpier than the one I remember from 50 years ago ...Steve

 

[ndnchf]

That jib crane is slick - nice work. I used a $20 winch from HF, works just fine for this application. Here is the metal brake I got for mine. Another very hand item.

Occasionally the Mrs and I have a fire in an outdoor fire pit. Now I'm a youngin' at age 60, but splitting a couple pieces of wood now and then is a workout. I thought about making a splitting wedge to use in the 20T press after I get the air/hydraulic jack. I think it would be real handy just to split a couple pieces of wood. I haven't really thought up a design yet, but it shouldn't be too hard.

 

[thatguysb]

Great press, does the job and for the price honestly, you get what you pay for.

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks, the jib's working so well I'm almost done cutting the pieces out for a 2-ton bridge crane that'll go in the first 20 feet of one of my 40' containers - it's integrated with a steel rack on one side and will let me move a bundle of 20'or 24' steel into the container far enough with the loader (highly modified) so I can grab it with the crane and bring it the rest of the way in, then sort it and store it on the rack with almost ZERO manual labor.

That one will service an 8' x 20' area, and at the innermost corner I'll put my mill and tooling there, curtained off except during use to keep grinding/weld spatter off. Positioning there will let me use the bridge crane for mill fixturing too, got an 8" rotary table with 3-jaw chuck and a few other add-ons that're gettin' too heavy for old farts...

I like your brake, looked at the offerings from SWAG offroad but so far, too many OTHER projects demanding time and $$$.

Log splitter - good luck gettin' a 6" stroke to NOT get stuck in a log, or do you know somethin' I don't? I bought one of HF's electric "5 ton" units last year (on sale) for kindling, etc, it's still sittin' in the box (did I mention I don't get bored??!?)...Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Gotta run to town for a few things, some bozo lost the screws that hold the blade guard tin on one of the little 4x6 bandsaws I "offroaded" last year, so since HF doesn't think PITCH is important on their part list, I'm takin' the calipers and a screwdriver to the local HF and measuring their screws so I can go buy some at a REAL hardware store -

It's hard to get good HELP these days, 'speshully if it's ME ...Steve

Couple shots of the "ORB"...

 

[ndnchf]

I did a little googling and found this home made log splitting attachment for a press. A little crude, but I like the basic idea.

 

[ndnchf]

I wouldn't mind if a Dake like that came up on local CL for a good deal, but lately it seems like there's a LOT of dreamers/con men lookin' for morons with money to burn - been watching for a decent anvil for the last 10 years, you'd think they were made of platinum...

BTW, wcp0611 - if you're gonna replace the jack on your 20T and can spare another $40, HF has their 20T air/hydraulic on a coupon (# 44349586) for $89.99 - I like having that on mine, it's handy to just hold the air on to "run up" on it, then have the option of a slow, deliberate push with the jack handle... Steve

Can you post a good photo of that coupon? Not sure if my local store will just take a number. It's for this one - right?
https://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-air-over-hydraulic-jack-95553.html

Thanks

 

[BukitCase]

Here ya go, second row; you can print it out, shouldn't be a problem -

https://www.harborfreight.com/extra-savings.html

That particular one DIES in 5 days tho, the one in their current mailer catalog is good thru 11/30. If you miss out, post back here and I'll put up a pic of the one in my current "inventory closeout" catalog... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

That wedge looks like he just took an axe head, left the wood in the eye and goobered some "wedge wedges" onto it - should be ok on easy-split stuff, gnarly maybe not so much - my concern would be that, as short a stroke as those cylinders have even the "wings" might not pop a piece before you reached the end of the stroke -

Also, I think I'd start with TWO actual splitting wedges side by side, welded together, for a wider split; THEN maybe add wings if necessary.

Shouldn't be that much of a project to find out tho - plus, if you have some 1-1/2" cold roll you could always cut some 6" "spacers from that, and just "back up and add a spacer" (assuming everything ELSE is stable enough NOT to just blow out sideways)

Actually, if you did a "socket" like that pic it should help keep things in line, even WITH a spacer... Steve

 

[ndnchf]

Here ya go, second row; you can print it out, shouldn't be a problem -

https://www.harborfreight.com/extra-savings.html

That particular one DIES in 5 days tho, the one in their current mailer catalog is good thru 11/30. If you miss out, post back here and I'll put up a pic of the one in my current "inventory closeout" catalog... Steve

Great - thanks, that will work.

Somewhere in the GJ archives there was a discussion about adding a foot pedal to operate the air/hydraulic jack. This allowed the operator to have both hands available to hold or position the piece being worked on, or allowed the operator to be some distance away from the press for safety.
That seems like a good idea and would be simple enough to do. I just need to find a good foot pedal at a decent price.

That could be an axe head just welded up. I think a splitting wedge or two would be a better starting point, need to think more about it.

 

[BukitCase]

You're welcome; wasn't sure what your timetable was, and I couldn't find an online version of the coupon that's in my paper copy.

Footswitch - if all else fails, it wouldn't be TOO hard to mod the switch (valve) that COMES with the jacks - they're standard NPT 1/4" fittings, I added QD's to one of mine when using TWO of those jacks to "nudge" two 40' containers into one continuous straight line last month -

Also, the "switch" part is just a momentary BUTTON under a flapper (with a REALLY obnoxious wire bail that tends to flip up and LOCK the air ON when LEAST WANTED - a Leatherman tool gets rid of the bail pretty quick.

I'd have to look at the "switch" body to see what's there for mounts, but it's at least square sided so it should be fairly easy to make your own base and pedal if you wanted a hands free version...

BTW, thanks for putting yet ANOTHER project into my already swelling brain (yeah, that was sarcasm; but it's FRIENDLY sarcasm )... Steve

 

[ndnchf]

Glad to be of service ;-)

Inexpensive pneumatic foot switches are readily available on ebay and elsewhere. Once I get the jack I'll try it as is, then decide if the foot switch would be worthwhile.

 

[BukitCase]

That'd probably be the easiest way - for me, ALSO adding the QD's to one of the jack switches changed the ridiculous to the possible - a "Y" adapter and an extra 100' air hose allowed me to push 2 different directions with 2 different jacks 40 feet apart on opposite sides of a 10,000 lb. container, while watching sight lines from a THIRD location. Try THAT without a couple of extra helpers with (actually FUNCTIONAL) brains :=) ...Steve

 

[ndnchf]

I went up to the HF store tonight intent on buying a #95553 air/hydraulic jack. Unfortunately, all they had was the #69593. While I could have made it work with the latter, I'd prefer the #95553. So I'll just check back occasionally. Fortunately the store is onlyour a mile away.

 

[BukitCase]

Wow, I'd not seen that kind of air motor on either my older orange one OR the newer gray one - don't think I'd like that much either, the swivel coupling is something I wouldn't wanna lose.

Lemme know if you're gonna need the longer lived version of the coupon... Steve

Or, if you're desperate you could always order online with the coupon and pay the $7 shipping

 

[ndnchf]

I thought about ordering one, but HF has a reputation of shipping whichever one they have in stock, despite requesting a specific item #. Odds are I'd get the wrong one. I'm not in a big hurry, would appreciate a long term coupon if you have one. Thanks.

 

[BukitCase]

Here's the two tries that are legible, should be able to get a usable print off one or the other - I also found a "harbor freight coupons" app for Android, but THAT one's not there... Steve

 

[ndnchf]

Thank you sir!

 

[BukitCase]

One vet to another, anytime... Steve

 

[ndnchf]

I tried out the press as a wood splitter yesterday. With the standard hand pump jack it was very slow, that was no surprise. I just used a wedge under the ram and it worked well. An air/hydraulic jack would be much better and make it practical for a few pieces for the fire pit. I wouldn't want to do do a large quantity this way, but its nice to have it for those tough pieces.

 

[srr]

I tried out the press as a wood splitter yesterday. With the standard hand pump jack it was very slow, that was no surprise. I just used a wedge under the ram and it worked well. An air/hydraulic jack would be much better and make it practical for a few pieces for the fire pit. I wouldn't want to do do a large quantity this way, but its nice to have it for those tough pieces.

Could you post some pics of your table raising cables and pulleys? I need to do this, my table is very heavy: 30 Ton Carolina.

 

[ndnchf]

There some photos on the first page of this discussion. Here is another discussion were I described how it was done a little bit more. The winch and mounting plate came from HF. The pulleys and hardware from Tru value hardware. If you have other specific question, or need more photos, let me know.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353596&highlight=harbor+freight+ton+press

 

[ndnchf]

I think that this is the pulley i used (2 of them). I just cut off the swivel piece, then used the swivel'so hole to bolt them to the frame.

https://www.idealtruevalue.com/store/p/161739-1-1/2-Heavy-Duty-Single-Swivel-Eye-Pulley.html

 

[apollo11]

You sound medicated

why did you ******** all the bolts?

 

[apollo11]

I put wheels on mine too.