Hydraulic presses
Turbo Mini Forums

I'm in the market for a hydraulic press, but there seems to be lots to choose from. Some are cheapo ones and some are 4 x the price for the same operating pressures.

The only press I've used is the Clarke strong arm series, which you can infinitely adjust the pumping handle ratio, which is a feature I really like as it gives you plenty of control. It would have to have a gauge too.

What are the presses like to use that are single pumping ratios? Are they too low, too high? Do you find that you have to hang on the pumping arm to get to higher pressure?

Are the single ratio pump presses any good?

This one looks decent with two stage pump.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20T-HYDRAULIC-FL...=item4195412790

Then there is this type, which doesn't say if it's adjustable or not.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-TON-HYDRAULIC...=item3aa942885e



Thanks
Matt

Edited by matty on 10th May, 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

have you linked the same thing twice Matty.

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

Doh! And top link was wrong too..Edited now.

Edited by matty on 10th May, 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

This looks like the one to which I have access and use to press pins from pistons, with my holding jig.

Never a problem with control - and 20 tons should be enough for most jobs !

Thanks Dave.

Yeah to be honest 20 tonne is a bit over kill for what I need, as I'm mainly using it for tube forming dies, and straightening, which is just the odd tweak here and there, it just needs to be controllable more than
anything.

I'll only use the full 20 tonnes for straightening the odd warped head. Lol

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Better to have too much capacity though over too little.

Some day there will be a bearing or something stuck hard and a smaller unit may not shift it.

Both look like decent units, but I think I'd step up and spend the extra

Those Automech prices seem excellent, SGS stuff is usually well priced, but they want a fair bit more for what looks same as the cheaper Automech unit

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/hydraulic-p...hydraulic-press

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Ill see if i can find a link to the one i just bought, the single ratio pumps are a bit tedious, but its simpler and for all it gets used KISS is where its at. The big difference i have noticed in cheaper ones is the construction, if the two vertical uprights are nice heavy c section and its rated at 20 tonne itll do 20 tonne, if the uprights are just 4 bars woth a little bracing, itll warp and bend before its any use(my old boss bought one like that..) when i was looking, heavy construction was top priority everything else didnt really matter tbo.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

On my criteria the second one in your first post is better!!! The first one doesnt have c channel uprights. The second one looks odentical to mine actually...

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Actually this is what i have, forgot it was 30 tonne but have to say its been absolutely superb and most day to day wheelbearong and bush stuff has been effortless.
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/381252438802?_trkp...6.c100107.m2460

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

We've got the benchtop version of that one. Not been used much but been pretty useful tool and gauge is a handy tool

I've one of these 30T units.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-Ton-Industria...%3D381252438802

Whilst it is big and sturdy, the working height is extremely low so awkward to use. There is also no pressure gauge, which is a big downside as you never know just how hard you are pushing.

Pretty sure I got mine for less than £100 near 10 years ago.

It is crap, it is awkward...but it gets the job done

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Thanks for the advise guys, I'll have another look around taking everything on board.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Matty,

I have had this press for the past 7 or so years:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251512049794

I find it far superior to the "bottle jack and spring" press type as my experience with those is that, by virtue of the design, has a fair bit of movement at the "mandrel" which used to frustrate me greatly.

The air over oil feature on my press (and the link above) is simply fantastic. It will move the cylinder very quickly under no-load and still pretty quickly under load. Makes pressing pins into my alloy plates a 2 second operation, compared to 12-15 seconds of cranking the lever.
If you don't get an air over hyd, you won't notice the difference of course, but if you do (and you connect it up - like I only did after a few years and kicked myself for not having done it sooner), you'll wonder how you did without it.

Other advantage of this design of press vs others: The piston can be slid to one side or the other for more flexibility.

What's not to like? Well, here is what I don't like:

First, Flexibility of the whole frame at higher forces.
After they drilled all those big holes in the uprights, it clearly lost a LOT of structural ridgidity.
Also, the bolt-together construction allows for flex.
The easy fix for this, is to assemble it, put a bit of force on the Ram, then weld the frame up, in addition to the bolts.
Adding some corner gussets from the top cross-members to the side rails will also help with the slight twisting I see under 10tons and above. Same with the Saddle; needs the two halves welding together with some thick plate. I also welded a 1/4 thick, 3/8" wide piece on the underside (above the pins, under the "vertical" web of the C-channel) to help distribute the forces better as the channel on mine was a little skewed and actually touched the pins on the outer edges of the Channel flanges.

I also will (once I get a good deal on some C-channels or Sq section) be stong-backing the uprights / columns to help put strength back in that is lost by all the holes for the pins; basically stitch welding on a sturdy backing the full height of the column.

Next, the plate the ram is attached to has bent tabs that locate it onto the C-channels. These are a loose fit over the channels, allowing you to slide the ram from left to right. Only problem is they also allow it to rock a little too much.
The Fix for this is to drill and tap the tabs for M8 or 5/16-24 before assembly, which allows you to wind bolts in there to clamp it up tight (99.9% of the time you will never move it from the centre location)...

After 4 years, my gauge started weeping (oil filled), then gave up. I've got a replacement gauge to go on it, but don't have a calibration for the load unless I figure out what the piston bore is of course...

Summary, I think it is a good press out of the box, easily made a LOT better with a little time and effort. But it will perform very well out of the box, and you can "upgrade it" as time and money allows later - or you might just be satisfied with it as it is...

Edited by TurboDave16V on 10th May, 2015.

Where is bury St Edmunds relative to you?

This is a real old-school press that is clearly made a lot better than any new "ebay" press...

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351394736082

Edited by TurboDave16V on 10th May, 2015.

Or this one looks brilliant for the price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weber-Hydraulic-...=item25a5bd9747

I'd be all over this personally.

Edited by TurboDave16V on 10th May, 2015.

That one looks like a beast....but really...the sellers name ??

Sounds like a ....

Only issue I see with a low height press, is it can really limit what you do with it unless you raise it up.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

The weber press is nto that bad, maybe raise it 6" would work, but it looks pretty good.
I agree though, what a username...

bury st Edmunds is a bit of a trek for me but that second one looks like a sturdy piece of kit!

I hadn't even thought of an air operated one to be honest, I've got a decent compressor to run one. I might loom into that. I need to look into making a stop for the one I buy to get repeatability when forming, should be too difficult though.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi