HF 20 ton press failure

[jmarkwolf]

Interesting discussion on another forum about a press failure.

Thought forum members would benefit from seeing it.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.ph...om-death-with-Harbor-Freight-20-ton-hyd-press

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

That guy seems over dramatic. Read a couple posts but no way I would make it through that thread.

 

[RickP]

^^^ I agree. He might have just gotten a press with bad welds from HF. But it does show how the operator should get out of the line of failure when loading up the press for the first time in each setup.

 

[Lx460]

Never had that happen when using my buddy's Manley press. Too bad he lost it in the divorce...

 

[nehog]

Probably the only thing at risk was his toes if that jack had fallen out. Launched? Wow, he's see too many reality TV shows. And when does HF stuff have a 'Swag' label on it. And why did the poster remove said 'Swag' label. and Since when does HF sell anything in that tan color? And the design/style does not match anything I see HF selling.

I suspect that was a 10 (or smaller, looking at the gauge of the metal, and construction) press that the guy decided to 'upgrade.'

Oh, and it would have given substantial warning before reaching the point shown in the pictures--which makes me wonder if the damage was intentional?

Bwa-ha, found it. It was a Sears shop press that he had, not HF. Stuck in a HF jack that probably really could do 20 tons (compared to the Sears one that might have gotten six to eight) and bingo--it fails.

Guy's a card. Lies about the product, lies about what happened. Sheesh.

 

[Showkey]

Gee...........who could imagine a poor quality tool from HF............

 

[DekeT]

Gee...........who could imagine a poor quality tool from HF............

Gee, apparently a press is not one of them.

 

[arz71]

Think I will stick with made in USA, regardless of saving a few bucks all it does take is one 'failed' quantity produced/copied item.

Quality over Quantity yes it cost more, but one can't replace themselves.

 

[Train]

How could you guys make light of this? Did you not read, that he was...DUN DUN DUUUUUN.........One Stroke Away From Death!!!!!

 

[Whaler1777]

Junk

 

[zcar751]

Most tools will have some type of failure at one point or another. We have a 20 Ton American Press that some retard mechanic manage to bend because he wasn't paying attention. Also have had plenty of things fail because the person putting it together that day failed to get a good weld or the QC failed to catch a flaw in the assembly process. That's why there are warranties.

 

[DenisG]

People find it easiest to blame machinery rather than take any blame for their own actions. Machines can't talk back. You can get hurt using a hydraulic press even when nothing on the machine gets broken.

Mauvés ovriers ne trovera ja bon hostill (late 13 C. Fr. proverb)

 

[arca 54]

That press did not fail the operator did,the top of the jack was on the edge of the saddle and not centered in the ring.The welded piece he is blaming sees no load if used correctly. I have a 20 ton press from HF I have used for years

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Probably the only thing at risk was his toes if that jack had fallen out. Launched? Wow, he's see too many reality TV shows. And when does HF stuff have a 'Swag' label on it. And why did the poster remove said 'Swag' label. and Since when does HF sell anything in that tan color? And the design/style does not match anything I see HF selling.

I suspect that was a 10 (or smaller, looking at the gauge of the metal, and construction) press that the guy decided to 'upgrade.'

Oh, and it would have given substantial warning before reaching the point shown in the pictures--which makes me wonder if the damage was intentional?

...Stuck in a HF jack that probably really could do 20 tons ...and bingo--it fails.

Guy's a card. Lies about the product, lies about what happened. Sheesh.

That press did not fail the operator did,the top of the jack was on the edge of the saddle and not centered in the ring.The welded piece he is blaming sees no load if used correctly. I have a 20 ton press from HF I have used for years

I made the same observations. I have a few years experience with accident investigation and root cause analysis. The failure was caused by the operator, not the equipment.

Tommy

 

[srmofo]

P
Bwa-ha, found it. It was a Sears shop press that he had, not HF. Stuck in a HF jack that probably really could do 20 tons (compared to the Sears one that might have gotten six to eight) and bingo--it fails.

Guy's a card. Lies about the product, lies about what happened. Sheesh.

Its like the dress thing I see orange, you see tan.lol


Thats the HF press. He stuck the swag sticker on there because they send you one with the press brake. HF stickers are the other side

The guy is a douche
he says its unmodified, but it clearly has been modified with another jack. Hes blaming the cup/saddle being off center, but Im willing to bet he didnt have it in centered inside it. and if you need further proof, Hes also wearing an iron cross ring.

User failure IMHO

 

[Tucko]

You get what you pay for.

 

[RAYJAY]

just a thought.... using the press brake on it could he have tried to bend to heavy of a stock ?

 

[rockwithjason]

what a drama queen

 

[arz71]

You get what you pay for.

USA press company held accountable, overseas in China good luck.

 

[Jagmandave]

He says he has a shop full of HF stuff that he's been completely happy with, and it clearly looks like an HF press to me - but he said he's invested over $500 in it, can't you get a pretty good American made one for that? I think he must be including changing the jack, adding the press brake and the new plates.

I'm glad he's OK, but I also wonder if he set it up right when he pressed it - nobody wants to be "One Stroke from Death"!

BTW, I've never had something bend like that in one stroke - so I'm thinking he didn't notice he had it off center and was concentrating on the piece he was bending, and didn't see it till too late - or almost too late.

So, the only way he can fix this is by replacing the top crossbar, right?

 

[Beemer533]

Probably the only thing at risk was his toes if that jack had fallen out. Launched? Wow, he's see too many reality TV shows. And when does HF stuff have a 'Swag' label on it. And why did the poster remove said 'Swag' label. and Since when does HF sell anything in that tan color? And the design/style does not match anything I see HF selling.

"Swag" refers to Swag Offroad; http://www.swagoffroad.com/20-TON-Press-Brake-Heavy-Duty-DIY-Builder-Kit-_p_42.html

Not sure if he had the 12 ton kit and installed the 20 ton jack in it?

 

[justanengineer]

Yup, as the man said it appears the beam buckled, very common with **** engineering and materials. Seeing how the welds failed simply reinforce the point that this is VERY low quality. I may be a bit trusting, but I dont see damage to the cup that the jack seats in so I would tend to believe him that the jack was seated properly and there isnt anything unusual with the failure otherwise.

His point about not wanting to be in the firing line may/may not be exaggerated. I've seen hydraulic cylinders bend themselves into curly-q's and others that shattered once the loading got uneven. Ive also launched more than a few parts across the shop with a loaded press, so call me a bit nervous when the loading starts getting high.

 

[youngnstudly]

Reminds me of the time I was one stroke away from death....No shop presses were involved, and instead of God deciding whether I lived or died, my life was in the hands of a cute little redhead chick that I went to college with. Same end result though. Walked away thankful that I was still able to.

As for that shop press, it looks like your basic HF cheap ****, and I'd be leary about bending 1/4" plate on a press that was made from 1/8" or 3/16" wall material to begin with. Buy a heavier press next time, or reinforce the puny economy model that was on sale. Sort of like the stickers my Grandfather sold in his bicycle shop when I was a kid:

"If Huffy made an airplane, would YOU fly in it?"

Just my 2 cents...

Andy

 

[Beemer533]

Yup, as the man said it appears the beam buckled, very common with **** engineering and materials. Seeing how the welds failed simply reinforce the point that this is VERY low quality. I may be a bit trusting, but I dont see damage to the cup that the jack seats in so I would tend to believe him that the jack was seated properly and there isnt anything unusual with the failure otherwise.

His point about not wanting to be in the firing line may/may not be exaggerated. I've seen hydraulic cylinders bend themselves into curly-q's and others that shattered once the loading got uneven. Ive also launched more than a few parts across the shop with a loaded press, so call me a bit nervous when the loading starts getting high.

Not disagreeing with you about potential dangers , but with a manual press like this, to have what happened in his pictures doesn't just happen "suddenly"..

Looks like he was just cranking away and not paying attention at all.

 

[GTO]

I wonder if he got any dirt on his dress during the mishap.....

 

[Shadowdog500]

If he had the bottle jack bolted to the press properly, which he does not, this is about the worst that can happen if the top of the jack comes out. I assume he knows to keep his distance and be aware.

The driveshaft bushing cut loose all at once and I'm still alive.

Chris

 

[_Dock_]

We are all also assuming he was using it properly. Misuse a made in USA press and you could get the same results.

 

[Iroc-Z]

Still funny buys absolute cheapest press he could find and it fails

 

[raddksn]

if he had the bottle jack bolted to the press properly, which he does not, this is about the worst that can happen if the top of the jack comes out. I assume he knows to keep his distance and be aware.

The driveshaft bushing cut loose all at once and i'm still alive.

Chris

oh the humanity!!!

 

[Elginz]

Mine has all bolted cross members. The one in the pick is welded. Does any one else have a welded one from days past? Or is it someone else's? Bolted top cross beam like the one above.

 

[Jagmandave]

On mine it's all welded, and the jack top plate looks stronger on that silver one than on mine - must be a later model.....

 

[Kny21]

Seems like no one bothered to read the whole thread or skip to the end. The cup was welded off center and that's part of the reason it buckled. Other factors could be debated but that's the main reason.

 

[gte718p]

Seems like no one bothered to read the whole thread or skip to the end. The cup was welded off center and that's part of the reason it buckled. Other factors could be debated but that's the main reason.

Or he didn't align everything correctly when installing the new jack. At the very least he is a ***** for not inspecting a HF product carefuly before using it.

Most people understand that HF products don't come perfect out of the box. It generally takes some modifcation to get a good tool. Even the OP knew he needed to upgrade the press plates.

 

[zkdiesel]

Harbo freight failures?
I don't own any of that junk, and don't plan on it. No surprises it failed, and you have no right to ***** about your cheapest pos you could buy failing. This is my theory on cheap tools

 

[Falcon67]

Been using my HF 12 ton for years, no problems at all. The only "upgrade" I've considered is a 12 ton Torin air operated jack so I could use a foot pedal when doing critical work like pressing bearings. Just been too cheap to let go the $80 for the jack. It's easily paid for its self 10x over.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

I just looked at his thread. I have to ask. With all the bending going on in front of him WTF was he looking at? I have had to press many things with blocks, pipe ect. And you always watch the whole picture. A quote from his own post #50 "My dad used to throw his hammer at me and scream, "Damnit boy, you could break an anvil!", so I hold myself worthy of reviewing any tool that can survive in my hands."

Now I'm not standing up for HF. But geez if the press is off 3/4 of an inch and you use it????????????????????????

Capt. Chrysler

gota love Key Board Commandos

 

[arz71]

Harbo freight failures?
I don't own any of that junk, and don't plan on it. No surprises it failed, and you have no right to ***** about your cheapest pos you could buy failing. This is my theory on cheap tools

Was told a long time ago, growing up when my dad was around he owned a shop and had all made in USA tools. When he walked out the door got a lot of them, (only thing worthwhile was good tools).

People complain I can't afford tool truck or made in USA tools. Sure they can they just spend all of the money on other 'vices' in their lives.

 

[Jawn]

And when does HF stuff have a 'Swag' label on it. And why did the poster remove said 'Swag' label.

I'm guessing the press brake / etc are from Swag Offroad. He probably received a sticker with that kit and applied it to the press. Why it doesn't appear in later pics I don't know.

and Since when does HF sell anything in that tan color? And the design/style does not match anything I see HF selling.

I suspect that was a 10 (or smaller, looking at the gauge of the metal, and construction) press that the guy decided to 'upgrade.'

It looks just like the HF 20 ton I have. It's not tan, it's a weird faded orange color.

Oh, and it would have given substantial warning before reaching the point shown in the pictures--which makes me wonder if the damage was intentional?

Could be the speed / noise of the air jack masked the problem until it got to that point.

Bwa-ha, found it. It was a Sears shop press that he had, not HF. Stuck in a HF jack that probably really could do 20 tons (compared to the Sears one that might have gotten six to eight) and bingo--it fails.

What makes you think it's a Sears press?

 

[mooseracing]

just a thought.... using the press brake on it could he have tried to bend to heavy of a stock ?

Check the chart here:

http://www.americanmachinetools.com/pressure_table.htm

Pretty easy to over load a 20 ton press with 1/4" - trying to bend it.


Also forgot to mention, him whining about the jack only taking one more pump before it would fly out and hit him.....Who in the hell stands in front of the press when you are putting that much pressure on it? That metal gives you obvious signs it is reaching a fatigue point. If that oblivious maybe he should put his melon in it, we don't need more safety warnings on tools.

 

[Orange65]

There really ought to be an IQ test for tool ownership. This guy is a drama queen and an idiot. He has watched one too many Discovery shows. He needs to go back to sewing and leave the tools to the real men.

Oh- and to buy an inexpensive press and expect it to perform like a top of the line version- idiot.