HF 20 ton Hydraulic Shop Press

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:05:46 GMT

go to see Welding Machine for HF 20 ton Hydraulic Shop Press

I saw this today in my local Harbor Freight store in North Olmsted,Ohio.What were they thinking when they put the worst possible example of the item they are trying to get the public to buy.
Reply:Maybe the guy assembling never adjusted the eyebolts for the springs. It's hard to see behind that card. I have one of their 20 ton and it has been great for the money. $150.00
Reply:For the $$ they are OK... Just need a little modification..Miller 211Hypertherm PM 451961 Lincoln Idealarc 250HTP 221  True Wisdom only comes from Pain.
Reply:I have been liking mine so far. Just a couple weeks ago I finally made up some tool trays for it. The most used is the brake, it gets left in the press because it gets used all the time.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Maybe the guy assembling never adjusted the eyebolts for the springs. It's hard to see behind that card. I have one of their 20 ton and it has been great for the money. $150.00
Reply:The jack isn't centered by a long shot. That'll change the whole set up appearance."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Have an older one (yellow, was originally orange.......... Yuma sunshine ya know)Made a press brake for it, actually two.  One to bend flat stock up to 90*, the other to make 3/4" conduit clamps, or U clamps for sucker rod horse fencing.  Both work great, I have up to 20" width on the wider press brake, up to 16" width on the conduit clamp/flange bender.I think I only paid $75.00 for mine off Craigslist.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:I have the older model (orange one) that is all welded together. Though about reinforcing it a few times but it hasn't bent or cracked a weld and its been pushed to the limit a few times.I think I will put it on wheels like John T did so I can move it out of the way when not needed.Last edited by mechanic416; 04-18-2016 at 09:47 AM.www.georgesplasmacuttershop.comPlasma Cutter and Welder Sales and Repairs--Ebay storeTec.Mo. Dealer Consumables for the PT and IPT torch's
Reply:it wasn't set up properly from the start ,but the fact that the label on the the jack is  a 1/16 out of plumb doesn't help
Reply:Originally Posted by VPTI have been liking mine so far. Just a couple weeks ago I finally made up some tool trays for it. The most used is the brake, it gets left in the press because it gets used all the time.
Reply:The center of the jack should be dead center over the ram.Also, the jack is bolted to the plate it is setting on and the plate is welded to the jack plate way off center. The fix would be togrind off the welds from the plate and correctly center it and weld .
Reply:If you raise the right arm level as it should be the jack can slide over on the pad to center it. It does not have to be bolted down.Last edited by azsprint6; 04-18-2016 at 01:46 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1I did the same, nothing fancy but helps. I also added a valve handle for the release .
Reply:Mine is an old  trunk handleCan't remember exactly what it came off of... It might have been a Hollywood Graham https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...987c58960e.jpgLast edited by John T; 04-19-2016 at 08:50 AM.Miller 211Hypertherm PM 451961 Lincoln Idealarc 250HTP 221  True Wisdom only comes from Pain.
Reply:The only thing really bad about the HF press is that there are no guides to keep the plate that lowers from moving around. This does not seem like a big deal until you try to broach with the press. It is really easy to break a broach when the thing moves around. Mine is a different brand that does have guides but they are kind of on the loose side. Even on mine I have to broach 1/2 to 3/4" then release pressure to let the broach find center again and go again.  If I start to do a lot of broaching I am going to set up a dedicated press with hydraulics and a long stroke so that my time to broach is shortened considerably. I can use mine for the ocasional broaching though and get by.
Reply:I tig welded 1/4" key stock to the top right and bottom left of the arm. Very little side to side movement and that way I can still tip it to take it out.
Reply:I looked at those to be used for a press brake to bend 1/4 plate, not built strong enough for me. The one I looked at had channel that wasn't true channel, the good chinese bent  1/8 flat metal into the shape of channel. true channel has the thickest metal in the web and gets thinner out toward the edges. I built a much stronger press for less than what it cost to buy the HF press. My home made press/brake will bend 1/4 plate with no problem. I needed a portable press to take to job sites so I didn't make legs for it. it's made out of 2x2x3/8 square tubing for the up rights and three inch channel with 3/8 thick web for the cross pieces. if I need to bend a full 20 inch piece of 1/4 plate I use two 5 ton jacks.Last edited by kctgb; 04-23-2016 at 12:37 AM.
Reply:KC's description about says it all.  Bent flat 1/8" strap to make the uprights on my ol yellar.  But I can bend a 20" wide piece of 10 gauge with my home built press brake.  I've bent to 90* a piece of 1/4" x 4" strap easily.  I didn't notice the uprights flexing.I paid $75 for mine off Craigslist.  I think she was pissed at her ex-hubby?MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2KC's description about says it all.  Bent flat 1/8" strap to make the uprights on my ol yellar.  But I can bend a 20" wide piece of 10 gauge with my home built press brake.  I've bent to 90* a piece of 1/4" x 4" strap easily.  I didn't notice the uprights flexing.I paid $75 for mine off Craigslist.  I think she was pissed at her ex-hubby?
Reply:Well, it's not really a 'U' bolt brake.  I can make 3/4" rounded clamps with flats.  We use them to hold sucker rod on horse corrals & such.I'll get some pictures this weekend & post them.  With apologies to LTVtom for the hijack of the thread.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:As promised a couple overall shots of the press brakes:3/4" "U" clamp press brake20" wide Press BrakeI'll start a new thread to avoid sharting all over this thread.  Shop built Press Brake BuildsLooking at the original picture, I think the jack hasn't been seated all the way into the cup at the top.  Easy fix, just move the jack.Last edited by MarkBall2; 04-23-2016 at 07:36 PM.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:You are correct the bottle is not centered, but if it was the press would be even MORE out of square.It is very obvious that the press bottle support plate was welded way off center....Examine the distances between each side of plate and the two spring bolts....The plate is far to the left of center.Really easy to fix by simply unbolting the bottle from travel bed and allowing it to center itself...then drill two new bottle plate bolt holes.I agree that springs appear mismatched too.
Reply:Actually the Horrible Freight press isn't bad for the scrap price you pay for it. The stooge who setup the display probably had eyes looking in different directions. What did you expect LTVTOM? It's not like he was making a $15/hr living wage which he "deserves." We all know the display would have been executed more professionally.  RyanMiller Multimatic 200 tig/spool gun/wireless remoteMillermatic 350P, Bernard/XR Python gunsMiller Dynasty 350, Coolmate 3.5 & wireless remoteCK WF1 TIG wire feederMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeOptrel e684Miller Digital EliteMiller Weld-Mask
Reply:[QUOTE=wornoutoldwelder;7168091]You are correct the bottle is not centered, but if it was the press would be even MORE out of square.It is very obvious that the press bottle support plate was welded way off center....Examine the distances between each side of plate and the two spring bolts....The plate is far to the left of center.Really easy to fix by simply unbolting the bottle from travel bed and allowing it to center itself...then drill two new bottle plate bolt holes.You are correct the base plate is welded off center, but it's supposed to be. The base of the jack is offset so when you set it up properly the ram is dead center between the posts.I agree that springs appear mismatched too.[/QUOTEYou are correct the base plate is welded off center, but it's supposed to be. The base of the jack is offset so when you set it up properly the ram is dead center between the posts.  There is no need to bolt the jack to the base it will NOT move.