dmopar74
Well-Known Member
Looking at the hobo freight shop presses, see they have a 12t and a 20t. This will be used for basic work like front end bushings, bearings etc., will I need the 20t, is it built better etc?
Shop press size?
- Thread starter dmopar74
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I have their 12 ton press, and have been using it for years in my rebuilding of lower control arms, and other automotive type of press work.
The 12 ton unit has been more than adequate for anything that i do suspension wise.
I think that's all the tonnage that you need. 12 tons.
The 12 ton unit has been more than adequate for anything that i do suspension wise.
I think that's all the tonnage that you need. 12 tons.
You can never buy to big of a press if you have the room. I would look on line at upcoming auctions or Facebook. I bought a 1934 year old 40 ton Manley at an auction many years ago. The thing still works great and you can still get parts for it. Came with all attachments.
the 12 with be more than adequate for any of the suspension stuff and bearing work. while the new HF 12 is a little more lightweight than my 20 year old one, it'll be fine. if you plan on anything heavier work wise or have aspirations of converting it to a press brake, then get the 20.
mopar head
DoD nuisance Alien/Squatch extermination team
One thousand nine hundred thirty-four-year-old press, damn that`s old
One thousand nine hundred thirty-four-year-old press, damn that`s old
lol. That would be as old as I feel.
dmopar74
Well-Known Member
Room is a huge issue, well it wouldn't be if the wife didn't have enough holiday decorations in totes to cover 30 of wall space!
Sorry about that , The date on it is 1934.
What is nice about this style you spin the handle and it screws the spindle out to the job. Your not waiting for the jack to come down against.
Steve is looking for one with a floating head like this preferably a higher 60 ton air over hydraulics. We just missed one on Facebook for $300. If I get a chance I'll get a video of the press in action. That screw can push a bushing in without the hydraulics. You can lift the table up and down with a 1/2 inch ratchet
What is nice about this style you spin the handle and it screws the spindle out to the job. Your not waiting for the jack to come down against.
Steve is looking for one with a floating head like this preferably a higher 60 ton air over hydraulics. We just missed one on Facebook for $300. If I get a chance I'll get a video of the press in action. That screw can push a bushing in without the hydraulics. You can lift the table up and down with a 1/2 inch ratchet
mopar head
DoD nuisance Alien/Squatch extermination team
They are a sweet old press, love to have one.
I bought the HF 12 ton, used it for a few years, and replaced it with the HF 20 ton.
Technically the 12 ton is more than enough to do anything you’d need to do on one of these cars. I found though that when you really push it, there’s enough flex in the different parts to put some side load on your work, which can cause things to bind up.
The 20 ton has a heavier frame and I haven’t had any issues with it flexing or distorting when using it for the same stuff as I was using the 12 ton for.
Ultimately I was always able to get the job done with the 12 ton, but the 20 ton is just smoother and easier to use. Which has kind of been my experience with most HF stuff, you want the rating of the tool to be at least double what you actually think you need it to be.
I feel your pain there! I feel like I need to put down a salt line barrier and burn sage anywhere I try to work at to keep other's clutter out of the way...
MAN, they had their thinking caps on when they drew that out!
I really like the old school "kit level" that lives on top of the press, too!
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65TerrorCuda
Well-Known Member
I bought the 6T HF benchtop press which is so short to be mostly useless. So I bought angle steel and gave it longer legs, now it's done everything I've thrown at it.
I bought the 12 instead of the 20 because it had to fit in a spot the 20 wouldn't. It's always done the job but doesn't exactly install confidence. I just used it yesterday to press a wheel bearing out of a hub.
1WildRT
Well-Known Member
I built my own... 40 ton, floating ram, 36" wide bed, 8" throat, 12" stroke... I can destroy pretty much whatever I want.... Quickly & effortlessly...
It's kinda like compressors. Get the biggest one you can afford and have room for.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
With enough creativity, a press isn't exactly needed for these old Mopars. Sure, it makes some things easier though. I only recently broke down and picked up a 20t unit because I couldn't pass up the deal. Any you get would be better than not having one.
you dont need so many tons, in most cases the job will be done with 2-3 tons, but there is always a space problem with bigger parts
I had some truck hubs that took every bit of the 40 ton to get it out. When it let go it sounded like an explosion. Pressing thick steel straight. Or making parts, a big press comes in handy.
P50 Piranha Iron worker will be nice in the fab shop. Can't find a used one locally for a good price. New $20,000 used $10,000 and up. I have seen some Cheaper but not in very good condition.
One ting I learned when buying equipment is be patient and watch for auctions on Auction zip . com.
When they come up for sale you can get things cheap if you have a way of loading and hauling them . Many times heavy equipment don't get bidders unless its a big sale and machine flippers show up.
We got some like new equipment at low prices because we could load them and haul them. Some we kept and some we listed on facebook.
P50 Piranha Iron worker will be nice in the fab shop. Can't find a used one locally for a good price. New $20,000 used $10,000 and up. I have seen some Cheaper but not in very good condition.
One ting I learned when buying equipment is be patient and watch for auctions on Auction zip . com.
When they come up for sale you can get things cheap if you have a way of loading and hauling them . Many times heavy equipment don't get bidders unless its a big sale and machine flippers show up.
We got some like new equipment at low prices because we could load them and haul them. Some we kept and some we listed on facebook.
I'll echo what's been said: biggest you can afford. To me, a shop press is like a vise. Every shop should have one, useful for countless tasks, bigger is better, and you get what you pay for.
I've had the HF 12T and 20T, but have since graduated to a Dake 50T. Both HF units are fine, but have limitations and flaws. Like @72bluNblu stated, the frame on the 12T can flex, but I'm sure someone who's creative with a welder could beef it up and fix a lot of that.
I've had the HF 12T and 20T, but have since graduated to a Dake 50T. Both HF units are fine, but have limitations and flaws. Like @72bluNblu stated, the frame on the 12T can flex, but I'm sure someone who's creative with a welder could beef it up and fix a lot of that.
dmopar74
Well-Known Member
Well I bought the 12 ton due to it's small size and limited storage space, it worked great for doing all the front end bushings.
I have a 20 ton in my shop.... Its kinda like the pickup truck syndrome......., compressor thing
You can haul a small load in a big truck... But you cant haul a big load in a small truck. Enough said Texas Red
You can haul a small load in a big truck... But you cant haul a big load in a small truck. Enough said Texas Red
Any issues with the bottom rails flexing because they're not sitting on the floor? I like the idea, would make it easier to deal with mine. Even when it's out of the way it somehow gets in the way.
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