started making a press.

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The other night I was a little bored and after looking around the yard for a project to weld up decided on trying to make a bench top hydraulic press out of 6"x3" (16.3#/ft) channel I've had sitting around for the last 10 years. the overall size is 20"x30". Got the basic frame of it cut and the sides and top welded together. I'm going to use a 6-ton bottle jack.   Now, I'm undecided on how I want to guide the pin. 1. a fixed guide with a hole in the center  that the pin will slide throughor  2. a sliding guide to which the pin is attached and slides along the legs of the press. Either guide would end up being made from 1/8"x1" angle iron (not the remains of a bed frame in the background) either way, the pin is a hardened ejector pin from an injection molding machine.Attachment 820051Attachment 820061Attachment 820071Attachment 820081Last edited by somedude; 08-27-2014 at 12:21 PM.
Reply:more picsAttachment 820111Attachment 820121Attachment 820131Attachment 820141
Reply:Nice build! Interested to see how it turns out..I've always found that a sliding guide helps keep everything in alignment if there is an edge on a part that isn't nice and flush when it goes in the press. Also it makes removing/replacing the jack easy!BTW. Are those 7014 or 6011 beads?Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:The HF press uses a sliding guide.  I've had mine a few months and find it works well.Lincoln SA200 redface restoredMiller Diversion 165
Reply:I'm using .035 nr-211 flux-core wire... did 3 passes for the outside welds. ftw, the channel has a 3/8" web and flange tapers from 1/2" to 7/16"
Reply:10-4.. Didn't see the last pics till after my post. Looking good!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:If I learned anything in my seventeen years as a tool setter in a plastics factory it is that mold pins like in the above photo are super hard and extremely brittle. That pin will not bend very much at all before it shatters. I would not use pins from an injection mold in any part of a shop press. Nice job so far though .-Spike
Reply:Originally Posted by Spike440If I learned anything in my seventeen years as a tool setter in a plastics factory it is that mold pins like in the above photo are super hard and extremely brittle. That pin will not bend very much at all before it shatters. I would not use pins from an injection mold in any part of a shop press. Nice job so far though .-Spike
Reply:That is some serious steel. I hope you don't have to move it around much!Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Axle shafts are a bit touchy I seem guys use them as pry bars and stuff but any time I fished a broken axle out  it was a shattered break with many pieces.gxbxc
Reply:Here's one I just built.  I obviously used nesting tubes as the guides.  If I had to do it again, I wouldn't have used such tight-fitting tubes, as getting everything perfectly square and free-sliding after welding was a major pain in my ***!Full thread here:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ess&highlight=
Reply:yeah, I've had ejector pins break before when using them in un-intended applications. all those times were from a bending force and not from compression or impacts along the length. since the pins don't handle side-side force well, all the more reason to get the guides right, from the start.  guess there's option #3: like what advan posted still undecided but leaning more towards the tubing option but with round.edit: in light of the new repliesLast edited by somedude; 08-28-2014 at 06:19 PM.
Reply:Update time!    took a little longer than I planned; had to get a darker lens this past weekend to finish up the welding but due to the holiday the closest welding shop was closed until tuesday. anyway... decided on using tubing for guides. the bungee cords are strictly temporary so I could do a quick test. cut the pin down to 3".  guessing the total weight will be around 140lbs. once I find the right springs, it'll be done. Attachment 829541Attachment 829561Attachment 829581Attachment 829601  fyi, the timestamp on the pics is waaaaaaay off.
Reply:Both those presses look great. A lot better than the one my dad bought at a pawn shop that was factory made. Chad
Reply:Well done.
Reply:Originally Posted by BilldacatI have a 20ton HF press; the pin is of questionable material.   I am considering replacing the pin with a section of automotive axle shaft.   Is this safe???   Things get a little scary when your cranking down hard on stuff.    I am also trying to figure out a better pin guides; any ideas???
Reply:I was wondering about using the shaft out of a hydraulic cylinder for a push pin. Using the threaded end would allow you to thread it in making it easily replaceable and they seem pretty strong. I've seen them bend or snap, never seen one shatter.250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:I had threads on my ram ends at first on the 32 ton press I built. One time I didn't get the end screwed in tight enough , it deformed the 3/4" threads, and was a bear to get back off.I took the ram out and bored it to 1", and made new ends with posts to match.Haven't had any trouble in the almost 20 years since.
Reply:I like the variety of pin sizes you have... I can see where that would come in very handy for different jobs. Just might steal that idea for my 20 ton press.250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Whtbaron  : hydraukic piston would be good  they are hard cromed Tool Junkie: That's one he## of press we need more pictures with close up's of details .gxbxc