Been trying to thin my shop out but that's one piece I won't part with.
Been trying to thin my shop out but that's one piece I won't part with.
Don't forget dimples, who doesn't love some cute dimples? 
I built one out of an old bottle jack & some scrap steel. It worked ok the handful of times I needed it then, but haven't used it in years. It's bench-top size though, so it doesn't take up much room.
I had louvers popped in a fender for a diy ram air setup on my vr6 gti using a basic harbor freight bottle press that had been modes for clearance on one side. Simple setup with a die. What car isn't 100% cooler with louvers?
In reply to petegossett:
I'd thought about that, as I have some chunks of eye beam laying around that would be a nice base.
I've also been thinking my buddy has a hydraulic ram he's looking for excuses to use, but I'd have to build a frame to mount it on somehow. It worked great lifting my motor for the skid plate spacers, as well as pushing out a bumper in no time at all.
After using the one at work to rebuild a couple transmissions, and to re-arc a couple sets of leaf springs, I built my own.
Cost effective? Only if you got a killer deal on steel.
There's a 50 ton press at the shop that's really great for convincing stubborn bolts that yes, they're coming out.
Im getting ready to U joints in my wagon, im jealous of the press. if i could find a way too make one fit in my garage i would buy one for u joints alone!
Something kind of like hydroforming--
Used to work at a place where we tested concrete cylinders to failure with a 300,000 lb hydraulic press (ran off electric). We crushed all kinds of stuff with it. Too bad that was before the internet 
I will say that mine is also great at finding hidden retaining clips. Won't come apart? Pump more. POW!!! Look at what's left over and, oh, yeah, there was a clip hidden in that mess. Huh.
That hydraulic press channel... There's a channel that just crushes random stuff to see what happens and we get to watch. What a time to be alive! 
Always wanted to build a big honkin' hydraulic press w/ surplus hydraulic unit and a hydraulic ram to stamp widgets n things. I have T&D/ machinist buddies for the die work but damn if I know what to stamp that would sell. Somethin' car related prolly.
Europa front suspension pieces. Stamp those out and retire a gazillionare. I bet you would sell, 10-20 each of them in the first year alone, maybe half that in the next year and you might get $250 a set, maybe. Yup, easy retirement there.
Here's mine.
SkinnyG wrote: After using the one at work to rebuild a couple transmissions, and to re-arc a couple sets of leaf springs, I built my own. Cost effective? Only if you got a killer deal on steel. H*rb*r Fr**ght H-frame presses cost less per pound than steel. Actually, most everything they sell that's: 1. Mostly steel or iron, and. 2. Shipped here on a big boat from China, ...Costs less/pound than buying tube/pipe/channel at the cheap steel place.
motomoron wrote: H*rb*r Fr**ght H-frame presses cost less per pound than steel. Actually, most everything they sell that's: 1. Mostly steel or iron, and. 2. Shipped here on a big boat from China, ...Costs less/pound than buying tube/pipe/channel at the cheap steel place.
Yes.
I used to build engine stands for the Mechanics class I teach, except I can get stands from Princess Auto (I'm in Canada - no Horror Fright, nor do they recognize Canada as a shippable destination) for less than the cost of the ~steel~, and it even comes with wheels.
The 20Ton doesn't seem to be carried by Princess Auto or KMS Tools any more (my two main local suppliers of cheap), and I don't like the 12Ton (same as HF 12T), which went on sale just as I started to build this. Bringing stuff up from the states, with out dollar, and shipping, is not currently cost effective either.
For most things, it's not worth it to build anything anymore. I just happen to like the build.
I also built this with my Metalwork students, so there's good inspiration and experience shared there.
Back to the topic though - having used a press, I wanted my own. I don't use them much, but when you need one, they are a must-have.
pro tip:
If you are building one and have to buy a jack anyway, or your jack has failed, do not cheap out. Purchase an air over hydraulic jack.
This 20 ton is often available for around $100 at HF. It is a life changer. Re-arching leaf springs when from a couple of hours to 10 minutes. The control is on a hose so you can use both hands to position your arbors (IE sockets 
) while you start the job.
It makes everything better by orders of magnitude.
In reply to Jumper K. Balls:
I fitted the longer ram version of that to my tubing bender. Life changer is right. No more shoulder workouts that make you overshoot all the angles. Just toe the pedal and watch the gauge. Magics.
Just found a new use for the 20 ton press: Stringing the 50lb $10 crossbow pistol. Worked great.
Karacticus wrote: Something kind of like hydroforming-- http://bcove.me/mg51b4t3
Any thoughts on where to find that nice thick rubber? I found something that would make an awesome form, kind of, but I don't know where to get that thick rubber.
I'm bringing this thread back from the dead to ask a question.
What should I be looking at to use the press to make brackets?
I feel like I should be able to make L and U shapes brackets with my press and some sort of accessory. A finger brake? A regular brake? Just weld up a 90 degree pattern to attach to the pressure point(i don't know what it's called where the press itself puts pressure on the material)?
Look for press brake dies to get an idea of what you can make/use
Dr. Hess wrote: Resetting the timing belt tensioner for a 1UZFE. Building a Lotus 910 exhaust manifold from scratch. Building AK47's. Hundreds of other uses. Very handy. And do be careful. 20 tons of pressure is very dangerous, like the pic shows.
^ This is how I broke mine!! those 1.5 mil Yugo receivers gave the HF press a real workout and eventually bent the rod on mine. Not only bending the receivers but also for populating the barrels and pressing the barrels into the trunions.....Oh and also for riveting the trunions into the recievers as well. before they did the ban on them in the Peoples republik of Marylandistan my friends and I made a lot of them to be assembled at a later date.
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