Shaft straightening press bench

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Not much welding with this build, just some strongbacks below the jack & toolholder blockI can't remember If I ever posted pics of my straightening press bench, anyway I had a chance to use it again so I made a video of it being used. I thought it may be of use to any repair guys or auto guys as this method has less of a problem of the bend going sideways than using an H frame for the same work. It doesn't completely remove the sideways bend of a stubborn shaft it's just better. Sometimes you still have to overbend and bend back, sometimes a LOT! Nevertheless, if you level this press it pulls straight down, NO strange vectors to suck tons from the jack or push the load sideways. (on edit) The real work begins at about the 6:40 mark with picture in picture to see what I see pretty well. Til then it's explanations & me chatting...[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhP2Bqk9uCI[/ame]The idea was not mine, I'd seen & used similar in my travels. I still love looking at others work & getting to see over the shoulder of others working & trying to make a go of it! At north of 60years & getting to the September of my career (I hope that's all), this seems to be a good time to leave things out there. At least everything but my painting skills, 20+ years on & I still haven't painted anything I've built for the shop...Also anyone having a youtube account should be able to get a direct download of it (creative commons license). I would be interested in the formats offered if anyone does download it? The original content was AVHC.264 @ 1080P & 1.3G in size.MattLast edited by Matt_Maguire; 04-18-2013 at 10:27 AM.Reason: Adding information
Reply:Thanks for the video, Matt.  Thats a nice press you built there.  I'm still working with a 12 ton HF toy, and I've never had to straighten a shaft.-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:Thanks for the video! I really like the straightening bench. Add that to the list of things to build. I've been using my standard press but it's takes quite a bit of care in the setup. The video in video made it very easy to follow what you were doing and the fact this was one of the more stubborn ones made it more clear as you crept up on the final. Thanks for taking the time to pass on your knowledge.  I'm a fan of Keith's videos also.
Reply:Thank's for sharing, filming as good as the straightening job. watching it was a pleasure.
Reply:Yes great video and great straightening press. There's been a few times I've wished for a press like that. It's hard to get that precise with my old presses.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by rabidchimpThanks for the video, Matt.  Thats a nice press you built there.  I'm still working with a 12 ton HF toy, and I've never had to straighten a shaft.-Aaron
Reply:Matt,Thanks for the video! . . . That's a nice press! Hobart Handler 190Hobart Spool-Gun 100Lincoln 225 ACMiller & Pipeliner HoodDewalt 14" Chopsaw, GrindersHarris O/AVictor TorchCustom Built O/A CartCustom Welding CartHeavy Duty 16 Speed Floor Drill PressPipe-BenderDrill Doctor
Reply:Sure like this.  If I ever get my lathe running I'd like something like it.  Probably have to use the H press though because of limited room in the "shop".Neat"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I love the video.  I have a saddle that fits my big press that allows me to push, but is is a headache when the shaft is over 4 foot.  I have to bring it in from the side then.
Reply:Originally Posted by Matt_MaguireThanks Wayne! You'd need to make a bigger one being in Texas & all. What do they do in the oil patches? One things for sure, with the jack plate pushing on the bottom of the flanges & the V-blocks or other rests on the top of the flanges the only thing moving around is what you have under the pulling tool. It's a pretty good bushing puller too, the pull block between the flanges is threaded 1 1/4" stub acme. I've used it to pull things together that really didn't want to go together. Thanks again all!Matt
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBillMatt,Thanks for the video! . . . That's a nice press!
Reply:I have done plenty of shaft straightening in my lathe with the aid of a STURDY steady rest..Bottle jack and torch..Get them within .001 most times but if it proves to be uncooperative I just make a new one.Whatever it takes....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:[QUOTE=Matt_Maguire;2539691I figured there was some action with drill pipe out there Wayne, too expensive to toss if a bundle was dropped or such.The real big straightening presses are horizontal push, call them "bulldozers" 'cause the tooling they put on the table & ram look about the size to stick on one I guess. Saw one working years back - just medieval looking... Yep! Big space between strain bars is good, or window or hole between a channel type strain bar is good!That big press looks like a wheel press used to put hard tires on lift truck rims, large cylinder, lower pressure & fast travel. Built a ton!Matt[/QUOTE] I've not seen the horizontal type for straightening. The one I remember was a H frame similar to my big press but with a long roller table attached.  My big press was made by my former employers dad back before they had machine tools. It's a cotton bailing ram that's been cut down. The pump is a large piston type inside the tank with the model A transmission controlling the speed. It's not fast and rather difficult to control for fine movements since the ram tends to pulse down and the only stop is shutting off the motor or releasing the return valve. The motor gets jogged a lot on that press.   It's been used to change a few fork lift tires in it's day as well as change pins on tracks and many other jobs. Fairly versatile overall.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterI have done plenty of shaft straightening in my lathe with the aid of a STURDY steady rest..Bottle jack and torch..Get them within .001 most times but if it proves to be uncooperative I just make a new one.Whatever it takes....zap!
Reply:I used my HF pipe bender to straiten this outboard prop shaft. The nice thing about prop shafts is they normally don't just bend, they twist. lol
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitThere's what these forums are about. I never considered jacking on a lathe. I've used the torch and heat method as well as used the cross slide on smaller work.
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterWell you need to know where to place the WOOD..I use a steel channel with wood between it and the bed ways..Sometimes a bottle jack is too tall so if that is a problem I use a 1.5 ton floor jack..Whatever it takes.Next time I run across this type of fix I will post pics of before during and after......zap!