Shop Press

[bteoh]

I am thinking if getting a shop press for things like changing front lower wishbone ball joints etc.
There's a 6 ton base model press on sale for $107. Is that up to the task or should I get the 12 ton press that is $181?
Any ideas / advice?

[Barry Edmunds]

I'd suggest that you consider other/future uses, such as rear axle bearings, which may require more pressure than the 6 ton unit would offer. As always purchase the best quality/capacity that you can afford. Buying cheap may not turn out to be the cheapest.

[f1fascination]

I'm looking at one too, Hare and Forbes Machinery house has a good range, the one I'm looking at is a 20T, about $400 worth but looks like it will do everything I need it to! That's a proper hydraulic one with a gauge and a hydraulic ram, but they do a cheaper one with a bottle jack on top, still rated for 20 tonne though.

[colcol]

I purchased a press about 20 years ago and works a treat, i think its about 6 ton with a bottle jack, in my experience, its not so much how much pressure, but the throat size and what diameter you can put in the throat, [we are still talking presses here!], and the width of the press for straightening shafts out of gearboxes or driveshafts, and make sure you have good strong press plates, with vees and half round cutouts for removing bearings and ball joints, but they are so cheap now, it all depends how much room you have in your 'office', Colin.

[Jekyll and Hyde]

Definitely wouldn't get a 6 ton. Having used a few presses with gauges, I can tell you that many bushes and balljoints don't start moving until 5-6 ton. 5 to 10 ton would be a fairly normal range of pressures for most car work (bushes, balljoints, bearings etc), although I have seen 15 before.  By that point you are standing around a corner somewhere behind something solid, or looking for something to use as a blast shield...

I also wouldn't buy a 'bench top' style press, only a floor standing press.  If you ever need to do something with an axle or a tail shaft, you'd regret buying a bench top press.  Often far more time is spent in working out how to set something up in the press to achieve the goal than is spent actually doing it, and the bigger you can make your work envelope, the more choices you have.

I have one of these: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Workshop-Press-20-Ton-Air-Hydraulic-Side-Shift-Head-/231108692597?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35cf26ca75&_uhb=1.
No, I didn't pay $10,000 for it, think it was a bit over $400 from memory.  One of the reasons for buying that particular one is that, if you look at the photos down the bottom, the ram can be moved side to side. 
Extremely useful feature, as when I replaced bushes in some Ford control arms, I could slide the head all the way to one side in order to fit the control arm between the posts, and still be able to press on the bushes.  Again, bigger work envelope (for that situation anyway).

I also prefer the style of ram I have as it tends to be much more stable than the bottle jack arrangements - the guide rails on the bottle jack systems tend to be a pretty loose fit, and allow the ram to kick on an angle as you apply load.  Not at all helpful when you're already trying to hold 3 things in place at once as you pump the handle.

However, your budget may not provide for that style of press, or you might not be likely to do very many jobs with it.  If this is the case, I would suggest you take the $181 you would have spent on a 12 ton press, and jump onto EBay to find yourself a 20 ton press.  There are many sellers flogging the 20 ton bottle jack style presses on there for around that price.

Oh, and a final note if you haven't used a press before.  Even 6 ton is more than enough to destroy parts if you set it up wrong. Failing to have a supporting ring in the correct spot will destroy the edge of the hole where the bush goes.  Bushes WILL get jammed into the bit of tube or socket you're using as a support if you don't have a suitable clearance inside.  Likewise sockets can be very difficult to remove should you press them into a hole whilst removing a bush or bearing.  Bearings can easily be damaged by incorrect support/pressing.  Failing to remove a circlip won't make much difference to the press, but you won't have a groove to fit the circlip back into.  I have seen people buy a press to do their own suspension bushes, then destroy enough suspension arms that it would have been far cheaper to pay someone else to do it.  Always check for alignments and clearance.

[bteoh]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
There is a range of presses available from Malz and there are 2 types of 20 ton presses. One has a gauge for $319 and without the gauge for $255. Any thoughts on which one is more useful?

[Jekyll and Hyde]

If it were me, I'd go the one with the gauge. Can't quite see clearly enough in the photo whether the ram can be moved side to side, but the plate it's mounted on certainly appears to be a separate piece, meaning it should be an easy modification.

Another advantage I forgot to mention yesterday, is that the ram sits up much higher in the press, giving you far more working room in the same size frame than the bottle jack press.  It also means that for smaller jobs, you're at a much more comfortable working height, instead being bent over double looking at what you're doing.

[Nate Dog]

the amount of things i could break with that


(Says Nate, fingers steepled, whilst stroking white fluffy cat perched on his lap, evil glint in his eye)

[colcol]

The gauge one would be good, just so you can see how much pressure you are putting on something, you might also look at a set of pressing bushes, that are quite well priced, get the biggest press you can afford and the amount of room you have in your office, Colin.

[bteoh]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Great forum to get useful feedback. Looks like the one with the gauge is the go......

[shiny_car]

I also prefer the style of ram I have as it tends to be much more stable than the bottle jack arrangements - the guide rails on the bottle jack systems tend to be a pretty loose fit, and allow the ram to kick on an angle as you apply load.  Not at all helpful when you're already trying to hold 3 things in place at once as you pump the handle.

FWIW, I have a relatively cheap (~$200) 20 tonne bottle jack press. Cheap and cheerful, and happily one of the best/most useful 'tools' I've bought in some time. To date, it has performed every job I've asked of it, despite the described shortcomings.

So, if your budget is low, these can still get the job done.
If you can spend more, go for it, and get a better one!

[Nate Dog]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Great forum to get useful feedback. Looks like the one with the gauge is the go......

he's totes talking about me

[bteoh]

Shiny,

It's following your rebuild thread that has inspired me to get a press. Was hoping you would chime in and share your opinion. Glad you find the press a very useful tool and hopefully, I will pick one up this weekend. Have to get a 41mm socket too as I need to check my timing on my 75 Potenziata. I found it quite difficult to fit the new belt on and had to stretch it a bit to get it in. Can't recall it being that difficult when I did it on my 2.5 GTV6 a few years ago
Cheers

[shiny_car]

Shiny,

It's following your rebuild thread that has inspired me to get a press.

Good one. Well, it's been invaluable, and for $200, like "why haven't I had one of these before"! A 'better' one sounds a nice idea, but honestly, very happy with mine, but again...for what I've needed it for. If you're doing the kind of thing I am, then no issues.

I found it quite difficult to fit the new belt on and had to stretch it a bit to get it in.

Mine certainly didn't 'slip on'. I needed to 'roll it on' over the edge of one of the cam sockets, and took several attempts to work out my technique.

[bteoh]

I've been trying to look for a 1/2 inch drive 41mm socket but can't seem to find one easily. Any ideas where I can source one??