HFT press question??
- Thread starter lt1driver
- Start date
RECox286
Well-known member
I have a HF 20t press. Probably is going on 20 years now. Works just like
it did when new, never fails when needed. I don't know if they have
cheapened the current model from what I have, but I'll give it a "Rave
Review". The only problem I have with it, is the pusher shaft is fairly
loose in its' operation, and doesn't want to align properly each time,
but with a little imagineering I think this could be corrected. I use mine
for mostly for its' brute strength, rather than delicate work.
I would look at the machine first, before you take one home, to see
if it is what you are in the market for. Price is very good for umph,
I thought. (Even though I do hate the thought of my $$ going overseas.)
Uncle Bob
it did when new, never fails when needed. I don't know if they have
cheapened the current model from what I have, but I'll give it a "Rave
Review". The only problem I have with it, is the pusher shaft is fairly
loose in its' operation, and doesn't want to align properly each time,
but with a little imagineering I think this could be corrected. I use mine
for mostly for its' brute strength, rather than delicate work.
I would look at the machine first, before you take one home, to see
if it is what you are in the market for. Price is very good for umph,
I thought. (Even though I do hate the thought of my $$ going overseas.)
Uncle Bob
Richard D
Well-known member
Mine is junk. I spent so much time repairing it, I should have just bought some raw steel and built a good one.
Lou's Garage
Well-known member
I had an early version (circa 1980) of their 12 ton model at my shop, it held up well even in commercial use. It was a little weak for axle bearings but handled most other jobs. I looked at the current versions on Saturday and, while they aren't nearly as robust as they used to be, the 20 ton still looks like a pretty good buy for casual use.
If you don't need it right away, another thought might be to watch for one used. Pretty high quality presses often go for pretty reasonable money on Craigslist.
Lou
If you don't need it right away, another thought might be to watch for one used. Pretty high quality presses often go for pretty reasonable money on Craigslist.
Lou
Last edited:
BD1
Well-known member
I have the 20 ton for 3 years. I mainly use it for bending metal in a homemade press brake. Has been great, especially at $150.00. I have bent 1/4'' x 4'' no problem.
DoyleDee
Well-known member
I have a 16 ton model. It has stood up to many years of abuse. It still works fine.
Falcon67
Well-known member
I have a 12 ton unit, paid a whopping $99 for it. I forget how long I've had it - at least 8 years - but it's more than earned it's keep in the shop.
Last edited:
I've seen several posts on forums about the cast press plates it comes with shattering under load, one guy collected a bunch of stitches near his eye because of it. If I bought one I think I would make or buy some new plates.
csp
Well-known member
x2 on the cast plates. SWAG off-road has some nice plates available for a reasonable price.
ARAMP1
Well-known member
I've had mine for about 5-6 years and have been happy with it. I wanted mine to be mobile though, so I replaced the flimsy angle iron legs/stand with some stout iron and added some casters.
BWS
Well-known member
I spent a little more at Northern Tool,got the USA made 20.The hyds are chinkenese....the frame is solid.Was/am completely suprised at how much we use ours?
The 20's are nice...and can sell it pretty easy......but to do it over would be looking for a much bigger,balls'ier version.The overall footprint between a 20 and sumthin significantly badderazz ain't that much.
But its that old sayin....a bird in the hand?So if this press can be passed along without much $$ loss at a later date,snag it.Because patience is the key word for finding good used deals.....and you'd have this one in the meantime.It also will build your press tooling library,which will be useful on a bigger one.
The 20's are nice...and can sell it pretty easy......but to do it over would be looking for a much bigger,balls'ier version.The overall footprint between a 20 and sumthin significantly badderazz ain't that much.
But its that old sayin....a bird in the hand?So if this press can be passed along without much $$ loss at a later date,snag it.Because patience is the key word for finding good used deals.....and you'd have this one in the meantime.It also will build your press tooling library,which will be useful on a bigger one.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Hmmm - I'm into that. Nice. Mine sits on pieces of rail tie because it's so short.
I have the 20 ton HF press. It's cheap and flimsy, but has paid for itself several times over. I use it for ujoints, axle bearings, etc. The frame is too narrow to do a bunch of things I've needed pressed, but can usually make it work with some creativity. Am I glad I have a press? Yes. Would I buy this one again? No. I'd say spend a bit more on a larger and sturdier press.
I've had mine for about 5-6 years and have been happy with it. I wanted mine to be mobile though, so I replaced the flimsy angle iron legs/stand with some stout iron and added some casters.
I need to do this. Thanks for the idea. Why did I not think of this? Hmmm.
Yea I have one. I abused the hell out of it. I use it for bending, pressing, and even holding stuff for me. Worth every penny I paid for it 10 years ago.
O_M_Jeep
Banned
Ive had mine for 3 years and have wished I had the air assist hyd ram a couple times, I've had mine to the point where I had to stand a little too close to it to keep getting the pump down, I've had to do that a few times and I'm guessing I've gone past the rating once or maybe twice, never had an issue, a problem, never worried about the arbor plates, they are as solid as any others I've seen, I'm no metalurgist but it's hard to f**k up a metal plate 
There was a thread about them just recently:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14470
Synopsis: They work, but they're not all that great.
Regarding the cast iron bolster plates, they're a hazard to life and property. Cast iron is brittle and will fail with no plastic deformation. Therefore, it gives no warning before failure. Instead, it suddenly goes BOOM!
I broke both cast iron bolster plates early on. The energy stored in the elastic press frame is enough to severely screw up your day under the right conditions.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14470
Synopsis: They work, but they're not all that great.
Regarding the cast iron bolster plates, they're a hazard to life and property. Cast iron is brittle and will fail with no plastic deformation. Therefore, it gives no warning before failure. Instead, it suddenly goes BOOM!
I broke both cast iron bolster plates early on. The energy stored in the elastic press frame is enough to severely screw up your day under the right conditions.
The 12ton A-frame ones are better built and worth the slight extra price based on the demo units I saw. The problem is I've had my 12ton on back order for 3 months. Their customer service in India keeps giving me the same canned response "we should have your item in stock in the next 10-14 days, thank you, kindly, come back soon" 
rslaback
Well-known member
Man Cave
Well-known member
I have the HF 20 ton press and it's OK except it came with the foot welded crooked and not perpendicular to the cross slide. I removed it and squared the end in my lathe then ground out the chinese bird turd welding and rewelded it so it's nice and square. I don't work it hard so I consider it good for me. If you are a pro shop I would buy an american made press.