jack based hydraulic presses - pros/cons

[top drive]

After years of using the 10 ton press in the testing workshop at the office i was told last week the workshops being moved across town to the engineering facility so it will no longer be convenient to use the press - it was a Ram and pump based system with a gauge - and its leaked badly for as long as ive known - so much so it sits atop a catch all drain pan !

this style.

As something i use quite alot doing bearings and bushes on old cars for me ive decided to buy my own.

so i started digging about and came across jack based designs which to me seem alot simpler to repair if stuff goes wrong - a new jack is about 40 quid.and to buy the whole unit in the first place is about half the price.

any thoughts either way ....

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Those things scare me.

 

[Hiball]

The hand pump/cylinder units afford you the ability to press without standing right in front of the work piece, they generally also give you the option to move cylinder off center to press odd shaped pieces etc. in the case of my pump/cylinder I also have a hollow ram with a threaded rod to make for quick adjustments versus needing to move the table up/down all the time.

 

[astroracer]

I've been using mine for years. It's a little bit different as you can see the push plate has a pair of guide rods to keep it from clocking around. Look for something similar to this design. It is a bit more stable then just using the jack to control the push plate. May not be an issue but I see the plate binding on the side rails at some point.

The jack based ones work no different the the ram style except everything is self contained in the jack. Nothing to afraid of if you use common sense went bending or pressing.
This thing bends 5/8th steel with no issues using the Swag Bender.
Harbor Freight has a 20 ton for <$200.
Mark
Mark

 

[top drive]

im in the uk astroracer but im thinking ill get me one - they are coming in at about the same 200dollars around here. , it sure beats beating on bearings with a hammer.

probably never have to buy beer again once my mates find out i have one.

Standing in front of the workpiece isnt really an issue for me , i stand there now when im working on the press - thats not even something that the works QHSSE have picked up on. just have to be sensible and dont start loading up on poorly positioned items.


For me the bulk/if not all of what i press is bearings and bushes which is fine centrally mounted for me.

 

[astroracer]

Got'cha. As you know they are handy and the "buddies" will come. Once you have one you will find all kinds of uses for it. Mine has been the go-to metal former for stuff over 16 gauge ever since I got the Swag bender. Making brackets and other bits is a simple task with one of these.
Mark

 

[WhiffySpark]

A thick fender cover is good insurance. They go flying sometimes

 

[top drive]

good idea that. that shall be stolen :d

Cheers !

 

[justanengineer]

I personally prefer a press with a double acting hydraulic cylinder for pulling as well as pushing. I also prefer one with a force gauge on it, at 5+ tons force I want something with a scattershield or remote control bc Ive had too many parts shatter, get loose, or otherwise go flying. JME, but there is NO way to predict how/when things let loose when you get a decent amount of force applied, all you can do is hope youre out of the way.

 

[top drive]

wont be too hard to make a scatter shield for the one above its a good idea , i guess we dont have one at work as its not being used to press to a high tonne its litterally the application of controled force that we use it for as oppose to making cold weld fittings - our 50ton press at work has a scatter shield and an excluded working zone with interlock..... but i aint using that to press in bearings- slightly off centre and you have crushed both workpieces !

 

[astroracer]

If I am doing anything on the press that I think may be unstable I will redo the set-up to make it better. If there is no other option I will toss a welding blanket on it. I've never had an explosion but the welding blanket should stop most anything thrown at.
Mark

 

[chammyman]

I have a 20 ton chinese jack based press. It does what I need it to, only thing its struggled with is jag xk8 wheel bearing once.

Yes its cheap and takes an age and if the thread on the jack isn't out right it can fall out of the cup but its not used that often, I do bearing presses maybe 3 times a month at most.

I got mine chucked in with my 2 post lift for 50 quid though so can't complain.

Basocally its fine unless your pressing 20 bearings a week or more.

 

[APEowner]

I have a cheap bottle jack based press in my shop that I bought about 20 years ago. It's flexible, not well aligned and a bit out of square. It may also be the best $150.00 I've ever spent. I keep thinking that I'm going to do some tweaking on it to address its shortcomings but instead I just use it as is.

 

[zkling]

In my opinion from nicest to use down.

Electric hydraulic pump
Air over hydraulic
Remote hand pump
Basic bottle jack

Now the last two are nice as they require no additional inputs of air or electricity. Then there are arbor presses.

 

[astroracer]

I have been thinking about upgrading my jack to an air/hydraulic. I like the way the A/H long ram jack works on my tubing bender. Sure would save the arm when bending multiples.

 

[454ragtop]

I've had a 20T one for years, works fine. Would prefer a fancier unit with a remote pump, but they seem to be few and far between, especially for a bottom feeder like myself. I added a winch to lift the table, and machined a knob for the jack release, so I don't have to take the handle out of the pump, made it a lot more user friendly.
Jim

 

[top drive]

picked one up last night .

189 dollars.

you know your getting quality when the box says "frangile"

assembled it and it works. itll do what i need it to do as i wont be doing bearings daily - more like monthly.

Back to the store today to pick up the jack handle they omitted.

 

[worianxun]

It's a little bit different as you can see the push plate has a pair of guide rods to keep it from clocking around.

 

[top drive]

This looks like a worthy modification for about 80% of what i press and the other 20% i can use a fender cover.