Those with a HF 20 ton shop press

[90zcar]

I am getting a harbor freight 20 ton shop press either tomorro or Wednesday when my local store gets more in.
The only thing I noticed about the store model is the bottom legs of the press seem too flimsy and make the press "wobbly" maybe it was just the display not being tightened down everywhere enough.

Anyway. Those who have this press is yours wobbly and have you beefed up the bottom legs at all?


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[johndeereman]

Yes i have one and the bottom (feet) angle are wobbly i just switched out to two pieces of heavier angle no pics but if i recall 2x2x1/4 probably 3' long. I also did some other mod's

 

[90zcar]

Do you mind posting some pics.. I was thinking of using some Chanel iron instead of the little angle that comes w it


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[mopar_man]

Mine wobbles a little but I think it might be from a dip in my garage floor. For how little I use it doesn't bother me tho.


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[Vantastic]

I have the old orange one. While not the best quality I've used it for five years unmodified and with cast arbor plates.

Do the new ones have adjustable feet? I don't think mine does.

 

[Greeny]

I have one of the newer grey ones. No wobble, and the feet are plenty strong. Mine did not include any feet, but there are holes provided which would be easy to use adjustable feet or casters in.

 

[Hemi49]

I am getting a harbor freight 20 ton shop press either tomorro or Wednesday when my local store gets more in.
The only thing I noticed about the store model is the bottom legs of the press seem too flimsy and make the press "wobbly" maybe it was just the display not being tightened down everywhere enough.

Anyway. Those who have this press is yours wobbly and have you beefed up the bottom legs at all?


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It is supposed to be anchored to the floor.....Just get everything leveled up and shimmed before tightening it to the floor....
Hemi

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I got mine squared up and welded it together. Just a few stitches in each direction.

 

[JJThrasher]

I have one and have never had an issue. Seems pretty solid.

 

[owenst7]

I have an orange one with the original SWAG plates that weigh about 40 lbs each, along with their press brake. The legs aren't heavy duty by any means, but they aren't wobbly. Costco and harbor freight constantly set up their displays so half assed that it makes the product look like its falling apart in the store. Its like the employees went to marketing school run by the competition or something.

 

[90zcar]

That's what I'm thinking. They just throw their displays together with 2 adjustable wrenches til it snugs up a little and move on


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[Wideopentuning]

I welded a piece of 1.5" square tube between the legs on mine. That helped a lot with stiffness.

 

[owenst7]

I welded a piece of 1.5" square tube between the legs on mine. That helped a lot with stiffness.

I thought about that since I've bent that piece on mine doing akward presses for semi float wheel bearings. I think if I ever have to do one again, I'm going to fabricate a removable cross member there that bolts on place and has an open center.

Probably never happen though since I'm about to swap a full float in my half ton.

 

[VoodooCLD]

I got mine all bolted together and then loosened the bolts just a tad while standing on the legs. There is a little play in the bolt holes that allows you straighten everything up a bit. Mine felt very solid after doing that.

 

[bwringer]

I got mine all bolted together and then loosened the bolts just a tad while standing on the legs. There is a little play in the bolt holes that allows you straighten everything up a bit. Mine felt very solid after doing that.

Same here.

They're not inherently wobbly or anything. No floor is truly level, so there's a bit of play you can use to make sure yours is rock-solid before tightening the bolts correctly. As you surmised, the ones on display in the store are not bolted together solidly, and are often missing parts or bolts.

 

[jeffer 35]

Before you buy your HF 20 ton go to a magazine rack and get a mag. with a HF.coupon and you can get it for $154.00

 

[ScottsGT]

I had to set mine up on cement blocks since I was bending over to use it. Now it's at a good working height. Of course it's just a rack in my garage to put **** on since it rarely gets used. Kind of like owning a treadmill for me. But hey, it was free.

 

[abachman]

Put a set a casters under it so you can move it around as needed. The weight isn't that great so you don't need to go overboard on on heavy duty casters.

 

[marinusdees]

I got tired of lifting and lowering the table and cobbled a hand winch with (light) steel cables on either end so I can raise and lower the table with a crank. I have no idea how to post pictures on this forum, but use your imagination and a counterweight and design your own. Then post pictures. I also got tired of jacking the jack handle to reach the work piece and bought a HF air hydraulic jack and mounted the hand throttle on a piece of wood so I can raise and lower the ram with a foot control leaving both hands free. Works better for me, but someone may have better ideas or objections. Jus' sayin'.

 

[Bobf]

My newer style gray didn't wobble while standing but since it takes up space and I don't use it every day I bought one of the caster kits for their trailers and put them in the already there holes. I did have to redo the cross piece in the top above the jack because it was welded in crooked.

 

[90zcar]

Went n picked it up today on my way to work. I'll unload it and u package it tomorro morning n hopefully put it together.


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[90zcar]

Been thinking tonight whether to put on leveling feet or put casters on it. I don't think I will really be moving it yet it would be nice.
But with feet I could get it dead solid stable


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[BigNuge]

I've had that press on my mental list for a while....definitely interested in how it works/holds up for you!


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[90zcar]

So some slight bad news.....I took the press out of my car this morning and lugged it in the garage only to open the box and find this one has the cross beam welded across the top
I called the store and spoke to the manager and he told me the number of the one which "bolts" he said he should be getting more of the other style tomorro. He said he gets some of both so it's hit or miss which style he gets.
It ***** lugging this thing and putting it back in my trunk. Oh well....
I also noticed there is no plate for the jack to sit on aswell



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[goodysgotacuda]

Did they add a jack base plate to the updated version?

What's wrong with the welded beam?


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[Finky198]

I took some steel we had laying around the shop in Boxed the legs to fit milk crates it works pretty nicely. I might add a storage rack, and finally some wheels just to make it a little easier to move around. I think the harbor freight 20 ton press is a good basic canvas for most guys to build from.

 

[90zcar]

I personally think the bolted unit is stronger and less prone to failure. HF welds have never been pretty or look to thorough
The grey one in the store is bolted and also has a plate that the jack sits on. This one the jack literally just sits on the lower cross section


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[goodysgotacuda]

I personally think the bolted unit is stronger and less prone to failure. HF welds have never been pretty or look to thorough
The grey one in the store is bolted and also has a plate that the jack sits on. This one the jack literally just sits on the lower cross section


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Gotcha. Mine is an older orange one, no real issues here.


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[Finky198]

I personally think the bolted unit is stronger and less prone to failure. HF welds have never been pretty or look to thorough
The grey one in the store is bolted and also has a plate that the jack sits on. This one the jack literally just sits on the lower cross section


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It seems pretty strong but I don't know... I wanted to have better alignment, so we took it a step further bolted it all down torqued it. Then We welded the top frame to the vertical supports The welds keep it nice and square and the bolts keep it from breaking loose and exploding hopefully

So far no complaints... I do like the idea for the winch on the on the carriage section to raise and lower would def make my back happier.

 

[OkRider]

Here's mine. I bolted it to a piece of laser cut 3/8 plate and casters with 5/16 grade 5 bolts. Much more stable and less wobble. Plus I can move it wherever I need it easily. Had to add the air over hydronic press while I was at it. Wish I could figure out how to post a pic bigger than thumbnail size. Grrrr.

 

[BD1]

Mine is the old orange model. I added a and valve to the jack release.

 

[BD1]

A shelf too. I could not add multiple pics.

 

[OCJohn]

I called the store and spoke to the manager and he told me the number of the one which "bolts"...

Please post that product number if you still have it. Thanks.

 

[owenst7]

Mine is the old orange model. I added a and valve to the jack release.

What did you use for the release? I've tried to order a couple knobs from McMaster and never have been able to find one that fits well without a ton of work.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

Mine is the old orange model. I added a and valve to the jack release.

I did as well.

I just had a 1/2"x2" plate with a hole drilled into it. Tacked it to the screw head, been fine ever since.


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[454ragtop]

Some pics of my table winch and jack release knob here http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278853&highlight=winch

 

[OkRider]

Please post that product number if you still have it. Thanks.

Here's a pic of the number on mine. No idea why the pic came out sideways.

 

[OkRider]

.....

 

[90zcar]

Please post that product number if you still have it. Thanks.

I will later tonight. I have it wrote down on my dry erase board in the garage.
I just find it odd that the new version of the orange one they decided to paint it grey and bolt it instead of welding it. Two areas of improvement.....yet with mine they seemed to take a step back. Just wish I woulda opened it at the store before heaving it into my trunk. Oh well come tomorrow if they get the other style in I will definitely open it in the store.


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[sz0k30]

Since #60603 is the bolted press, the box will be much narrower, all the pieces are individual so no wide assembly. If you do some searching in this forum, you will find many posts about the HF press, which model # is which and a lot of modifications including shelves and casters.