shop press

[infantry grunt]

anyone ever built your own shop press?i want to,but would like some useful tips or info.i will be using 4'' angle 1/8 thick,and a bottle jack,but not sure how big.i also have round steel floor supports from the ceiling to the floor about 6'' diameter,id like to weld the press to it.any ideas about whats good and what isnt?

 

[AngryLepercon]

Can't remember if he made one but Google Dave Gingery (sp). He passed away but he made an entire machine shop, tools, and other odd and end stuff from scrap material. I have a set of his books at the house. Very very cool build your own and do it yourself information.

 

[hopster]

choose your jack wisely some bottle jacks dont like working upside down. also carfully design your supports they will see forces equal to what your jack will push.

 

[faststang90]

the press i have the jack is not upside down. u could make it like that so no problems.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html

 

[Endoverend47]

we call it ursula lol
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...76115132.89472.158862430820332&type=3&theater

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

we call it ursula lol
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...76115132.89472.158862430820332&type=3&theater

You have the jacks teed together?

Richard

 

[Endoverend47]

You have the jacks teed together?

Richard

yes and there is a lever on the other side that starts and stops it

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

yes and there is a lever on the other side that starts and stops it

Good job, I like it.

Richard

 

[4.0B2]

for the price of the HF one... minus 20%... and I ain't broke it yet... I'll just be lazy and use my store bought press lol

 

[shane96ranger]

We've had a 12 ton HF press (Central Hydraulics) at work for about 15 years now and it's still going strong. It probably only gets used 4 or 5 times a week, but still a fair amount. My buddy also uses the 20 ton version in his trans shop and never had any issues. They are really good presses.

I also really like the old Central Hydraulics floor jacks they carried (I think they switched over to Pittsburgh brand jacks now).


EDIT: I'm pretty sure Gwaii has made his own shop press before. I know he made one for bending sheet metal. Dude is a genius when it comes to fabricating tools.

 

[straycat]

choose your jack wisely some bottle jacks dont like working upside down. also carfully design your supports they will see forces equal to what your jack will push.

Yes, just be careful. I thought about doing making my own as well, but after a buddy of mine let me use his one weekend I bought the same one he did. I use it about 3- times a month for myself or it is great when a buddy or 2 show up with coffee and snacks and need a press...lol. I bought a Generic 12 Ton H Frame Hydraulic Shop Press model # 20400. It was $124 on Amazon last October. It works great!!!

 

[infantry grunt]

thanks,all,i think i will just go buy one,harbor freight or amazon,maybe

 

[shane96ranger]

thanks,all,i think i will just go buy one,harbor freight or amazon,maybe

If you don't mind buying used, I see them from time to time in our local classifieds. Just an idea.

EDIT: Here's the 12 ton for 90 bucks locally:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=20365640&cat=&lpid=2&search=shop press

 

[infantry grunt]

i might would consider that,i will check craigslist.question though,if i found one cheap that need the bottle jack rebuilt,are they easy to work on?

 

[martin]

New bottle jacks are not that expensive, it's not worth the hassle of trying to rebuild a worn out or broken one.