How often do you use your shop press?

[Kpaige]

FYI not only can you use the 20% off on top of sales items but get to know the store manager so when they have the sales and they are out of stock he will sell you the floor unit for half. I acquired my Planishing hammer and English wheel that way on sale 20% off and 50% discount on floor model!!!!

 

[TMcCay]

I picked mine up at an auction. A tractor repair mechanic was retiring. It is a 20 ton NAPA version. I felt it was a good deal at $200 with 2 bearing separators thrown in for good measure. Since then my son has probably used it more than I have to straighten out parts on his mini sprint when he was racing. I keep it for those seldom times that I will need one.

 

[krux]

Space is why I don't have one. Typically drive down the street to have some thing pressed for $25. I do want one but maybe in time a bench model

 

[bwringer]

I have a HF 20 ton press, bought used on CrackList for $100. It's been well worth it many times over.

I use mine several times a year in my home shop. Over time, you start to learn more and more ways to use it besides pressing bearings. For example, any time I'm grabbing a hammer, I consider whether there's a way to use the press. Or if I need to bend something, there's often a way to use the press to do it in a more controlled manner.

I don't have much room, but it takes up very little space. It's normally tucked against the wall with a couple of cases tucked underneath. I can pull it out and be ready to go in about a minute.


The reason I got a press in the first place was an incompetent machine shop. The first problem is that I live in Indianapolis, and around here it's tough to get a machine shop to even talk to you unless you're running a multi-million dollar race team. After spending a couple of days on the phone and driving around, I finally found a shop with a press that agreed to remove my wheel bearing and install the new one.

This bearing was one that contained magnets in one half for the ABS sensor, so it had to be installed a certain way. I explained this carefully, and naturally (after they made me pay $40 and wait for over an hour) the thumb-fingered mouth breathers installed it backwards, ruining an $80 bearing. And when I protested, they refused to even refund the $40. Eventually the shop owner told me to get the $^%$ out his shop.

So already $120 poorer, I swore a ****** oath to buy my own goddamn press... Before heading to Harbor Freight, I checked CrackList, and lo and behold, somehow there was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.

 

[dbabicky]

I bought the HF 20 ton press about 15-16 years ago. I've used it about 15-16 times, but when I needed it, it was there. Worth the money. It's always there in my shop when I need it and I don't have to waste time/money to take things any where to get pressed. I would say, in the time it has saved me alone over the years it has more than paid for itself.

 

[PoorOwner]

Dake makes a bench 10 ton and a full standing version as well, and it will perform to the tonnage stated. I heard the HF unit with cheap jacks in it comes up a bit short on the power, but whatever. I definitely have no space for a 20T for using it occasionally.

It's also imported but it has a gauge, internal spring etc and made with good quality.

Having a gauge lets you know how much pressure it took to push the part in and also helps to see the pressure raise when the bearing "seats" so you don't just pump a couple more times for good measure which sometimes end up damaging things.

Someone didn't mention, when the tensioner or alternator pulley start to squeal, you can easily replace bearings on some of them. A press comes in very handy for this kind of repair. I used an arbor press before but the bearing comes out and you ended up with a shock slamming the thing down because you are pushing hard on it. With hydraulic it is much more controlled.

Here is mine sitting next to common items. You can see it is not tall enough to get an axle bearing out of an truck rear end but for most passenger size car stuff it should be ok. I still need to pick up some 1/4" steel to use as spacers though.

By the way I know it's dumb to have a press next to the shop window as things may fly, but that's all the space I have but it is about 130 pounds with everything and can be moved without too much difficulty, or a piece of plywood when things get serious.

 

[619DioFan]

I use mine a lot. bearings , ball joints , bushings. bending metal. doing the front brakes on my 95 dodge ram had to replace the rotors. made it super fast and easy to press out the 8 lugs holding the hub to the rotor plus easy for re-assembley. the first time you need one on a sunday night or a holiday you will be glad you have it. I would venture to say that mine has paid for itself many times over.

 

[Rickss96]

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.

Don't wait until the 3-day parking lot sale starts. Read the fine pint on the 20% coupon - it says not valid during these parking lot sales! But I have found that if you go in the day before the sale starts, they already have the prices marked down to the sale price and then you can use the 20% coupon too.

 

[stioc]

Given the low cost of the HF ones I'd say it's not a question of cost but instead a question of space, whether you have it or not. I have a 12T A-frame from HF. It's great to have it when you need it rather than calling around, driving the parts somewhere, waiting, driving back etc. However, mine has only been used once a year in the last few years I've had it. It sits in my side yard covered in a tarp because my 2 car garage doesn't have any room left.

Also, regarding the size, when I replaced all the control arm bushings in my truck I had to use heat (handheld propane torch) to persuade the bushings so I'd say 12T is adequate but a 20T is probably what I'd get if I were to do it again- for my needs.

 

[BellyUpFish]

I have the 20T HF unit and have had zero issues with it.

 

[Bill Anderson]

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

Hey Dave, where did you get the foot pedal for the press? Thanks, Bill

 

[johninct]

I don't use mine much at all but when I need it , I need it!!!

 

[eastbaysubaru]

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.

Yeah, floor space is already at a premium in my relatively shallow three car. Not quite sure I can spare the space but I may elect to keep it about five minutes away in my dad's garage. He's got the space and for the few times a year I may need it the short trip would be better than having to pay someone.

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.

That looks like a really nice unit. I like the benchtop idea as opposed to sacrificing floor space but benchtop space seems to be at a premium in my garage as well! If you don't mind my asking, what did you pay for that press?

@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.

HA, I'd be the one picking it up (and of course assembling it) myself.

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.

Now that's damn cool. I'm sure there's a DIY or Youtube article out there.

-Brian

 

[srr]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J3LCH8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Pricey little devil but if you use it often to make money with...

I have the HF one that one of my bonehead co-workers managed to bend the guide rods on it so now it doesn't press straight.

 

[disston]

I don't remember what i paid for my OTC 5230 exactly but it was one of the first ones on the East Coast. The people I bought it from cried about having to pay extra shipping because it came from the West Coast. I'm pretty sure I paid less than the $845 from Amazon. And if that is with extra for shipping it's about the highest price I've seen.

BTW mine was shipped freight. It is not a UPS sort of thing. It is heavy. I drove to Baltimore to pick it up at the terminal of a shipping company. They would have delivered it but I didn't want to spend the whole day sitting on the porch waiting for them.

The 5230 was a new design a few years ago. Still kinda new.

 

[engineer2]

In addition to wheel bearings and the usual stuff, they are handy when scrapping an electric motor to push the steel shaft out of an armature.

 

[D45]

I was initially looking at a large floor mounted press

I ended up with a nice old and heavy arbor press instead

 

[eastbaysubaru]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J3LCH8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Pricey little devil but if you use it often to make money with...

I have the HF one that one of my bonehead co-workers managed to bend the guide rods on it so now it doesn't press straight.

I don't remember what i paid for my OTC 5230 exactly but it was one of the first ones on the East Coast. The people I bought it from cried about having to pay extra shipping because it came from the West Coast. I'm pretty sure I paid less than the $845 from Amazon. And if that is with extra for shipping it's about the highest price I've seen.

BTW mine was shipped freight. It is not a UPS sort of thing. It is heavy. I drove to Baltimore to pick it up at the terminal of a shipping company. They would have delivered it but I didn't want to spend the whole day sitting on the porch waiting for them.

The 5230 was a new design a few years ago. Still kinda new.

Thanks for the info guys! That looks like a really nice unit. Not sure if I can swing the high price for something I'd use once or twice a year at most, but it's sure given me another option.

-Brian

 

[zmotorsports]

I have a Nugier 20-ton hydraulic press and I use it at least a couple of times a week.

Mike.

 

[TractorJeff]

OLDMXRACER, you must be referring to Master Links as the rest of the pins would need at least 70 tons to push them out assuming they didn't heat the links to expand them.

 

[lhc_cj7]

Bought mine off CL about 10 years ago for $100. Use it once or twice a year.

 

[housedad]

I use mine several times a year. It is a Harbor freight 20 ton. I added the air powered jack to it, A Swag Off Road HD finger press brake, Swag adjustable v-die, goose neck dies, and a set of Swag arbor plates.

With all that, it is a pretty versatile machine. The funny thing is that the Press was one of the cheapest parts.

I get a kick out of friends or family saying that they wish they had a piece of steel bent just so...

 

[billspit]

When I was rebuilding two Triumph Spitfires, I needed one quite a bit. I either took the stuff to work and used the press here, or made do with my cheapie vise at home.

 

[38Chevy454]

I have the HF 12 ton. Very convenient when it is needed, otherwise sits for months at a time. Just helped a friend press some track bar bushings in this past weekend.

Like the rest said, it is the tool needed to do some jobs correctly, but the biggest drawback is the space to store it.

 

[Cyberbear]

It's one of those tools that seldom is needed, but when it is, nothing else will do. I bought a HF 20T on sale, and later a 50T jack on sale and will make a press brake attachment and assorted forming dies as needed for various projects in the coming years. Until then it waits inside the box for when I put in on a rolling base.

 

[zkling]

I use mine quite a bit, granted I think I do quite a bit more machine/fab/repair than the average GJ member though. Go with the 20 ton min.

What I use it for....
Removing bearings, pressed parts, gears, rings, that the arbor press won't remove.
Breaking (bending) up to ~1/4" stock for misc brackets
Straightening bent pieces.

Couldn't live without an arbor press though.
Arbor press with a drill chuck beats the heck out of a hammer and punch for that delicate work.

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

Why?

 

[ndnchf]

I have an old 12HF press. I kept replacing the leaky jacks every 4-5 years and got tired of it. I finally replaced with a big old screw type house jack. Its not the best solution, but it doesn't leak.

But I also have a 3 ton Dake arbor press. I use this much more often than the 12 ton press. Its quick, powerful and handy.

 

[MoonRise]

Don't use mine too often, but when I need it, it's there.

re: 12 ton vs 20 ton HF (or similar) units.

Waaaay back, looked at the 12 ton HF unit and the 20 ton HF unit (as well as all the other hydraulic presses HF had on display at the store, some sort of A-frame type unit and there were maybe one or two others as well). Pumped up the 12 ton and watched things visibly deflect (not really hanging on the jack handle or anything like that). Which did not inspire much confidence (no it wasn't an 'assembly' type issue, this was the steel frame and cross table visibly deflecting). Did the same with the 20 ton unit, much less visible deflection. Figured if I use the 20 ton unit to only 12 tons capacity, I'm way better off than cranking the 12 ton unit to its 'max'. And I can still go up to the 20 ton capacity as well.

Bought the 20 ton unit. Don't use it all the time or very often, but it is there when I do 'need' it.

Or just want to (or need to ) squash something rather flat.

Or actually press something in or out.

Or bend or straighten something.

Etc.

An arbor press is also handy too. For 'smaller' jobs and such.

 

[theoldwizard1]

What is better than having your own press ? Having a good buddy who has one.

Used it today to press some bushing in a lower control arm.

 

[oldmxracer]

OLDMXRACER, you must be referring to Master Links as the rest of the pins would need at least 70 tons to push them out assuming they didn't heat the links to expand them.

Komatsu d20, We did not know if it would work and yes there was heat involved, just had to have the dozer done fast, gave it a try and it ended up working out for us !

The Komatsu was sold to a club member at the end of the season for His home track, and We have since upgraded !

 

[ms fowler]

What is better than having your own press ? Having a good buddy who has one.

Used it today to press some bushing in a lower control arm.

Same for a mig welder.....

 

[metalmagpie]

I also want to put in a plug for an arbor press. I use mine at least once a week when I'm working in my shop. Mine is a Famco 3C. The C means it's a compound ratcheting press. The compound feature is nice because it takes my press from a 4 ton to an 8 ton press. Basically it's like a granny gear.

I like an arbor press because you can feel what's going on. Much much more controllable. And a decent sized one lets you do some fairly serious pressing too. When I need a real oomph I go use my buddy's 20 ton, though. Maybe every year or two.

metalmagpie

 

[fastbike02]

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

Does it not want to tip over? can you upload some pics? I'm thinking about picking one up tomorrow and putting it on wheels sounds really good for my shop

 

[junkman104]

Does it not want to tip over? can you upload some pics? I'm thinking about picking one up tomorrow and putting it on wheels sounds really good for my shop

I have one of their 12 ton presses mounted on one of their $13.00 moving dolly's. Works fine and can be rolled out of the way.

 

[sberry]

What is better than having your own press ? Having a good buddy who has one.

Used it today to press some bushing in a lower control arm.

I agree, I have one use it on occasion but could easily go to a buds on the occasion I really need it. Same for ,most major tools tig welder, lather and mill.

 

[fastbike02]

The website won't let you use 20% off with the 20 ton this weekend so it's still 159.00 but if you wait till the 27th and use the 25% off coupon it will be 149

 

[BD1]

I have the HF 20 ton and it's great . Used it countless times with a homemade brake that has done 1/4" X 4" flat stock with no issues. Also use it to spread and close horseshoes for artwork. I added a valve handle for the release, save time and is easier.

 

[BD1]

Here is the spreader. It will not post multiple photos from album.

 

[bimmer1980]

Where did you get the little round handle for the valve release on the jack? That is pretty slick. I need to put something like that on mine....

BTW--I have the HF 20 ton press. I have put casters on the bottom of it and it sits in the corner. I bought it to press new bearings and seals onto my Gen 3 4Runner. It did pay for itself on that job.

I also used it to press some bearings out of some housings for a commercial kubota mower of my B-in-L..... So I saved him some dough.....lucky ******.

I will eventually make a press brake attachment for it, but that will hold for another day.....

 

[ff4500]

I also have a 20 ton HF press. Got that over the 12 T unit, and only paid like $99 for it after coupon. Bought it when I was doing the wheel bearings in the wife's old car, so it paid for itself the same weekend. (Dealer wants $700 a corner for new wheel bearings? Whaaaaatttttttttt?) Even after grenading a few bearings getting a feel for how it pressed them into a hub, I was still way out on top of what it would have cost otherwise.

I don't use it often, maybe once a year. Last used it when I had press an awful squeaky bearing out of a idler pulley on my truck in the fall.