Red Torin 20 ton shop press mod

[ericher69]

Our local TSC had a 20ton shop press on sale 4 months ago.

Regular price $449+tax for $249+tax.

I finally received it yesterday after calling the manager last week to see where my press was.

Anyway I assembled it yesterday and will be modifying it to accept a Mastercraft Air/hydraulic 20 ton bottle jack.

Here are some pics.

 

[footer200]

Let us know how that works for you. I saw that jack on sale last week and was thinking of doing the same thing. At least Canadian Tire will take things back very easily.

 

[ericher69]

Let us know how that works for you. I saw that jack on sale last week and was thinking of doing the same thing. At least Canadian Tire will take things back very easily.

Will do! It depends on your stores policy (all independently owned); my local store is quite difficult at times. I was thinking of welding angle iron to the plate where the jack sits to sort of keep it in place. It just sits there; is that common?

 

[Xfaxman]

------------ I was thinking of welding angle iron to the plate where the jack sits to sort of keep it in place. It just sits there; is that common?

Yep, my 20 year old Carolina has a ridge around the top, but nothing at the bottom. Makes it easy to remove the jack for use on the floor.

 

[ericher69]

I was thinking of tracing out the jacks bottom plate on a 1/4" piece of plate and cutting it out.

Adding a small flat stock piece all around and welding (like a tray for the jack)

Putting tabs on the bottom of this tray to keep the jack/tray in place relative to the u channel it sits on.

Like the wheels. Was also going to make a buggy to raise up the press to a better height.

I'm 6'5"" and find it low.

 

[footer200]

Yes the top only on mine is boxed in. A couple of tabs welded around the bottom could never hurt for what it would take.

 

[Xfaxman]

I was thinking of tracing out the jacks bottom plate on a 1/4" piece of plate and cutting it out.

Adding a small flat stock piece all around and welding (like a tray for the jack)

Putting tabs on the bottom of this tray to keep the jack/tray in place relative to the u channel it sits on.

Like the wheels. Was also going to make a buggy to raise up the press to a better height.

I'm 6'5"" and find it low.

I used 3, 2x12's, with 6" casters. The best thing about it is now when I drop a heavy piece of metal, it lands on the wood, instead of chipping out a chunk of the floor.

 

[ericher69]

Well I managed to cut my 3/16 plate with an angle grinder and super thin cutting wheel (who needs a plasma cutter)

Bent a flat stock pieces of 1/8x 1/2" around to create a border so the air/hydraulic jack doesn't fall out when the press is moved.

Only tacked into place but will burn in tomorrow and make bottom U Channel to jack plate indexing tabs then prime and paint.

 

[Xfaxman]

looks good :thumbsup:

 

[Jasonc87]

What you've done so far looks good. I thought you were going to get a different jack though? Why go through making the base for this one if your getting a diff one? Or that thought has passed?

 

[ericher69]

What you've done so far looks good. I thought you were going to get a different jack though? Why go through making the base for this one if your getting a diff one? Or that thought has passed?

Lol Sorry I didn't post the original jack; probably should have. I will post the original manual jack with the new air/hydraulic jack. Will also post progress pics tonight Sorry for any confusion I may have caused

 

[Xfaxman]

Didn't confuse me, I saw the new jack in the first pictures!

 

[Jasonc87]

haha my bad.. I saw the "manual" handle receiver in one of the zoomed in pics.. Didn't realize there was more! And also I guess didn't realize that air over hydraulic still has manual use if air isn't there...

 

[ericher69]

Well got the plate done and primed.

Gotta admit I should not have welded the inside edge (I knew this and did it anyway) as the jack did not sit on the plate as the weld caused interference.

Nothing a little grinding couldn't fix...

Will paint black tomorrow after the primer cures.

Will post pics of the completed product.

 

[ericher69]

Here is the finished jack/u-channel plate.

My next step is to make some type of platform to raise the press up 8-12" and have it mobile on casters.

Wood or steel for this platform?

 

[Jasonc87]

Either will work beautifully. Any material in stock? I always tend to lean that way... Someone made a good point earlier though, that the wood deck is a much better dampener if it comes to an "oopsy"...

 

[ericher69]

Either will work beautifully. Any material in stock? I always tend to lean that way... Someone made a good point earlier though, that the wood deck is a much better dampener if it comes to an "oopsy"...

Have some angle and 1-1/2" square tubing that I can use so I may use a combo of steel frame and plywood deck.

 

[Oliver1655]

Nice work. On my home made press I just cut off a 3/8" ring of pipe the top of the screw fit into & tacked it in place. I slide the jack under it, a few twists & it is secured in place. I love may air over hydraulic jack! Just wish I had a 30 or 50 ton instead of the 20 ton.

 

[ericher69]

Nice work. On my home made press I just cut off a 3/8" ring of pipe the top of the screw fit into & tacked it in place. I slide the jack under it, a few twists & it is secured in place. I love may air over hydraulic jack! Just wish I had a 30 or 50 ton instead of the 20 ton.

Yup thought about that but I felt like fabricating!

Got to use it tonight to straighten a 3/16 plate approx 12x14" that fits my rear blade for snow removal.

It hit an immovable object last winter and had a good bend in it; worked like a charm but man does this thing EAT air!!

Will add pics of the repair later

 

[Agent Blue]

I saw a neat modification to a press. A 1/4" cable down each side with a small winch ( like they have on boat trailers ) to move the table up and down. Sure looked easier than manually lifting to pin it in place.