How do you use your shop press?

[HCJtractor]

Just getting into metal fabrication and wondered what uses work well on a press. ( In tems of bending material, punching holes, etc.) How useful are they, how big does it need to be, and what thickness metal can you bend? What accessories are required? I have seen them but never seen one in operation and would like to learn more about their use. Pictures of how you have used them would be even nicer! Thanks

 

[chad22]

The press that my dad bought has come in handy.

I used it to bend the metal for my backhoe bucket, I use it like a vise. I was once breaking an old brass valve off a galvanized pipe and used the press to hold it in place so I could break the pipe loose. It worked fantastic.

I also used the press to hold some metal in place while I cut it.

Oh and I once used it as a log splitter until I started bending it and had to stop. :laughing:

Chad

 

[BHD]

I have a twenty ton unit (hydraulic jack),

and have made some dies, and have bent a lot of items, some curves with the die made out of a heavy pipe one a 2" and one a 6" some is heavy 1/2 thick but only a few inches wide and on light things up to the width of the frame, up to 16 gage, some 10 gage, some is making the correct die,

I have a break die that I can do a 90 degree reasonably sharp bend, (about 1/8 on 16 gage.

It is very slow, and at times difficult to get things to bend where you want them to bend, (especially in curves), but it make a very professional look to some projects,

 

[Pete6114]

I have a 20 ton as well. I do not use mine that much but when i do, i am wishing i had foot operated air assist Pumping that handle gets old real quick and keeps both hands free.

 

[Wheatland KB]

i am wishing i had foot operated

Great tip. I hadn't thought of that but that is next on the list.

To the OP My FIL has had great success straigtening bumbers on his 32 ton. People come to his place from miles around to get their bent bumpers back in shape.

 

[slowzuki]

I miss the 50 ton we had at the shop. I just bought a little 12 ton for home but its not really big enough to do anything. I've got a bunch of wide flange and an air over hydro pump I'd like to make a larger one with but I'd need to rent a mag drill.

 

[HCJtractor]

I miss the 50 ton we had at the shop. I just bought a little 12 ton for home but its not really big enough to do anything. I've got a bunch of wide flange and an air over hydro pump I'd like to make a larger one with but I'd need to rent a mag drill.

The reason I asked is that i found a used 30 ton for sale locally for a pretty good price and being a tool junkie, I am going to buy it. I hope it is big enough to bend some 3/16 to 3/8. I guess I will have to buy one of those bendy devices from Northern that go with the press.

As far as those mag drills, those look pretty handy also. I was looking at those yesterday (along with a metal blade chop saw) too many tools, not enough money!!

 

[dfkrug]

I don't know what the 30T deal is, but I bought the 20T HF for under
$200 years ago. I straighten bent hyd rods, press bearings in and out,
bend thick brackets (5/8") and other parts for steel fab. Etc, etc. I
have a home-made brake for it, too.

A tool like this is essential for most home workshops.

That said, sometimes I wish it had air-assist, but other times, I need the
fine control using the lever. I have a 20T air-assist jack that I use
separately, and you do not have the same feel or control using it in
air mode.

If I did it over, I would buy the HF 35T or 50T unit for the bigger work
platform, and the crank-control for raising the platform. Air control would
be good, as long as I have manual override. I have maxed out my 20T,
but not too often.

 

[Soundguy]

only press I have is a 2 ton arbor press.. but it's been great for seating seals and bearings in small assemblies.. or pins into recesses in small assemblies.. etc.

soundguy

 

[wvpolekat]

In theory, couldn't you hook your press to your tractor remotes?

 

[scoops]

I also have the hf 20 ton. I think its on sale right now for about $169

There is a company that sells a brake press die for about $150, so for about $300 you have something that can bend 3/8" they also have a hd die than can bend up to 1/2" I think, but you are really pressing the limits of the hf.
company is called swag offroad.

 

[slowzuki]

BIL used to have 20 ton at his work, I maxed it out all the time. No where near enough juice for tractor sized stuff!

 

[lostcause]

if you're the type that builds or fixes things regularly, then an ironworker would be one of the handiest pieces of machinery around. problem is, unless you use one every day, it's not really a cost effective tool. sure there are some old used ones out there for cheap money, but they are generally massive, and myself, i don't have the floor space to donate to one. not to mention, the good deals i see are usually 2000 miles away or more, so even going to look at it is not practical, let alone bringing it home. there are nice small ones geared toward home shop size operations, but they are all newer and will generally run you several thousand dollars with tooling.

the good thing here is that an ironworker is really not much more than a glorified shop press. you can use most any shop press and build/buy dies that will make it punch, bend, and shear metal like an ironworker. the limit is the capacity of the hydraulics. you can sometimes find used ironworker tooling on places like ebay for cheap prices, and rework if to fit into your shop press.

 

[Diamondpilot]

When I built my log splitter I built it to use as a shop press also via a pin on adapter. It has worked well for me. Just back the tractor up close, hook up the remotes, and off to work.

To be honest I have had it for 5 years and only used it 2-3 times but it was a life saver each of them.

Chris

 

[BHD]

when using a press for pressing bearings and shafts out and other things like that,
when you start getting some pressure on things, make sure your in a safe area, and have eye protection, things can explode and if some thing gives it can shoot things with a lot of force, when your pushing 40,000 or 60,000 or more pounds on things, there is a some built up energy and if things go, it can be hazardous to your health,

use some common sense and your brain,

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Mine's just a 12 ton but I get good use out of it. I did bend some 1x1 HRS with it for my toothbar.

 

[Baby Grand]

In theory, couldn't you hook your press to your tractor remotes?

Another attachment!

when using a press for pressing bearings and shafts out and other things like that,
when you start getting some pressure on things, make sure your in a safe area, and have eye protection, things can explode and if some thing gives it can shoot things with a lot of force, when your pushing 40,000 or 60,000 or more pounds on things, there is a some built up energy and if things go, it can be hazardous to your health,

use some common sense and your brain,

Yes, I have had a few occaisions when using my HF20T when I wished I had built some sort of containment cage. I ususally stand right behind the vertical I-beam and hope the bank shot doesn't get me.

-Jim

 

[bobodu]

Don't have a press at present but I have this big vise I made!! I can beak down Ram 4x4 tires in it.
Need to get a modern picture of it someday...
Yes...that is a FIVE gallon bucket.

 

[suncoast]

I used to think a vise or concrete floor and a sledge hammer was good enough. But I truly knew it wasn't. Take a look at Larry G.'s projects. I knew I had to get one then if I wanted any decent results. This is a 35 ton air over and it will do more than anything I have ever needed.
A piece of "C" channel with flat stock welded on the end makes a great female die portion. Larry made an anvil for me that fits over the round press shaft. I have bent 1/2" x 4" flat with no problem. This press gets used constanly.
I am so glad to be out of the stone hammer age. Gene

 

[HCJtractor]

Nice looking piece of equipment!!! Do you have a press brake? I am thinking about getting one from Northern (also looked at the Swag) Don't you have to use one to bend flat stock?