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Harbor Freight 20 Ton Shop Press SKUs

pugglewuggle

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TX
Hi everyone, what’s the difference between the different harbor freight 20 ton shop press skus? Numbers are 32879 and 60603. Cheers.


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derek_m

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Oct 5, 2014
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From when I was researching this, the 60603 is current silver bolt together model. 97022 is current welded model. 32879 was old orange bolt together model, with cast plates. current ones use steel.

I opted for the 60603 model.
 

bdbecker

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From when I was researching this, the 60603 is current silver bolt together model. 97022 is current welded model. 32879 was old orange bolt together model, with cast plates. current ones use steel.

I opted for the 60603 model.

I'll be dipped... if you pull up the manual for the 32879, it does show a welded unit different from the bolt together pic on the webpage. Learn something new every day.
 

dscheidt

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Apr 26, 2017
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Nothing that matters to the consumer. They do this with a lot of their stuff. My guess is that it has to do with some sort of internal tracking for production runs or lot numbers. The page for the press actually list three SKUs - 32879, 97022, and 60603.

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html

The different numbers track different suppliers, apparently. For some things, the difference doesn't matter. For others, they might. There's a whole thread on the differences between the various SKUs for toolboxes, for instance. when I was considering buying a drill press from them a year or so ago, the two skus for the model I was looking at were very different; one had a more powerful motor, and there other differences.
 

BukitCase

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Apr 11, 2017
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'Nuther thread on this, shows some mods and ndnchief's reasons for wanting the 60603

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349032&showall=1

HF does this in a LOT of cases - there used to be 2 different SKU's for their "underhoist safety stand" - one of the 2 had 'WAY beefier fittings for the top cradle. Guess which version they discontinued??!?

a year or two ago, it was the same with their "heavy duty silver tarps" - I even started a list of which ones had the closer spaced grommets. In the last year, it appears that they changed things again, now ALL that type tarp seems to have "about 18" apart" listed on the package... Steve
 

seagull369

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Jan 16, 2013
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227
When I bought my HF grey press a few years ago, I remember there WAS a significant difference (material wise) between SKUs on them, so much so that I sought out one over the others when buying. Unfortunately, I can't remember now what the difference exactly, but I think it had to do with one of them having an inferior "press apron" as compared to the other. Since HF changes SKUs and model differences all the time, that may have changed since my purchase.

If you have the time/inclination, make sure to read all the reviews before choosing one. You'll find at least one kind soul who has made a point to describe the differences

The question is which one is better, bolted or welded?

If it turns out the only difference between models these days is that, go with the bolted model. You'll want to avoid having as many welds as you can, as most the other welds on this rig are nothing to brag about.
 
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PWC Repair

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I can tell you for sure on the blue 5 mil gloves.......one SKU is much better than the other. the 68498 are lighter blue, there's more deformed/melted ones in the box, AND, they tear much easier when snagged. If you have a choice DON'T get those.
 

ndnchf

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Sorry, I don't see it on ebay now. That was about 5 or 6 years ago. But there are several others on ebay including the one you showed that would work fine.
 
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pugglewuggle

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Oct 26, 2018
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TX
I got that knob today. It's much beefier and nicer than the picture online looked like. It has an excellent feel.
 
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