Show us your arbor press!

[SP3]

This is a Famco 3R that I picked up a long time ago. I think I've used it once. It's more in the way than useful today. I'll let it go reasonable if someone is interest. Buck and a half.

Do you still have that?

 

[dwall174]

Picked up this Famco 3-1/2C a little over a year ago from a online auction.
Haven't gotten around to tearing it down & cleaning it up yet, But hopefully I'll get to it this summer.

Doug

 

[drivesitfar]

that's impressive. I think I like the stand it has as much as the press. is that all one piece or can you move it around in a few parts if you need to?

 

[whateg01]

that's impressive. I think I like the stand it has as much as the press. is that all one piece or can you move it around in a few parts if you need to?

Looks to me like the stand is fabricated from channel. You can just make out the bolts holding the press to the stand.

 

[DaveT]

Picked up this Famco 3-1/2C a little over a year ago from a online auction.
Haven't gotten around to tearing it down & cleaning it up yet, But hopefully I'll get to it this summer.

Doug

That’s a nice looking press Doug. I picked up a Famco 3 1/2C a little over a year ago also. I have not cleaned mine up either, but honestly I don’t think I am going to. I love the patina, it feels like it somewhat tells the story of its many years of service.

 

[dwall174]

that's impressive.

Yeah it's amazing what leverage can do!
In the compound mode it's rated at 8 tons, Here's a 1/2" X 1-1/2" scrap piece of aluminum I bent with it trying it out.

is that all one piece or can you move it around in a few parts if you need to?

It does come apart Base/Press/Top all disassemble.
All together it probably weighs around 500lbs.

Doug

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: i'm not sure where you shop, but I want a store like that up here. GEESH that is WAAAAY COOL. is the ship's wheel an add on or is that original to this press? NICE FIND!!

DWALL: thanks for clarification and the more pics. I was more than a bit curious how you got it home, but then again there are more than a few guys here with a fork lift in their shop (just not me cause I are one I guess).

 

[dwall174]

I was more than a bit curious how you got it home

No fork lift here neither! But they did have a fork lift at the auction site.

I have a 1-ton chain-fall inside my 2-1/2 car garage & a 2-ton Harbor Freight shop crane that I use to unload equipment. As far as moving it I have a little 5' X 9' utility trailer with a 3500lb. axle, The axle has a 4" drop which works out good for moving & unloading equipment.

Doug

 

[dwall174]

That’s a nice looking press Doug.

Thanks!

I picked up a Famco 3 1/2C a little over a year ago also.

Your press looks nice also! That ships-wheel probably works good for light pressing needs.

I have not cleaned mine up either, but honestly I don’t think I am going to. I love the patina

Yeah I'm not in a big hurry to get it all cleaned-up & re painted, I did that with a regular Famco 3 awhile back & I ended up selling it.

Within about two weeks of selling it I was already feeling the regrets.

If I leave this one with the "Shop Fresh Patina" then hopefully I won't get the urge to sell it.

Doug

 

[DaveT]

Drives: I got lucky on this one. The ships wheel is an original Famco option.

[dwal: That ships-wheel probably works good for light pressing needs. ]

The Ships wheel is not supposed to be used for leverage, even though it sure looks like it should be. The problem is that it is only mounted on the shaft with a set screw and a slight divot in the shaft. No key way or flat section on the shaft. I think the previous owner must have used it for leverage though because it is a bit stuck on the shaft now. I am going to need to use some persuasion to get it off.

 

[iajonesy]

Ship's wheel was used for broaching keyways. Much quicker than using the lever and easier on the operator.

Mike

 

[DaveT]

Ship's wheel was used for broaching keyways. Much quicker than using the lever and easier on the operator.

Mike

Mike: Thanks, I had to Google that and watch a short video, non-machinist here I am thinking that a previous owner must have pulled pretty hard on the ships wheel and created a burr on the shaft.

dwall174: I only had 4 guys and a cheap Harbor Frieght hardwood dolly to move my press!

 

[dwall174]

thanks for clarification and the more pics.

HERE'S a thread I posted about my arbor press & some more pictures of what I've done to it since I got it.

Doug

 

[dwall174]

dwall174: I only had 4 guys and a cheap Harbor Freight hardwood dolly to move my press!

I've never been lucky enough to have several guys to help me unload things, I normally have to unload items by myself.

After having to disassemble several machines in the back of my old pick-up to be able to get them to clear my garage door, I picked up the Harbor Freight shop lift.

Doug

 

[mattblast]

Here is my biggest arbor press. I picked it up last month and have slowly been restoring it back to original condition (it was caked with grease and beneath that were several layers of peeling paint). The cold weather and snow haven’t helped.



It’s a Greenerd #4, 7 ton with adjustable knee. Oddly it’s missing one of the bevel gears that lifts the table. The elevating screw turns freely but show signs of someone using a pipe wrench on it. Greenerd wants $270 for their proprietary gear. There is also some damage to the counterweight but the previous owner took care of that by re-mounting it at a different angle. (It’s about $440 for a new weight so I’m OK with leaving it)

It’s hard to tell but there is a bend in the lever. It’s just 46” long piece of 1” rod.

This this is heavy. Almost 1200lbs. Had to remove the knee and lever which probably got it to 900lbs then my lift was able to unload it.

 

[Toolmaker51]

Show us your arbor press?
K....how'sa bout tuning them?

New to me FAMCO; like DAKE, Greenerd and the unsung Continental brands, are essentially equal. So, this followed me, hiding behind the 4' headache rack, all of 69" tall and taxed my 1/2 ton gantry near 100%. Has to be 1500# plus. Even with handles behind seat, bolster under it.

Ship Wheel is incorrect; name is Pilot Wheel. Not a first choice, parts of significant width and or height interfere with the spokes. A better wheel is a round finger groove type, like old farm tractor, very convenient for repetitive light work, say cold rivets?

Mount bench sized presses with slot clear of table edge, otherwise limiting work piece length.

Many presses abused in prior use; by most often those who didn't buy it ....Remove ram, clean out dirt and old grease. File, grind, mill or cut off the mushroomed head. It can jam decidedly well in the upper guide at the most inconvenient time.

Lightly stone 4 sides of ram. With feeler gauge, compare front and side play to what shims might be there already. Front one, if missing, I make out of sheet brass.
It is possible to remove slide play too; bend a wide shim to capture top and lower edges. Another way drills and taps through the side for brass-tipped screws and lock nut. It'll take a little adjusting work to get full travel. Not such a biggie for pressing, but saves broaching tools, no question!

While it's out, set up in lathe or mill, face off and bore center 1/2 or 5/8 in big presses, 5/16 or 3/8 in smaller, around 3-4 diameters deep, be certain to chamfer the edge!

Next, drill and tap one side for set screw, 1/4-20 is fine. You can now mount adaptable tooling. First one is plain and flat to protect the newly squared face. The shank must be short enough to NOT bottom out in the bored hole, and necked to not wedge at the corner!

Now, drill a table sized plate [not bolster] at two opposing corners, and counterbore for socket head or slotted screws. Then match drill/ tap the press table, with ability to mount fixturing for repeat work, or things harder to keep alignment like round and narrow shapes.

Most rams are square....and easy to make a positive work stop. There are enough designs, to clamp securely, without marking the teeth, and have screw adjustment for stop. I like a U shaped collar, with 2 transverse brass rods to engage teeth mounted on a plate to close the U. On the side, a boss carries a fine thread screw with a lock nut; allow enough travel to span not less 1.5x pitch of ram teeth. Round rams, bore a split collar, you'll need some skill positioning the brass rods. None the less, well worth the effort, especially when bending multiple items.

Thinking about teetering her on a rod, find center line [balance] and drilling blind hole for hoisting ring. At about 1-1/4" thick, 1/2-13 threads 2" deep, the web won't even notice.

Get it tricked out mechanically before worrying about paint. Then go to the sites and see the costs of new equal model; without ANY of your improvements.

 

[ez-duzit]

1--good post.

 

[Toolmaker51]

Thank you, and others finding my posts useful. I had many terrific mentors in all things mechanical; it'd be wrong for me to not pass it on.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Thank you, and others finding my posts useful. I had many terrific mentors in all things mechanical; it'd be wrong for me to not pass it on.

I picked up a famco 3R a while back, biggest issue was the ram being hammered, got it cleaned up nice, installed new shims, polished the shafts , filed the burr’s of the gears and now it looks and works great. I got the gibbs adjusted so the ram has just enough friction so it doesn’t slide down, now i just need something to press, lol.

 

[whateg01]

... now i just need something to press, lol.

What's his face always says keep you **** in a vise. I suppose it could go in an arbor press just the same. Let us know how that turns out!

 

[whateg01]

Toolmaker, one thing I really like about my greenerd is the round ram. One thing I really hate about my greenerd is the round ram! I've thought about boring and bushing it to take up the slop but doubt I will. So I do all my fixtures to be self contained. The ram just pushes. I do agree with making the end to take other tooling though. On my old hydraulic press, I made a ball detent so no screw was needed to retain tooling.

 

[Renegade1LI]

What's his face always says keep you **** in a vise. I suppose it could go in an arbor press just the same. Let us know how that turns out!

I don't think I like that plan,lol I'll keep looking

 

[tscheuzger]

Here are mine. A Greenerd No. 2, a Famco No. 3, and a Greenerd No. 14. The 14 is a work in progress...























Tom

 

[Plastikosmd]

I like that 14

 

[2baditsnotachev]

Picked these both up for $50, sold the Dake for $200 and cleaned up the Famco for myself.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Picked these both up for $50, sold the Dake for $200 and cleaned up the Famco for myself.

That deserves a big " You ****",'nice score.

 

[Reversepolarity]

Picked this one up yesterday. Had to make a mount for it.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[454ragtop]

RP, that Manley press was made to be mounted on the side of their hyd. presses. Passed on one at a swap meet about a year ago, of course I acquired a Manley Hyd. press shortly after........

 

[Reversepolarity]

RP, that Manley press was made to be mounted on the side of their hyd. presses. Passed on one at a swap meet about a year ago, of course I acquired a Manley Hyd. press shortly after........

For what I paid. I just had to bend some 5/8” plate steel. And she clamps to the table just fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[whateg01]

That manley looks just like my acco!

 

[Hephaestus29]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

It’s complete except for re-installing the
brass tags, and I plan to make a center cap
for the hand wheel.

 

[steaks&anvils]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

It’s complete except for re-installing the
brass tags, and I plan to make a center cap
for the hand wheel.

Nice restore! Bringing old iron back to use is great.

Again, looks great.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

It’s complete except for re-installing the
brass tags, and I plan to make a center cap
for the hand wheel.

Looks great! Congrats. What an excellent tool.

 

[DaveT]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

It’s complete except for re-installing the
brass tags, and I plan to make a center cap
for the hand wheel.

Wow that is a beast! Do you know how much it weighs? You did a fantastic job restoring it.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

It’s complete except for re-installing the
brass tags, and I plan to make a center cap
for the hand wheel.

That is awesome, and I envy you having it. But if I had it I would have no idea what I would do with it.

 

[Hephaestus29]

Wow that is a beast! Do you know how much it weighs? You did a fantastic jog restoring it.

Thanks, and I’m guessing 2,000 lbs.. I’m going
to post a link, and it shows the Model 5 at the
top of the page at 1800 lbs., but when you
scroll on down it shows the model 501 with the
two swing out arms, it’s a bit different and I
believe it weighs a bit more.

https://www.dakecorp.com/uploads/pdfs/manuals/Model-5-2021.pdf

 

[Mallen]

The first picture shows what I think is a casting defect. I think that was supposed to melt with the pour. It's been there for at least 3/4 of a century so I decided just to fill it with epoxy and paint over it. The second and third pics show it prepped for painting. I added nylon thrust washers to the shaft. They probably are not necessary but it makes things nice and tight.

 

[dwall174]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

Looking good

Nice job on the resto!

Doug

 

[A&P mechanic]

I bought this arbor press used maybe a decade ago. There is no manufactures name on it. I bought a new Dayton arbor press stand to put the press on. The bolt holes on the stand did not fully line up with the holes on the arbor press so I modified the stand to fit the press. Overall, I am happy with the arbor press.

 

[dr_clyde]

I just finished my 15 Ton Dake Resto.

It’s complete except for re-installing the
brass tags, and I plan to make a center cap
for the hand wheel.

Looks good man, neat to see another guy with a "Percy" style press.

Now you just need some daisy wheels.