Harbor Freight Hydraulic Shop Press

[USDM Rice]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=32879

Anybody have any reviews on this HF 20ton shop press? Looking to press in new bushings on a couple of my project cars. I want reviews from people who actually have used them. Anti-HF guys keep quiet. I just spent the past hour sifting through hf bashing posts, lol. Only review I've seen so far is some guy saying that gunsmiths swear by these presses. Thanks

 

[krusty the clown]

i have worked at 2 places that have them and honestly they are decent for occasional work.

 

[ARAMP1]

I have one and I use it all the time with no complaints. It's not the nicest one I've ever used, but for the money, it's nice to have it in my garage to use when I need it. Chances are, the jack will probably give out, but I'll replace it with a nicer one when that happens. I've owned it for two years now and until that day that it does give out, I'm happy with it.

 

[goodfellow]

I've owned one for seven years. It's a nice tool, and considering the price of steel, you couldn't build it for what HF sells it for.

I bought it to help rebuild my Jag rear end, and it's been a keeper.

 

[89Vette]

I also have one in my garage, no complaints, and can't beat the price.

 

[katit]

I have their 12 ton and it was more then enough to do any bushings.
Little bit sloppy - play in moving parts. But for the price it works well and did what I needed to do. If it was ratchet that I use daily - I would say "NO"

 

[bmwpower]

I've used one once to push a tail shaft bushing in. Screwed it up due to the slop.

I bought one of these when I needed one for my car work:

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/20-Ton-Air-Hydraulic-Shop-Press-w-Gauge-p/ht0805.htm

Also like this one, just not air powered, less tonnage:

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/12-Ton-Hydraulic-Shop-Press-with-Gauge-p/ht0803.htm

 

[Rory Bellows]

PepBoys had a flier last weekend that offered their 12 ton press for 49.99 and a 20 ton press for 79.99 after mail in rebate. The sale prices were 99.99 and 129.00 then the rebate. The offer is good on in store stock only. The press looks like the same Chinese version from the flier. I don't have any Pep Boys close by but if I did I would be very tempted to get even though I don't have the space for it. Check their website for the flier and call around.

 

[Ign]

The HF 20T press is great for the $. Many, many shadetree fabricators have and use this press often. Have a friend in PHX who has done at least 50 ring and pinion swaps with this press, and can certainly put you in touch w him via email ............. if you care that much PM me.

Don't buy it at regular price, a good sale price would be somewhere between $166 to $180. Try to find a 15% coupon if you can.

 

[USDM Rice]

PepBoys had a flier last weekend that offered their 12 ton press for 49.99 and a 20 ton press for 79.99 after mail in rebate. The sale prices were 99.99 and 129.00 then the rebate. The offer is good on in store stock only. The press looks like the same Chinese version from the flier. I don't have any Pep Boys close by but if I did I would be very tempted to get even though I don't have the space for it. Check their website for the flier and call around.

dude, you rock!! I just picked up the 20 ton for $100 cheaper than Harbor Freight. Had to travel 45 minutes for it, but it was worth it.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

 

[enginerd]

Our pepboys ran out a while ago...*****. I really needed one last weekend, I ended up just making a frame for a bottle jack to sit in. Worked though

 

[Wangstang]

Anyone have a current 12 or 20 ton press deal they can share?

Thanks
Wes

 

[5mall5nail5]

I have the 20 ton and it works. Not sure if it makes 20 tons of pressure or not, but I haven't exceeded what it can do.

 

[BD1]

Currently $199.99 but you can use 20% off coupon. Lowest sale price I saw lately was $149.00. So it's a wash.

 

[78Bird]

I have their 12 ton and it was more then enough to do any bushings.
Little bit sloppy - play in moving parts. But for the price it works well and did what I needed to do. If it was ratchet that I use daily - I would say "NO"

++

I have the 12 as well and it'll pop bushings and ball joints in and out without problem.

 

[bobcatdan]

When ever this topic comes up, I am always the lone voice saying the thing is the biggest POS out there. Got a brand new one free from a buddy's dad who wanted out of his garage. One explorer wheel bearing and it is twistwed to the point it is not very safe for anything. I also don't like the fact it is barly 5 feet tall.

 

[S800]

To bobcatdan,

Do you recall the press was the 20 ton or the 12 ton?

TIA

 

[Sincitymetalworks]

here is a short video of me using mine with a 20 ton air over ram. it has handled everything i have done with it. i did box the top ibeam just to make it more rigid

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RZLc7GhXmdQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[1982fxr]

I have the 20 ton. Overall ''craftsmanship'' is very sloppy. But it does its job, and for $177 out the door I can't complain.

 

[beelsr]

the 20 ton is fine as long as yours isn't beat to ****. if you want one that's more rigid, box the beams or grind the orange off and weld it up some.

i replaced the plain bottle jack with an air-driven one to make taking up the "slack" so much quicker - improved productivity immensely.

 

[nine4gmc]

I have the 20 ton as well, picked it up off CL for $80 in like new condition. The original owner used it to press some things on a car he was restoring in his garage and got his use out of it, saved some money and passed it on to me for a good deal. I never paid much attention to them prior to getting this one but have been looking at the smaller ones at the local harbor freight and the 20 ton is built WAY better than the smaller ones. Glad I got it and I do look forward to doing the air over mod but more for bragging rights than anything else, it works fine as is.

 

[crewchief888]

we have one sitting at our shop, missing the jack.

waiting for them to decide to scrap it, and it'll be mine.

already have an extra jack laying around ...

wonder where that came from?

 

[RangerDaleXp]

we have one sitting at our shop, missing the jack.

waiting for them to decide to scrap it, and it'll be mine.

already have an extra jack laying around ...

wonder where that came from?

Funny

 

[A_Pmech]

They're "OK" presses, but not really good. I've pressed hundreds of bearings, made up press fits to 15 tons or so, pressed out arbors, etc. with mine. It was a stop-gap measure I bought years ago for a one-time VW wheel bearing job.

If you don't have a better option it can be a cheap way to buy some capability. But, they're fairly flexy, not conservatively rated and move around a lot which makes precision work difficult, but doable with correct technique.

I've totally outgrown mine and have designed a 75-ton press to replace it. Time and funds allowing, I'll start building the replacement.

here is a short video of me using mine with a 20 ton air over ram. it has handled everything i have done with it. i did box the top ibeam just to make it more rigid

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RZLc7GhXmdQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Good work, but I cringed when your nice 18N got a "ground finish"

Not that I haven't done such things....

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Think of what you'll be using it for. If it's light occasional work, then this should work just fine. If you plan to use it in a repair shop regularly, then you may want to step up to a higher end tool.

I had one, loved it, and regretted selling it when I had to move to an apartment. I plan to get another, mostly to make a die set for a metal press brake setup. There's some very good tricks in bending flat bar stock with these things.

 

[4x4_G30_Sportvan]

I think I will be getting one of these this weekend. They are priced at $174.99. It looks like you can use the 20% off coupon, right?

Any new thoughts on the current gray/silver painted ones?

 

[ex-x-fire]

This set would go good with that press.

 

[4x4_G30_Sportvan]

I do already have that set, thanks.