HF 20 ton shop press

[BFBOB]

Now I'm worried about the arbor plates provided. Should I perhaps test them by applying maximum force at the narrowest point and seeing if they fail?
What would be a good substitute? I don't have anything capable of cutting steel that thick in any reasonable time but my cutting torch. My bandsaw cuts steel all right, but 1" thick, the cut would proceed at glacial, if not geologic pace.
Starting with good CRS, or maybe I-beam sections, would torching it heat it badly enough to weaken it?
Maybe even that would be safer - I can't imagine that kind of steel failing catastrophically like the pictures posted earlier. That stuff looked more like cast iron, and CHEAP cast iron at that.
Lift truck forks sound good, but same question. Would the heat weaken the steel significantly?

 

[J king]

Watch eBay for rectangle bar. A lot of steel I buy had free shipping.just received probably 12 lbs last week of 4140 and it cost 6 bucs. Don't know how people make anything. I bought a new 14 mm craftsman replacement for a hair less than 3 bucs shipped! Not a clue on how they do it and it was a buy it now with free shipping!

 

[rslaback]

Now I'm worried about the arbor plates provided. Should I perhaps test them by applying maximum force at the narrowest point and seeing if they fail?
What would be a good substitute? I don't have anything capable of cutting steel that thick in any reasonable time but my cutting torch. My bandsaw cuts steel all right, but 1" thick, the cut would proceed at glacial, if not geologic pace.
Starting with good CRS, or maybe I-beam sections, would torching it heat it badly enough to weaken it?
Maybe even that would be safer - I can't imagine that kind of steel failing catastrophically like the pictures posted earlier. That stuff looked more like cast iron, and CHEAP cast iron at that.
Lift truck forks sound good, but same question. Would the heat weaken the steel significantly?

Are the links to the aftermarket plates out of your price range? If so, check with a supplier on 1x3ish bar stock. If it is anything like the supplier I get my steel from, they will cut it to your spec'ed length. It may cost an extra $.50 or so a cut though.

 

[csp]

Now I'm worried about the arbor plates provided. Should I perhaps test them by applying maximum force at the narrowest point and seeing if they fail?

So it seems that nobody in this thread so far has seen the new HF 20 ton press. It's not orange anymore for starters and the plates are no longer cast. It seems that HF finally got the message that their arbor plates were dangerous and took the high road instead of staying cheap. Maybe they learned that better plates are cheaper than lawsuits and court settlements.

See Baitshop's photos in this thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/1079382-beware-hf-press-plates-2.html

 

[antinym]

I'll go with A) when I want/need a tool I want it now, not in 6 months when I find one at auction and B) I have better things to do with my Saturday mornings than stand around at an auction.

+1 My time and space is worth a lot more than bargain hunting.

 

[Winmon]

I can't imagine that kind of steel failing catastrophically like the pictures posted earlier.

Swag had this posted on their site...Nasty for sure..

"I was pressing on a bushing using a Harbor Freight 20 ton press with the provided cast arbor plates. I felt the bushing starting to get stiff. about 1/4" left to go I gave one good pull and I heard POW! I felt like I had been punched in the face by a gorilla as the cast arbor plate had just exploded.


One of the guys in the shop came over to check on me and said "Dude you're face is bleeding" I had a gash right next to my left eye. I was driven to the Dr. office where I got 8 stitches. I was told I was very lucky I didn’t lose my eye.

When I returned to the shop I was looking at the press and noticed the porous nature of the arbor plates. This was the day I learned about the material properties of Cast Iron."

Here's another horror story from Pirate4x4 forum..

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/1079382-beware-hf-press-plates.html

 

[marinusdees]

Have had one for 15 or so years. Use it but not often and not commercially. Have had enough pressure to bend the rods supporting the table. Have added a homemade winch arrangement to speed up table adjustment. Recently changed to an airpowered jack (HF) to speed up use. Use the control as a foot control to free up my hands.

Sorry I am so low tech I can't post pictures. If you are not making a living with it, it is a buy. If you are, it's your call, but I would still go with it. Hope this is a help.

 

[paranoid56]

yea the new gray one has steel plates not the cheap cast ones anymore. they have one on display at my local HF and i noticed it. bought one and took it home only to open it up and see the damn orange one lol. took it back and they didnt have any gray ones in stock. (going back this weekend as they said they will have gray ones in stock.
if looking for them, they now bolt together so its a 2 box kit for the gray ones and orange ones are in 3 boxes. fyi

 

[ssentt]

yea the new gray one has steel plates not the cheap cast ones anymore. they have one on display at my local HF and i noticed it. bought one and took it home only to open it up and see the damn orange one lol. took it back and they didnt have any gray ones in stock. (going back this weekend as they said they will have gray ones in stock.
if looking for them, they now bolt together so its a 2 box kit for the gray ones and orange ones are in 3 boxes. fyi

I'd like to see some photos of the new gray version as compared to the orange models. So the gray version is a slight upgrade vs old model...construction/build wise?

 

[paranoid56]

not my pic, but you can see the plates and how they are flamecut

 

[Angelfire]

Just as automakers are required to do, they should recall the cast plates and replace them with steel!

 

[HelisandHarleys]

Stopped in the store and checked it out yesterday. It does appear the plates have been upgraded, so I'm happy about that. The gray, meh, not so much, but it IS a tool and not a decorative accessory. I'm still shopping around since the sale is good til the end of the month, but if I don't have to buy different steel plates, then the price makes it almost a no-brainer.