How often do you use your shop press?

[breeaad]

So I have needed a shop press twice in the last 2 years, presently being the second time to press in a wheel bearing in my daughter's Altima. So I am considering a Harbor Freight shop press instead of paying someone, but don't want to buy it and it collect dust in the corner. So how often do you use the press, and what unique uses have you found for it?

Also, is the 12T press enough or should I spring for the 20T? Any reviews on these presses?

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I have the exact same needs and questions!

-Brian

 

[ishiboo]

I've thought about this too, I've taken some tractor parts to the shop before. Not only do you need the press but often other stuff to push on what you need to push.

I'd like to have a 20T but I'd get a brake for it to bend some 1/4 plate for brackets and stuff.

 

[kabinenroller]

You will find plenty of uses for a press. I have a small bench top 10 ton unit and I Have access to a very large 40 ton unit at a friends place. I use mine for bearings, sleeves, forming, even holding parts together while the glue dries.
I like the Northern Hydraulic units better than H.F.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have the small HF press, I have used it a few times in the last 5 yrs. I would say it has paid for it self, but no it has not paid rent on the space it takes up.

 

[jc5205]

The 12 ton is sufficient but the 20 ton gives you a little more working area and is a bit more stable
I don't use it much at all,
but for the 135 - 200 cost for a harbor freight press to have for wheel bearings it's nice to have it
It only takes up a 2' wide spot on the wall

 

[bad_idea]

I bought a 20t HF a couple years ago on Craigslist for $40. Worth the cost. Haven't used it yet. I had a couple uses for one over the years before I bought it of course. For the price, I'll get my money out of it one day. Take the feet of it and it takes up minimal space in the shed.

I would suggest you keep an eye out for a used one.

 

[oldmxracer]

I have used the hell out of My China made eBay purchased 20 ton press, that I repowered with a 35 ton air over jack for the last 11 years.

It does not gather dust !

Most unique use, was laying the damn thing on it's side and pressing pins in and out of Our clubs bull dozer tracks !

 

[Rlfd213]

I have a 20 ton press I found on Craigslist and got it for 50.00

 

[danscobra6]

I use the HF 20 ton a lot. I put an air over jack with a foot pedal on it so I can use both hands to steady things. Made this little press brake out of scrap 1/4" angle iron that really gets a work out. Sure beats hammering things over in a vise. Was looking at the swag off road put together version but this works just fine.

 

[PoorOwner]

I use the HF 20 ton a lot. I put an air over jack with a foot pedal on it so I can use both hands to steady things. Made this little press brake out of scrap 1/4" angle iron that really gets a work out. Sure beats hammering things over in a vise. Was looking at the swag off road put together version but this works just fine.

So can you bend 1/4 steel with the jig made of the same thickness?

 

[WQ59B]

I use mine about once/yr. It's an Ajax 15 ton w a 12-ton jack in it.
I used it just recently to straighten a '40s Ford bumper that was bent, before that I straightened some Case steam engine wrenches- 18 & 24-in long that may have been run over by the same steam engine. I got it for free tho.

 

[danscobra6]

I ground the blade or whatever you call it at a 60* angle and it will very easily bend 1/4" steel to a 90* angle and a little beyond.

 

[JJThrasher]

I own a 20 ton HF and we have a 12 ton HF at work. They're both good and they get the job done. Neither one really gets used much though, but when you do need them they are great.

 

[77Mini]

I bought a 20T from Princess Auto a while back. I have not used it yet but have a few projects that will eventually require it.

 

[Bill Anderson]

So I have needed a shop press twice in the last 2 years, presently being the second time to press in a wheel bearing in my daughter's Altima. So I am considering a Harbor Freight shop press instead of paying someone, but don't want to buy it and it collect dust in the corner. So how often do you use the press, and what unique uses have you found for it?

Also, is the 12T press enough or should I spring for the 20T? Any reviews on these presses?

I first bought the 12T from harbor freight, and its a great press, and did everything that I needed. Pressed wheel bearings RH and LH, in toyota sienna, 05 tacoma, 01 corolla, and the only one which pushed it to it near its limit was the 05 Tacoma.

Also, what I did on mine was to cut apart the cross bar, the part the press plates rest on, and weld in spacers 2" spacers front and back, left and right. This way I could fit the hub/knuckle assembly in the press, and the extra space allowed the hub to pass through the opening. After that it was awesome.
With that said, I wanted a little more power, so i bought a 20T, and modify it with the same spacers, and the 20T will be perfect.
12T is smaller and easier to tuck away in a corner, the 20T obviously takes up more space, and not quite as easy to tuck away in a corner.

Also, add wheels, and portability/moving becomes a non issue.
Also, I replaced the hydraulic pump with an air/hydraulic pump, and for the $ I have in this press its impossible to beat.

Hope this helps.

 

[breeaad]

Thanks for all the replies. I just looked at the parking lot sale paper for next weekend and the 20T press will be on sale for $159. I wonder if I can get that price tomorrow plus a 20% coupon.

 

[kerr]

Always wanted one but just never got around to getting one . Gotta be handy as a pocket on a shirt .

 

[brownbagg]

i bought an HF 20 ton about five years ago, and have never used it,

 

[Bill Anderson]

One more thing, I had a machine shop press out old bearing and press in new, and they didn't know what they were doing, evidently, bc they tried to press the bearing out thw wrong way, and busted/broke the knuckle. So I will never be without a press again. A couple of bearing replacements, and its paid for itself.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Thanks for all the replies. I just looked at the parking lot sale paper for next weekend and the 20T press will be on sale for $159. I wonder if I can get that price tomorrow plus a 20% coupon.

Good possibility. I caught my 20T on sale for $149, and used a 20% coupon, and it was around $132 with tax. Give it a try, and let us know how you make out.
Regards, Bill

 

[bigcreek]

I have an OTC 50 ton press which I use probably around once a week. I mainly use it for straightening out metal and such.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I wasn't aware that you could use a 20% coupon on top of a sale price item. Good to know.

-Brian

 

[Kev442]

I have a 12 ton HF. Seeing how I am usually in need of it on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday, its not even possible to put a value on being able to press out a u joint or bearing. I save literally days of horsing around vs taking it somewhere. That being said, I've used it on three projects so far.

 

[fastbike02]

I have been waiting for them to go on sale and with any luck i'll be able to use 20% off too

 

[Bill Anderson]

I wasn't aware that you could use a 20% coupon on top of a sale price item. Good to know.

-Brian

If the price is marked down in the store, on the display price tag, you can still use the coupon.

But if the discounted price is via a coupon, you are not allowd to use a second coupon to reduce the price further.
The presses usually get marked down around Black Friday-Christmas to $149 for the 20T and $119 for the 12T, and using the 20% coupon brings the 20T down to $120 and the 12T down to $96 and then tax on top of that.

 

[stikman56]

Rarely, but when I need it nothing else will get the job done, and getting the job done is why you start the job, right?

 

[barracudadave67]

I just upgraded From the H F 12 Ton, to the 20 ton. I installed a air/over hydaulic 20 ton jack, and installed a foot pedal to operate the jack, then you can use both hands on the work. I also put castors on the bottom of the frame to make it mobil.

barracudadave67

 

[eastbaysubaru]

If the price is marked down in the store, on the display price tag, you can still use the coupon.

But if the discounted price is via a coupon, you are not allowd to use a second coupon to reduce the price further.
The presses usually get marked down around Black Friday-Christmas to $149 for the 20T and $119 for the 12T, and using the 20% coupon brings the 20T down to $120 and the 12T down to $96 and then tax on top of that.

Nice. I'll definitely be keeping that in mind around the holidays. My wife's always needing suggestions and what better way to say I love you than with the gift of a shop press?

Love the idea of using it for a brake too. Hadn't even considered that and I've had a few metal bending needs recently for which that would've been perfect.

-Brian

 

[Highpsi]

I have the small HF press, I have used it a few times in the last 5 yrs. I would say it has paid for it self, but no it has not paid rent on the space it takes up.

I completely agree with this statement about the room a press takes up for precious sq. footage. If you have a giant shop with plenty of room hey, go for it.. But if you're like most of us the room that thing takes up better make it worth it to have such a tool.

I'd say this should be the single biggest factor to consider if you are thinking about a press. HF and others make a decent piece for such low buck it isn't really about the money as much as it is about how much you use it and the space it takes up.

If you have the room, it is a MUST if you're a car guy.

 

[disston]

I own one of these. OTC 5230. Bench top model. 16.5 tons. More than the size it is the quality that counts. It's the pride of my shop. Have used it to rebuild a couple of BMW motorcycle transmissions. Almost paid for itself after one year. Letting friends come by this year to rebuild their transmissions and I'll guide them.

I owned a Harbor Freight press some years ago. It was junk.

 

[Bill Anderson]

@Brian, tell your wife if she really loves you, she will not only go buy the press and drag it home, she will assemble it for you too, lol.
And yeah, you're right, whoever mentioned using the shop press as a metal break, that is genius! I would have never thought of that.
So a big thanks to the person that suggested that. Very cool! I will definitely use that idea.

 

[fastbike02]

IDk if I would trust a press that my wife assembled

 

[cookiemech]

I bought the HF 20 ton press several years ago for about $200. Use it on average once a year, but when I need it, there is NO substitute. I have it sitting on a heavy duty dolly, so it is easy to tuck it up against the wall, and it's never really in the way. If I used a press every day for my work, maybe I would have a more expensive, higher quality model, but I haven't found any shortcomings in this press.

 

[MScott]

Love the idea of using it for a brake too. Hadn't even considered that and I've had a few metal bending needs recently for which that would've been perfect.
-Brian

I haven't been able to find the article, but on another forum I remember a guy who used a shop press to make raised letter signs. He would make up a male and female pattern (allowing sufficient space for the thickness of the metal) out of particle board, then sandwich aluminum sheeting between them and press out the shape. Maybe someone else has seen this. I wish I could remember where I saw it.

 

[Hghgrad]

I bought mine to do one wheel bearing a few years ago. I've used it once or twice a year for wheel bearings on different vehicles since. I also use it a lot when I need a strong vice to hold something since my regular vice is junk.


Gets used quite often for ball joints and whatnots.

 

[Showkey]

Think it depends on the type of work and the frequency that you do........

We all know tool collectors that have the best cabinet saw, TIG, 10 ton lift or $20-30k in hand tools............but never seems to be in the shop ???

You can always crush cans with a press and it will pay for itself in months .........depending on you beer budget.

Bending and straightening first ......pushing bearing and bushings second on the use list. Build the jig and have the right fixtures you will use the press. Just did King pins on a 66 year old axle.......20 tons was just enough and the press made some noise in protest. ( the kind where your looking for cover and body armor)

 

[BellyUpFish]

I build AKM's, so pretty often.

 

[crab]

I own one of these. OTC 5230. Bench top model. 16.5 tons. More than the size it is the quality that counts. It's the pride of my shop. Have used it to rebuild a couple of BMW motorcycle transmissions. Almost paid for itself after one year. Letting friends come by this year to rebuild their transmissions and I'll guide them.

I owned a Harbor Freight press some years ago. It was junk.

I'd like to know more about that press, price etc. Like you, most of my projects are motorcycle related and I don't have a lot of room. That press could be out of the way when you didn't need it.

 

[Matt M PA]

Interesting thread as I have had the same question for a while.

That being said, I have a parts washer that has been very helpful the few times I needed it...but would rather have the space. Considering giving it away to get the space back...