Quality 20 ton shop press suggestions?

[The One]

I picked up a 20 ton shop press last night at HF. $139. Took about 30 minutes to assemble but the jack didn't work. I spent another 6 hours bleeding and rebleeding it and I have finally given up. Harbor Freight won't just let me return and replace that one part out of the box, they require I bring the entire thing to return... that's going to require borrowing a friends truck again and making a 4 hour round trip instead of hopping in my car and quickly zipping down tonight to swap it out.

I have never bought one tool from HF that has worked or that I've enjoyed using.

I'm prepared to spend 10x the amount on a tool that works and is enjoyable to use. My other option is to assemble the stupid thing in the rain on Monday outside their store to make sure it works before driving home.

What shop presses do you guys suggest?

 

[Rabid Badger]

I don't have a recommendation for a press but I have a couple possible solutions to your problem:

1) HF sells the jack used in that press as a standalone item. You could go in, buy one, go out to your car, swap them and return the faulty one.

2) Since you're already willing to spend money for a better product, you could junk the jack it came with and buy the air-over-hydraulic jack that a lot of people buy to upgrade their presses.

https://m.harborfreight.com/20-ton-air-over-hydraulic-jack-95553.html

 

[bigdav160]

I'd like to know if there is even a quality press made anymore? I have an OTC 20 ton at work. It's ok but the lincoln jack quit on it.

So, I went out and bought a 45 ton Strongway from NT. So slow and not the best quality.

 

[The One]

I don't have a recommendation for a press but I have a couple possible solutions to your problem:

1) HF sells the jack used in that press as a standalone item. You could go in, buy one, go out to your car, swap them and return the faulty one.

2) Since you're already willing to spend money for a better product, you could junk the jack it came with and buy the air-over-hydraulic jack that a lot of people buy to upgrade their presses.

https://m.harborfreight.com/20-ton-air-over-hydraulic-jack-95553.html

Does the foot have the necessary holes for the bolts? I'm tempted to leave right now and do this before they close. And just have it done with today.

I'd like to know if there is even a quality press made anymore? I have an OTC 20 ton at work. It's ok but the lincoln jack quit on it.

So, I went out and bought a 45 ton Strongway from NT. So slow and not the best quality.

I was looking at that OTC. If there's not anything quality under $1000 I guess I might as well stick with this piece of junk.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Does the foot have the necessary holes for the bolts? I'm tempted to leave right now and do this before they close. And just have it done with today.

I don't know for sure. I'm planning on going tomorrow, if you can wait a day I can take a look and report back.

 

[Skin]

I'd like to know if there is even a quality press made anymore?

Dake, but their 20ton manual units are around $2500. I also like the JET units which were made in Japan decades ago and now are made in Taiwan. Same design though which I like a lot. The pump is adjustable, nice big pressure gauge, and a wheel for initial setup. Problem is they go 5ton to 15ton to 35ton.

Baileigh Industrial are suppose to be pretty decent (china). You can get a 20ton pneumatic unit for around a grand.

 

[derek_m]

i gave up on searching for a decent quality used press so i went for the HF bolt together one. some upgrades and its pretty decent for the home garage. i would just get a new jack or the air over one for your press and swap out.

 

[PoorOwner]

You can upgrade that cheap jack to an air one but then this may happen

https://weldingweb.com/showthread.p...om-death-with-Harbor-Freight-20-ton-hyd-press


Have you looked at the Dake with electronic controls? It can hold an egg without cracking it. LOL

 

[Rabid Badger]

You can upgrade that cheap jack to an air one but then this may happen

https://weldingweb.com/showthread.p...om-death-with-Harbor-Freight-20-ton-hyd-press


Have you looked at the Dake with electronic controls? It can hold an egg without cracking it. LOL

That's the old-style HF press. The current model is much stronger.

 

[Showkey]

No way in hell I would “eat the cost” of that defective jack........unbolt press, throw in the car drop back at the store........maybe accidental tip the cart over at the return desk.

 

[gatlibs]

Sunex makes the press in U.S.A. with a Chinese jack that has a gauge. It is about $700 before shipping. I am very pleased with mine. The plates are quite thin, but aren't junk pieces of **** altogether like the Harbor Freight ones. I'm looking forward to replacing my Chinese pump with either an American or Japanese one, but it hasn't broken yet.

https://sunextools.com/product-category/shop-equipment/shop-equipment-presses-and-accessories/
Bench models are cheaper provided that you could use it. Eric The Car Guy reviewed the model that I got, or so I think.

I'd like to upgrade the plates to SWAG Off Road which is very well reviewed on the internet, but those plates are quite expensive... Still I'd rather buy the SWAG than the other Sunex plates when I do buy more.

 

[bobcatdan]

Having just looked at many press options, here is my opinion. I know it's the standard GF statement, but watch for a good used one. Presses can be a little thinner picking than other stuff, but they come up. In the last month I have seen 20 Carolina/Arcans for $300. 40 ton Carolina/ Arcans ranginging from $400 to $600. 25 ton dakes from $850 to $2100 ($2100 is beyond nuts) and a 50 ton dake sell in 20 minutes for $1500. I just bought a 50 ton Nugier for a little more than I'd like to admit, but a fair price and cheaper than the 50 ton dake I listed above. As for new, I'd probably go for the black TSC presses Northern is selling. Looks to be the same as Baileigh and CP for a little less money. Dake also has a simpler 20 ton press that I believe is imported that you should be able to find for $900 with a Google search. If you want to drop the money, $3200 will get you a new 25 ton Dake to your door, that is what I was quoted.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I bought the same press. The jack is junk. Every time I used it I had to add oil. I added an air powered hydraulic jack and I was much happier.

 

[anndel]

I have Dake 10 ton benchtop (field office) and 20 ton Sunex (Made in USA except the bottle jack) in the shop.

That said, break the HF press apart and return it for a full refund. Please, no way in hell do you eat the cost.

 

[The One]

I just got back from exchanging the jack. The floor models have the mounting holes, but not the one I got. I'll drill them myself.

It sounds like I wouldn't be getting much more for $800-1300 (although looking back it'd have been worth it if it didn't mean having a hassle).

 

[KillNThrill24]

I've used this 20 ton HF press a few times for axle bearings and have had zero issues. I traditionally prefer made in USA tools, but for $170 or whatever it was, I'm happy with it. I'll be welding the top bar at some point where the bolts are, to stiffen the top up a tad. But other than that I'm happy with it. Does what I need it to do. I'd return yours and make them give you a new one. Don't eat the cost just because it's a drive.

Admittedly, my dad had the old style orange one listed above, and that thing was junk. So I was VERY skeptical buying this one. But so far, so good.

Sent from my Note 9 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[PoorOwner]

The sunex is fully welded ? Is there any parts that is bolted on beside the movable parts?

 

[gatlibs]

No, it isn't fully welded technically. The feet are bolted to the legs. Everything that is important or should be welded is. It is pretty damn nice for the price. The only down side to the unit is that the Jack is Chinese. One US Jack purchase from solving that issue, though.

 

[6PTsocket]

I picked up a 20 ton shop press last night at HF. $139. Took about 30 minutes to assemble but the jack didn't work. I spent another 6 hours bleeding and rebleeding it and I have finally given up. Harbor Freight won't just let me return and replace that one part out of the box, they require I bring the entire thing to return... that's going to require borrowing a friends truck again and making a 4 hour round trip instead of hopping in my car and quickly zipping down tonight to swap it out.



I have never bought one tool from HF that has worked or that I've enjoyed using.



I'm prepared to spend 10x the amount on a tool that works and is enjoyable to use. My other option is to assemble the stupid thing in the rain on Monday outside their store to make sure it works before driving home.



What shop presses do you guys suggest?

I went through the exact same thing with a lawn tractor lift. It was a royal PIA taking that thing apart and getting all the little pieces back in the box. When I walked in the door, the first words were " bad pump?" I wouldn't touch anything there that includes a bottle jack. This one had a modified base that would require welding to replace with a stock bottle jack. They asked me if I wanted an exchange or a refund. I took my money and left.I have had better luck with some other stuff but not all. As we all know, buying there is a mixed bag. The HF pass/fail thread is in the thousands of posts. Bottle jacks are pretty cheap. Maybe it would still pay to just throw in another, better one. You can't go by me. I got a generic all welded 20 ton at a car show that makes 2 of the HF. It came with cheap Torin Big Red that still works. When it goes I'll get something better. Mine looks like the Sunex but it goes for way more than I paid. Unfortunately, I haven't seen them at a car show in a few years. I think I paid $159 or there abouts.

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[Showkey]

Some are mentioning welded construction.
If you put a 100 ton jack in the 20 ton HF press........my bet is the bolts are NOT going be the failure points. Just like the vehicle lifts failures ......the frame and cross members will bend or distort when taken well past the service rating.

 

[gatlibs]

Metal fatigue under load isn't the only issue with nuts and bolts. Only nice prevailing torque nuts or jam nuts work well to prevent movement. I don't think tat the Harbor Freight kits come with either. Eliminating movement when something is under tons of strain is a safety conscious decision that I would make.
Welds are stronger joints. Yes the very large pins are basically shoulder bolts, but no kit is coming with shoulder bolts as thick as the pins nor with as much extra length as the pins.
Let us all hope that the I beams on Harbor Freight models are sufficiently thin so that they deflect instead of the bolts snapping - hefty metal frame parts that are basically attached to a spring and small metal parts which were on the bed plates at the time would be very dangerous when sudden released from static to dynamic force.

 

[Turbo442]

I keep seeing the 20 ton HF press on sale and keep wondering if they are getting ready to drop something new in the way of a press. Fingers crossed.


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[Showkey]

Metal fatigue under load isn't the only issue with nuts and bolts. Only nice prevailing torque nuts or jam nuts work well to prevent movement. I don't think tat the Harbor Freight kits come with either. Eliminating movement when something is under tons of strain is a safety conscious decision that I would make.
Welds are stronger joints. Yes the very large pins are basically shoulder bolts, but no kit is coming with shoulder bolts as thick as the pins nor with as much extra length as the pins.
Let us all hope that the I beams on Harbor Freight models are sufficiently thin so that they deflect instead of the bolts snapping - hefty metal frame parts that are basically attached to a spring and small metal parts which were on the bed plates at the time would be very dangerous when sudden released from static to dynamic force.

The reality is there are 8 shear planes on 4 bolts that are marked 4.8 and are 16mm diameter.
For conversation and convenience converted to SAE 5/8” grade 2 bolt in shear at one point is 13,000 #.
5/8” Grade 5 22,000 # shear strength at a single point.
Tensile strength 5/8” grade 2 75,000 grade 120,000

https://www.nucor-fastener.com/Files/PDFs/TechDataSheets/TDS_013_Shear_Strength.pdf

It would be really interesting to see a HF press taken to complete failure.

 

[Tallpilot]

Sorry OP. It really is a PITA when you have to drive that far to exchange things and doubly so if you don't have a truck. That's the biggest issue with HF. The trade-off for low prices is being the QC department.

That said if you aren't fabricating for a living and just occasionally need a press for an axle bearing or pressing out a bushing it is hard to justify spending more money.

The jacks do tend to be crappy but you could keep a couple extras laying around as spares for less than the cost of the next better press. With your distance from the nearest store that might be convenient.

For the structural engineers in the crowd I will reiterate my typical approach to Chinesium. Buy the 20 ton and keep your use under 10T. That's a 50% margin of safety over whatever margin they engineered into it. That way even if they cheated a little bit on the spec you are well within limits.

As Farmcraft 101 mentioned in his review of this item; you couldn't buy the steel to make it yourself even at scrap prices for what they sell the press for. So again, if you are using the thing weekly get a pro level one for a grand. Otherwise this thing can't be beat for occasional use.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I’ll second the idea of buying oversized. I really only needed a 20 or 30 ton but waited until I saw a good deal and got a used 50ton for the same price. There is no substitute for safety margin.

One other piece of advise on any bolt together tension device like a press is to assemble it with all the nuts hand tight and put a little pressure on it before torquing them. The last thing you want to happen is to have high tension on it then have a joint slip to the end of its clearance. You then have the shear force of the tension joint plus the impact force both applied to the bolt at once.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Buy a US made jack by US Jacks:

https://www.amazon.com/JACK-D-51126-Bottle-Jack-Made/dp/B00P248HKE

Or buy a made in Japan jack by Norco

https://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=NOR76520AG

Norco makes tall and short 20 ton Jack's so make sure you order the one you want. The also make air over hydraulic ones too. Some used ones of them on Ebay.

If you want to more that just upgrade the Horror Freight press, look for a used F.A. Nugier press. They are still in business. I have their 12 ton press and it is beefier than the harbor freight 20 ton presses I have seen previously.

http://www.nugierfroom.com/hydraulic-press.html