Thread: How big a press should I buy ?

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.

I'm thinking I'll get one of these

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

Originally Posted by rovercare

I'm thinking I'll get one of these

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

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

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

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

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

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


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.




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



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.






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.



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.



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




Then you can do things like this



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

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