How big a press should I buy ?

[Zute]

I've decided I need a press, but how big do I need to go ?
I will be using it to do suspention bushes and axles out of wheel hubs on my D2. As well as wheel bearings on Zooks and other such things.
Im thinging 20ton bottle type will do. But is there any thing else I should be thinking of ? eg min size/dementions.

[wouldbeowner]

Just got a local mechanic to try pressing bushed out of panhard rod - got up to 20tonne before he stopped. He was worried that some metal on the press would bend.
Back to the drawing board as far as the bushed are concerned.

[clubagreenie]

We made one out of 3/4 plate and 200x150 c section with a 50ton hyd cylinder and never couldn't move anything, plus never bent the press.

Just gave it away too...

[Zute]

Sometimes your better off just drilling or cutting up old bushes to get them out. Its getting the new one in undamaged that Im thinking about.
Couple of weeks ago spent a good two hours banging the retaining collor onto a Zook axle. A press would have made it a lot quicker.
Of course, I may get some more friends as well.

[ade]

I bought a 20tonne press from a super cheap type of shop and it did the bushes on my 95 disco just fine

[Psimpson7]

I have a 20ton one aswell. Came from Tradetools.

Has been used loads and done everything I have needed it to.

[33chinacars]

If you go for a 20t press make sure its a heavy duty one / not light weight. Have used mine heeps and still bent small parts but not the main frame YET.

20t should do all you want tho. If not go to a specialist

Gary

[blackbuttdisco]

My press is 15 years old, is 10 ton and it has done all I wanted to do. If you look at them, most are only a bottle jack.

[Slunnie]

20t air over from HAFCO. Its been good but did bend the plate table things.

[steveG]

My 12T cheapie from Supercheap has had enough power to do everything I've needed it to do, but the small frame size has been a limitation when trying to press bearings into gearbox housings (due to width of housing not fitting in frame) and onto gearbox shafts (shaft too long). It also struggled with my 4bd1 water pump due to the small gap between the cross members, but I managed to work out a way round that.
Its a bench mount type model, and if I had my time again I'd buy a physically larger floor mount one - but for the $80 it cost its well and truly paid for itself.

If you've got a specific job in mind that you know you will be using it for, try and make sure you can get that item in whichever model press you are looking at.

On a slightly different note, I've found one of the most useful tools to use with the press is a decent bearing separator. Once its fitted in place under a bearing/gear you can just get on with pressing out the shaft rather than trying to keep 2 press plates in tight against a shaft while you pump the press.

Steve

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

20t air over from HAFCO. Its been good but did bend the plate table things.
The HAFCO ones are Asian made, but in the better quality end of Asian products.
Hare & Forbes is one of the main distibuters

[stealth]

I have been thinking of building one for a while so I can press all those things mentioned already but also for using it for making things to do with vehicle restoration etc. I was looking at a 50 ton jack on ebay for just over $100 or so and then making up a heavy steel frame. Does anyone have any photos, plans they would like to share. I don't mind a bit of overkill I just want it to do whatever I want in the end. Size not a problem, I will make one that can live outside and doesn't need to be moved.

[rovercare]

I'm thinking I'll get one of these

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products'stockCode=P129#

[steveG]

I'm thinking I'll get one of these

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Products'stockCode=P129#

You bugger - I've just spent the last half an hour drooling over tool porn thanks to that :p

The small lathe in the specials section with faulty motor would be a good buy for someone looking for a cheap way to make round stuff....

Steve

[clubagreenie]

H & F is 10 min away from home. Very bad, very very bad...

[roverrescue]

Now thats a press Matt,
I am sure you need to set up a northern based workshop ;)
Just for that Cape visit you may one day accomplish...

S

[slug_burner]

So you want to see how others have built a press

I took the contents of this post from a thread on another forum (Australian 4WD Action)

Australian 4WD Action | Forum - Login (http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=36370)


We're about 3/4 done building this press. I should have some photo's soon. I'm not kidding, it'll weigh about a tonne!! And push 100 tonne.


OK. Got some photo's of this hydraulic press Paul and I are building. Paul has been doing most of the work on it. I've been acquiring the parts and designing much of it.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/659.jpg

This header beam weighs 175kg alone! Made from 380 PFC.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/660.jpg

Columns are 200 UC 46 (46kg/m). So they're about 120kg each.
Two dozen 24mm high-tensile bolts to connect them together. Super strong.
Paul will keep working on this on the weekends.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/661.jpg


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/662.jpg

To give you some idea of the size, it's 6' to the underside of the header beam and just over 4' between the columns.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/663.jpg

Let me introduce my business partner, Paul.
Paul has put in quite a few hours on this press, even with a full time job elsewhere. Making quite a number of intricate parts and so on to make it all work. We have both had design input on this. The result is that this press has a number of features that you probably won't find elsewhere. Although it weighs about a tonne, it can be easily moved with a pallet trolley or forklift. It has a two speed motor driving two pumps that are both two stage. One pump will do 40 litres/min to 650psi then 11 litres/min to 3000psi. Then the high pressure pump will do up to 10,000psi. Although we will only set it to 8,000psi to get it right on 100 tonnes. It could do 125 tonne, but it doesn't leave enough safety margin for the cylinder strength.

Some of the design has been due to the materials available. Not that that has affected it's performance or quality. It has cost us about $2,500 in parts and materials, very cheap. Any decent commercially available 100t press would cost at least $12,000. Not bad then!;)

But for us, it is a good achievement. Designed and built only by us. A great indication of the level of work we can do. Are we proud of it? Sure are!:waycool:


The table is made from two bits of 460UB, and weighs about 250kgs alone. Paul did the calculations, it would only deflect less than 0.6mm with 100 tonne force against it. Yeah, overkill.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/664.jpg

Meanwhile, Paul has made a blade and V block for bending steel plate. The blade we had made a while ago.


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/665.jpg

Then you can do things like this

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/666.jpg

10mm plate, 400mm wide.....

[33chinacars]

Hmmm Thats what I Call a F~##^*g Big Press:wasntme::angel:

[Homestar]

That's a great bit of kit, but if you want big, check out this puppy... Yeah, I know it's a bit off topic, but a great piece of engineering...

http://files.asme.org/ASMEORG/Communities/History/Landmarks/5488.pdf