Shop press build

[IHinIN]

I’ve been wanting to buy or build a hydraulic shop press for years. I recently came across some free 5” channel iron from a machine skid that was being scrapped at work. It was the perfect size for a 20 ton press. I also got some free 2” angle iron for the base. I added a winch for raising and lowering the bed. Instead of the usual bottle jack like most shop presses use, I went with a 20 ton x 4” stroke cylinder and an air-over-oil 10,000psi pump. The cylinder is mounted on a trolley for the rare occasions when a part can’t be centered in the press. The ram has a reversible tool that’s 2” on one end and 1” on the other. I also made several ram tools with dowel pins: 5/16”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, & 3/4”. The one side was intentionally left hanging out because I plan to build a manual arbor press there. And of course it’s painted IH red.

[clay1811/44c]

Nice work, should come in handy.

[Ambush]

Very nice build and a very handy tool! Its amazing the iron work that becomes possible when you have a capable press and some tooling.

Sure saves a lot of work and damaged parts from the BFH episodes.

[SGragg]

Great job on the press. I particularly like the hydraulic cylinder and the wheels for mobility. Great idea!

And, of course, it's made in the

[IHinIN]

Thanks guys!

I plan to build a finger brake for the press similar to this.

[john hall]

You need a storage rack on the other side to counter the weight of the arbor press!! Seriously, a storage rack for all the plates and push blocks would be handy, amazing what tends to accumulate with these, and I still have to turn something down quite often.