Cheap hydraulic presses - any good?
Discussion
Morning, looking to add a hydraulic press to the garage for DIY jobs - gearbox rebuilds, suspension bushes, flaring, etc.
Don't mind spending the money for something decent, that will last, but am tempted by an eBay special. 20 tonnes for £140 delivered:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-20-Tons-Hydr...
Any comments/reviews/bad experiences pls?
Cheers.
Don't mind spending the money for something decent, that will last, but am tempted by an eBay special. 20 tonnes for £140 delivered:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-20-Tons-Hydr...
Any comments/reviews/bad experiences pls?
Cheers.
20 Ton should cover most press jobs, other than really seized/tight items that can sometimes need double that. But there will always be 1 odd job that causes an issue, so for the majority of the time it would be ok.
The real issue with cheap presses is how perpendicular the ram pressing down is/stays. If it can wander offline (especially under pressure), then be assured that it will, and objects under pressure that can move out can become missiles, and cause serious injury.
The real issue with cheap presses is how perpendicular the ram pressing down is/stays. If it can wander offline (especially under pressure), then be assured that it will, and objects under pressure that can move out can become missiles, and cause serious injury.
I got the 12 tonne version of this press earlier this year. £80 delivered iirc.
Its not exactly precision engineered, but its good enough. I did a full set of bushes on my MR2 without too much bother.
Decent quality small/mid sized g-clamps are very useful for keeping things where they need to be. Its also worth investing in a set of press cups if you don't have a particularly extensive set of sockets.
Its not exactly precision engineered, but its good enough. I did a full set of bushes on my MR2 without too much bother.
Decent quality small/mid sized g-clamps are very useful for keeping things where they need to be. Its also worth investing in a set of press cups if you don't have a particularly extensive set of sockets.
rustednut said:
20 Ton should cover most press jobs, other than really seized/tight items that can sometimes need double that. But there will always be 1 odd job that causes an issue, so for the majority of the time it would be ok.
The real issue with cheap presses is how perpendicular the ram pressing down is/stays. If it can wander offline (especially under pressure), then be assured that it will, and objects under pressure that can move out can become missiles, and cause serious injury.
^^^^This.The real issue with cheap presses is how perpendicular the ram pressing down is/stays. If it can wander offline (especially under pressure), then be assured that it will, and objects under pressure that can move out can become missiles, and cause serious injury.
I have one of the 12 ton variety & some packing to keep the moving bit the ram sits on as central as possible is a good idea as there is a lot of play between it & the side rails.
What ever you are pressing needs to be central in the press aperture & this can be awkward, you can't move the ram to one side or the other.
I'd also advise fixing the base of the bottle jack to the bit it sits on to eliminate the risk of it slipping. Bit of careful drilling & a couple of bolts did the trick on mine.
If you intend to use it a lot then consider one of the none bottle jack type which are more versatile & safer.
Edited by paintman on Monday 14th December 20:34
Thank you for the replies.
In one of their own photos the amount the jack bridge can float side to side is visible:
Wondering if a couple of steel plates welded to the side of the bridge to pack out that gap will remove the float. Then grease the contact points to the verticals. I'll give one a go and see how I get on.
Cheers
In one of their own photos the amount the jack bridge can float side to side is visible:
Wondering if a couple of steel plates welded to the side of the bridge to pack out that gap will remove the float. Then grease the contact points to the verticals. I'll give one a go and see how I get on.
Cheers
I’ve got this, a few quid more but it remains plumb throughout its range. I’ve not used it a great deal, but does everything I’ve asked of it.
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/shbp10m-10-ton-h-f...
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/shbp10m-10-ton-h-f...
I bought the 20T eBay special and it arrived within a couple of days. Assembled, found a space to squeeze it in to in garage and put to use straightening a friend's breaker bar.
So far so good, a decent bit of kit at the price point. The fit of the floating bridge is much better than I expected, the gap at either end isn't present. The jacking arm is rubbish but that's easily solvable.
In January I have a gearbox to rebuild and alternator bearings to replace - if it does those jobs with ease will be happy. Might tap and thread in a pressure gauge to the jack as would be interesting to see what pressure/force is being applied.
So far so good, a decent bit of kit at the price point. The fit of the floating bridge is much better than I expected, the gap at either end isn't present. The jacking arm is rubbish but that's easily solvable.
In January I have a gearbox to rebuild and alternator bearings to replace - if it does those jobs with ease will be happy. Might tap and thread in a pressure gauge to the jack as would be interesting to see what pressure/force is being applied.
Krikkit said:
That looks like a good buy for the cash, the biggest problem with presses (imho) is missing all the useful dies and tools that you build up over years. A lot of jobs would be easier if you could easily find better tools.
You can buy them in kits, they aren't expensive.If you're in no rush keep your eye on Ebay, FB marketplace etc. I think my workshop one is about 15 ton and I bought it used over 10yrs ago now. It's been fine, but I've come across some seized driveshafts and other large bearings stuck in alloy hub uprights that it wouldn't shift no matter what. I kept an eye on Ebay for a bigger one and missed out on a good one local which was cheap, you've got to be so quick sometimes.
Then recently a 50 ton monster came up for £500 or 'make me an offer', it looked barely used. A quick Google showed they retail new from £2500 to over £2800. I briefly considered making them an offer, but I was half expecting it to vanish from my screen at that price so didn't dare piss around. Hit BIN and took it. On contacting them it turned out they were a business although their listing didn't suggest it at all. As they were VAT reg I'll claim 20% back too so was even happier
Jaz2000 said:
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick there...Evoluzione said:
Jaz2000 said:
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick there...The spindles aren't for use with a press of course, but would certainly be of use on jobs where you can't get the piece to fit under the bottle jack or where you're able to do the job in situ without too much dismantling.
Or am I due a parrot?
Earlier this year I bought a cheap eBay special engine crane. It arrived with the hydraulic ram pissing out fluid, nasty cheap Chinesium bolts and the worlds thinnest and patchiest powder coating.
I sent it back for a replacement which arrived in pretty much the same state as the first one. I’d view cheap hydraulic presses as likely being of a similar standard.
Personally I’d rather pay a little more and buy a half decent second hand one.
Does anyone have any experience of the MachineMart / Clarkes ones?
I sent it back for a replacement which arrived in pretty much the same state as the first one. I’d view cheap hydraulic presses as likely being of a similar standard.
Personally I’d rather pay a little more and buy a half decent second hand one.
Does anyone have any experience of the MachineMart / Clarkes ones?
105.4 said:
Earlier this year I bought a cheap eBay special engine crane. It arrived with the hydraulic ram pissing out fluid, nasty cheap Chinesium bolts and the worlds thinnest and patchiest powder coating.
I sent it back for a replacement which arrived in pretty much the same state as the first one. I’d view cheap hydraulic presses as likely being of a similar standard.
Personally I’d rather pay a little more and buy a half decent second hand one.
Does anyone have any experience of the MachineMart / Clarkes ones?
Funnily enough I bought a cheap engine crane from ebay last year as well. Its absolutely fine - seals all OK, powder coating good, works a treat. Perhaps you're just unlucky! I sent it back for a replacement which arrived in pretty much the same state as the first one. I’d view cheap hydraulic presses as likely being of a similar standard.
Personally I’d rather pay a little more and buy a half decent second hand one.
Does anyone have any experience of the MachineMart / Clarkes ones?
If I was using these things frequently, then yes I'd buy SGS or similar. For occasional use they're fine.
Oh and the Clarke press looks identical to the one I bought from eBay - I'd swear they're made in the same factory (I have an old mate that works for MM - I'll ask him the next time I see him!)
mrtwisty said:
Evoluzione said:
Jaz2000 said:
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick there...The spindles aren't for use with a press of course, but would certainly be of use on jobs where you can't get the piece to fit under the bottle jack or where you're able to do the job in situ without too much dismantling.
Or am I due a parrot?
Evoluzione said:
The kit is a bit expensive for a set of spacers or drifts! The idea is you buy that because you don't have a press and use the threaded bar to push and pull things out.
I hadn't noticed the price, does seem a bit steep! Could be a useful thing to have around though - I couldn't fit the lower arms into my press so had to cobble together a threaded puller tool with various bits and bobs to extract the bushes. mrtwisty said:
Evoluzione said:
The kit is a bit expensive for a set of spacers or drifts! The idea is you buy that because you don't have a press and use the threaded bar to push and pull things out.
I hadn't noticed the price, does seem a bit steep! Could be a useful thing to have around though - I couldn't fit the lower arms into my press so had to cobble together a threaded puller tool with various bits and bobs to extract the bushes. You can make your own bush remover with a piece of threaded bar too.
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