Which Shop Press to buy?

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1973Guppie

1973Guppie

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looking for opinions on which type of shop press to purchase, a bench style or a larger rack mounted style? I think it would be handy to be able to press on/off lug studs, etc. What are the limitations with the bench mounted press like below? vs. the larger press? I am guessing that pressing longer items will be impossible with the bench mounted press.
don't have a bunch of room so am looking at these 2 bench style, any opinions? I like the red one better but it is 2x more, will the a frame one work for most applications? I like the idea that I can mount it to my bench, it is the only place I have room now in my small 2 car shop. I looked around last night and I may be able to make room for the larger press but wanted to see if it was really even necessary and if I could get most jobs done with the smaller bench mounted press, the A frame unit is cheap too.

Noah

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1666


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44811


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=33497
 
Really depends on what you want to do. Ram tonnage is a lot like horse power, you will always find someway to use it all!

I would go with the 12 ton floor mount. It simply gives you more options. I have a 30 ton floor mount and have used it to straighten out a rear frame cross member, a section of trailer frame, and if course all the other things you do with them. Get the bearing clamp tool they sell and a set of different size drive pins. Those will enable you to push out various size shafts & such.

Northern Tool has a great selection of shop presses and accessories. They even have a set of dies you can get for making parts like brackets & things.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_21896_21896

The most use it gets though is to crush aluminum cans. No really! :-)
 
A friend had that 12 ton press. It's too flimsy but was better after welding the uprights to the cross pieces. Biggest trouble was that long skinny ram. It kept bending so he finally cut it down and drilled more holes so The table could be brought up high enough.

It does depend on what you are going to do, but a bench mounted press would have limitations that would be hard to live with, IMO.
 
I totally bent the adjustable platform on that exact 12 Ton press trying to remove the control arm bushings on my 80. But if you can weld, it is easy enough to build a stronger platform.
 
I purchased a 20 ton press from Harbor Freight. It has done everything so with no problem. The chinese jack is getting a little flakey. I knew when I bought it the jack was the worst part so I purchased a 20 ton jack at Steve's Wholesale tools in Tulsa for when it goes out.

I bought it on sale a few years ago for $150. I was working on total front end rebuilt on a couple of Chavelles when I bought it. It paid for itself quick. I find that I use it alot more than I thought I would.
 
thanks for all the replies, harbor freight has one for $180 and I have a 15% off coupon so I may get that, it is a 20 ton. So, for other than the usual pressing in of bearings, press in/out lug studs, etc, what else do you guys use the press for, just trying to see what else it will help with in the future if I decide to get one, appreciate it. Sh($, now I gotta move some stuff around...again.

Noah
 
press brake for sheet metal..
 
Build one, by a cylinder and a power unit and weld up a frame. the jack thing seems like it would kind of suck, but then so does buying a electric power unit I guess.
 
I used mine on a frame bushings on Chevelles, took apart and put back together an SM420 tranny, same with a 20 HP Onan lawnmower engine, u-joints, etc. If you do mechanical work - you will find all kinds of uses for it.

The 80's guys do the castor correction bushings with it.

I got hooked years ago while in Texas and the carrier bearing went out on my 78 Chevy van. Me and a buddy I was staying with - took it off, took it to the auto parts shop, and asked if they could swap the bearings. The guy looked at me and said - there is the press - go for it.....
 
FoYoChe said:
Build one, by a cylinder and a power unit and weld up a frame. the jack thing seems like it would kind of suck, but then so does buying a electric power unit I guess.
Click to expand...

Screw that! Habor freight cost $99! After all that you are well into $$ worth of labor! I got a 12 ton from harbor freight on sale for $109. WAY more than I need but the price was right. Those freaks tried to sell me the extended warantee. Shoot - the only thing that can go is the jack and I can get one of those for about $20:flipoff2:
I originally had a 9 ton for about $80 years ago and it was still all I needed but I could not get one again. The best part about the florr model is the long travel. DOn't screw around with the bench stuff. YOu can tuck the floor model into a corner.
 
I have a 12 ton and would prefer a 20 ton, they are handy tools. For bending metal I make adaptors as needed. This one is a piece of scrap round stock tacked a piece of tube, it was used to bend 3/8" x 1.5" strap for my arms, worked great.

arms_5.jpg


arms_6.jpg
 
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