plans for jack vertical press

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I started CADing up some plans for a manual vertical press utilizing an old cylinder type car jack.just another project to keep me from dieing of bordom while looking for work.plans ive drawn up call for 2" square tube and 2x2" 1/4" angle for the frame and press table.pretty rough design so far but I would love to hear any suggestions and tips. Realgear 140 MIGMore DeWalt tools that I prolly needDIY 160 amp 40 OCV MOT Stick Welder
Reply:2x2 will deflect too much.You need to flip the jack right side up.  It won't function the way you have it mounted.
Reply:Originally Posted by TSOR2x2 will deflect too much.You need to flip the jack right side up.  It won't function the way you have it mounted.
Reply:TSOR has a point about the jack. But, you can use it in that position if you locate a fluid above the jack. I tapped the fill hole in the side of the jack and installed a fitting that I could attach a hose to and mounted a coffee can on top of the press to hold the fluid. Ofcourse the can needs a tube soldered to the bottom to accept the hose. Add fluid to the can and once you have cycled it a few times to bleed off any trapped air, it will work fine.
Reply:Oh, another thing, you will need to attach a pair of spring to retract the piston. It can be a piece of flat bar with two holes for the spring and some means of holding it on the head of the picton.
Reply:Thanks guys, this is exactly the type of feedback I was hoping for.I'm kinda broke right now so I'm limited to when i can find junk steel.Realgear 140 MIGMore DeWalt tools that I prolly needDIY 160 amp 40 OCV MOT Stick Welder
Reply:Here is one I did Here are the details with materiel list
Reply:looks nice..im currently modeling one up in solidworks to build sometime soon
Reply:Definately needs heavier steel than 2" tube and 1/4" 2x2 angle..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by hinerhoentlooks nice..im currently modeling one up in solidworks to build sometime soon
Reply:hey guys,  I had a nice find in a scrap pile.  two 12"x6"x1/4" I beams about 16" longany thoughts on the sides of the press now that ive got the top and bottoms?i was thinking of a plate and bolt system for easy disasembly and transport. just not sure if bolts would be enough to handle the forces of the bottle jack.  or should i forget about easy transport and just weld the crap out of em?Realgear 140 MIGMore DeWalt tools that I prolly needDIY 160 amp 40 OCV MOT Stick Welder
Reply:hi, depending on your funds and if you mind made in china, the Harbor Freight 20 ton  press may work for you. They got awesome reviews but depends on your application . I bought one with the 20% off coupon for 150.00. I could not buy the steel and my labor for that. Its been serving me fine. I made a brake for it and have done 1/4 x 3 flat stock with it too. I wanted a real press but didn't want to spend the money to buy it for hobby use.
Reply:Thanks for the advice.while budget is an issue, I have a bunch of random semi rusty steel laying around. but more importantly, I find fun in building stuff and learning from it.I have not been able to find work since labor day so i love these kind of projects to keep my mind sharp.Realgear 140 MIGMore DeWalt tools that I prolly needDIY 160 amp 40 OCV MOT Stick Welder
Reply:Originally Posted by sf93Here is one I did Here are the details with materiel list
Reply:i just bought the one from harbor freight 10 days ago for our repair shop and have used it 3-4 times and for a 20 ton press for 249.00 i works like a champ. if some thing ever goes wrong we can cut and weld in a new piece. really happy so far.
Reply:sf93Great looking press.  How about that materials list?
Reply:Here you go, just have to click on his link.Yep that"s some nylon for the pads. I used some 4x4 square tube for the slides and the uprights were 3x3 square tube so the nylon made up the difference for a nice smooth slide action.The listQty 2 - 31"x6" 3/8" C-ChannelQty 3 - 6"x3"x1/4 - I put these between the top 2 c-channelsQty 1 - 6"x7"x5/8 - Top plate the jack pushes onQty 2 - 57" long 3"x3" 1/4" wall square tube- The main uprightsQty 1 - 24"x4" 3/8 C-Channel- Bottom of the jack sits on thisQty 2 - 3" long 4"x4" 1/4 tube- I cut one side of the square off and screwed in the Nylon pads for the slide.Qty 6 - 3"x3 1/2"x1/4" NylonQty 1 - 32" Long 4"x2" 1/4" wall rectangular tube- Bottom Qty 2 - 24" long 2"x2" 1/4" wall square tube- bottom legs for castersQty 4 - 4"x4 1/2"x1/4" - Caster platesQty 4 - 1" round x 12" long - Table PinsQty 2 - 32"x4"x1 1/8" - Table barsQty 2 - 8"x3"x1 - Table bar spacerQty 2 - 6 1/2"x3"x1/4 - Top spring holderQty 1 - 3"x3"x1/2"- PusherQty 1 - 2"round x 3 1/2" long- PusherI think that is about everything.1.The flange length on all C-Channels is 1 1/2"2. Steel specifications are a mix of 1018 cold rolled, A36 hot rolled, and A513 Structural tubing.3. As of right now the jack is not attached to the slider it is still on the to do list.
Reply:Originally Posted by bollinger660i just bought the one from harbor freight 10 days ago for our repair shop and have used it 3-4 times and for a 20 ton press for 249.00 i works like a champ. if some thing ever goes wrong we can cut and weld in a new piece. really happy so far.
Reply:well its still in testing but 16 guage is a breeze for it.Realgear 140 MIGMore DeWalt tools that I prolly needDIY 160 amp 40 OCV MOT Stick Welder