DavidLee
Well-Known Member
i am thinking about getting a press for the shop, I will be using it to remove bearing, removing strut arms etc. What tonnage press would be required to do this?
Floor Shop Press
- Thread starter DavidLee
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I've got a Harbour Freight 12 ton, out in the garage that's handled everything that i've used it for.
But if you have the space, and believe bigger is always better, they also have a 20 ton.
But if you have the space, and believe bigger is always better, they also have a 20 ton.
DavidLee
Well-Known Member
thanks those were the two I was looking at. I am going to have to create some space by moving my paint into an outside shelving unit.
Shermdog
Member
I recently got the 12 ton. It gets the job done, but is a little unstable. There's a coupon to get it for $100 though, so hard to complain if using infrequently.
X2 on the HF 12-ton, I bought one a few months ago. It will do everything I can ever ask. Their 20-ton is stronger/taller/heavier. The additional height of the 20-ton would be nice, but it's almost twice as much money.
Daves69
Well-Known Member
HF's 20 ton can be bought for 150 on occasions. Get on their E-mail for the coupon code. Take caution with the press plates it comes with. Heard tell of them shattering.
I have my 20 ton on a set of casters.
I have my 20 ton on a set of casters.
I have the HF 20 ton, on a bigger base with casters. I also rigged it up with the 20 ton air over hydraulic jack, and a foot pedal air valve. With the air valve, you can use both hands to do your pressing. Had to do a little modding for the air jack. Works for me.
Here's a pic of my HF 20 ton press. The foot pedal is just draped around it while not in use. You can see where I plug in the foot pedal. got the air valve from Amazon, about $20.00
The newer presses like this have cut steel plates. Where as the older ones had cast plates, that shattered.
Here's a pic of my HF 20 ton press. The foot pedal is just draped around it while not in use. You can see where I plug in the foot pedal. got the air valve from Amazon, about $20.00
The newer presses like this have cut steel plates. Where as the older ones had cast plates, that shattered.
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If you get the HF 20 ton, you can upgrade it with neat stuff from SWAG Press Brake Kits
Note that you may want to consider upgrading the arbor plates first (and they cost about as much as the press does when it's on sale)
Note that you may want to consider upgrading the arbor plates first (and they cost about as much as the press does when it's on sale)
DavidLee
Well-Known Member
i am going to make the frame more solid and move up from there
I have both the 12 and 20 ton harbor freight presses. I bought the 20 ton to replace the 12 ton. The 12 ton works pretty well for most stuff, but the frame of the press itself is a little flexible so you lose some effectiveness. I had parts I was pressing bind up a couple times, seemed like things got a little out of square when the press was starting to work hard. So I bought the 20 ton. The frame is much more stout, and the whole press is more stable. And I’ve never had a part bind up in it. Inspires a lot more confidence than the 12 ton.
So, my recommendation would be to buy the 20 ton press if you have the money and the space. The 12 ton will work for most stuff ok, but the 20 ton is a better tool.
The harbor freight ratings seem a little light for the performance I expect anyway, I think that goes for all their rated stuff -engine stands, jacks, presses, jack stands etc. I mean, I don’t think the 12 ton press will explode or anything if you have to press 12 tons with it, but the whole thing will be flexing and straining when it does. It’ll do it, but it won’t look good and it’ll probably raise your blood pressure a bit. So I usually buy the tool rated close to twice as high as I think I’ll actually need if I’m buying harbor freight. Need a 1/2 ton engine stand, buy the 1 ton. Need a 3 ton jack stand, buy the 6 ton. Need a 12 ton press, buy the 20. You get the idea. The lower rated stuff there can be a little flimsy.
So, my recommendation would be to buy the 20 ton press if you have the money and the space. The 12 ton will work for most stuff ok, but the 20 ton is a better tool.
The harbor freight ratings seem a little light for the performance I expect anyway, I think that goes for all their rated stuff -engine stands, jacks, presses, jack stands etc. I mean, I don’t think the 12 ton press will explode or anything if you have to press 12 tons with it, but the whole thing will be flexing and straining when it does. It’ll do it, but it won’t look good and it’ll probably raise your blood pressure a bit. So I usually buy the tool rated close to twice as high as I think I’ll actually need if I’m buying harbor freight. Need a 1/2 ton engine stand, buy the 1 ton. Need a 3 ton jack stand, buy the 6 ton. Need a 12 ton press, buy the 20. You get the idea. The lower rated stuff there can be a little flimsy.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
The new 12ton is not as big as the old 12ton. Doesn't look as strong, either...
My 12 ton is one of the old orange ones, I probably bought it at least 7 or 8 years ago. If the new ones are flimsier, I would definitely get the 20. The 20 ton I have I bought early this year or maybe late last year, so it should be the most recent style.
DavidLee
Well-Known Member
I am going with the 20T, i bought some gift cards from card cash at 75% of the actual amount of the amount, Plus the 20% coupon should make it an inexpensive purchase
DavidLee
Well-Known Member
i would use that is a nyc minute
Its a sweetheart of a press,,not many tools last 96 years and still work like new,,,except maybe an anvil. But that hf 20 ton is still tempting me everytime i stroll thru. Maybe i should stop strolling thru,,,,,,,
I have the 12 ton the only thing I do not like about it is that it will not remove axel bearings, not enough height to the press bar. Also weld the frame together or it is sloppy.
Yote
Well-Known Member
OR---- you could go to a major auto parts supplier that didn't have any on the floor to look at and just order a 20 ton for three times the money. All the time thinking your getting a quality piece of equipment. When you get it to your shop you feel like you should have gone to HF and then to the liquor store for a years supply and had change left. Mine looks just like HFs with a different name decal. DANG
Yote
Yote
tiltsix
Well-Known Member
I have the H F 12 ton and it does what I need it to,I do like the idea of welding it together tho.......................................................jeff
You will not regret it at all.
I got the AC Delco 20 ton through work. It is much heavier than the HF 20 ton. I looked at the HF press, then I ordered in the AC Delco to compare. I bought it. Now it's still made in China, like all the rest, but it is much stouter than the HF piece. More expensive, too.
Jim Lusk
Well-Known Member
Mine has plenty of height, but the table isn't wide enough for the axle flange. One of these days I will make a new table that will fit them.
I've used my 12 ton to install axle bearings. It takes some maneuvering to get the axle in there, but it does work. I don't use a press to remove them, I just cut the collars with a cut off wheel down to the last 1/16" and use a chisel to split them. The bearing cages get cut doing that too, so the bearings slide off after that. The 20 ton is taller and has a wider work area, so with a bearing splitter you might be able to press them off too in that one.
Yup, you absolutely have to be careful going to other suppliers thinking you're going to get a better/different product by spending more money. I have seen more than a few examples of major name suppliers were selling the same stuff as HF, just powdercoated a different color with a different label on it (Craftsman!!!). That's obviously not always the case, but it's something you should check before you spend more money on a name brand tool. I much prefer my tools not to come from China, but, I'm also not going to pay more for the same thing just because it has a name brand label on it.
I could have mounted the one I had to the deck of an aircraft carrier, wouldn’t have helped. Not gonna stop the work deck from bowing like the one I had would do under load.
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