*Works perfectly for my use as a heated press **MyBest.Tools** Space between the ram jack and the base is a little tight. Make sure you set the ram jack arm so that it's in a position for you to get maximum leverage on whatever you're pressing. You may have to unbolt the front plate of the press and realign the ram in the teeth so that the arm is not at an awkward angle when fully cranked down.Other than aligning the ram in the teeth with the crank arm this .5 ton arbor press comes out of the box pretty much ready to use.*
I also bought the Harbor Freight Arbor Press. I didn’t have all the problems you had. The steel ram too end needed to be squared. I drilled out a half inch hole in the bottom of the steel ram and also drilled out two 1/4” inch holes on the right and left sides of the steel ram to accommodate two 5/16” Hex Nuts. I needed the retrofit so I could attach leather working chisels, stamps and Maker’s Mark. They worked great after the retrofit. I still need to grind off the bottom two teeth. All in all I’m happy with the Arbor Press.
That's so nice what you did , but as a 71 year old grandmother who needs an arbor press to make jewelry to supplement a fixed income I need this ..I won't be making parts, I don't have the tools or the know how , to get one better..woo hoo good for you sir..
I've been considering one of these because the price is so low, relatively speaking, but you've accurately called it a 'kit'. You basically reinvented it from a skeletal foundation. Shitty deal, no matter the affordability, because most people who want an introductory-level press like this don't have the requisite machine shop accommodations to transform one of these into the general equivalent of a similar, higher-grade press that costs at least five times as much. They may, however, need a tool that offers an acceptably high degree of precision. Without the accuracy and control you'd desire from a press, you might as well use a hammer. : /
I just bought another one. Adjusted small looseness in minutes. It was nice and CLEAN. I had one before but I live in Colorado so periodically the junkies steal everything.
i have a large drill press that i don't use that much and am short of space so i can mount my arbor press and cutoff saw on the table of the large drill press.... use small dress press much more.... and i have build a table that i can slide the press and saw off on to it when i need the large press....
Very nice mods. Came over here after reading the comments on Halligan142's "rant" video. Can you elaborate on the ratcheting mod? Did you simply mill off the bottom two teeth to make it ratchet like that?
Todd Griffith there's a guy who expanded the arm with something like ten more inches and he seems to be fine. Unless it went bad and he didn't say anything :/
what's the point in being a machinist if you can't make a few silk purses out of sows' ears now and then. I have an extra hour more often than an extra $50.
*Works perfectly for my use as a heated press **MyBest.Tools** Space between the ram jack and the base is a little tight. Make sure you set the ram jack arm so that it's in a position for you to get maximum leverage on whatever you're pressing. You may have to unbolt the front plate of the press and realign the ram in the teeth so that the arm is not at an awkward angle when fully cranked down.Other than aligning the ram in the teeth with the crank arm this .5 ton arbor press comes out of the box pretty much ready to use.*
Well done, you've made a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Nice to see a precision tool born.
I agree with Walsh. A kit with the improvements would be a great deal appreciated...
I also bought the Harbor Freight Arbor Press. I didn’t have all the problems you had. The steel ram too end needed to be squared. I drilled out a half inch hole in the bottom of the steel ram and also drilled out two 1/4” inch holes on the right and left sides of the steel ram to accommodate two 5/16” Hex Nuts. I needed the retrofit so I could attach leather working chisels, stamps and Maker’s Mark. They worked great after the retrofit. I still need to grind off the bottom two teeth. All in all I’m happy with the Arbor Press.
Nice mods turned it into a great machine.
Thanks for sharing this. Just got one today
i miss you, dad. please rest easy.
Todd is your dad? I'm sorry for your loss.
Well done sir!
Nice upgrades.
Can we all send ours to you because not many of us have a milling machine?
That's so nice what you did , but as a 71 year old grandmother who needs an arbor press to make jewelry to supplement a fixed income I need this ..I won't be making parts, I don't have the tools or the know how , to get one better..woo hoo good for you sir..
R u using it to press rocket motors by chance or other fireworks comps or for machining stuff?
I've been considering one of these because the price is so low, relatively speaking, but you've accurately called it a 'kit'. You basically reinvented it from a skeletal foundation. Shitty deal, no matter the affordability, because most people who want an introductory-level press like this don't have the requisite machine shop accommodations to transform one of these into the general equivalent of a similar, higher-grade press that costs at least five times as much. They may, however, need a tool that offers an acceptably high degree of precision. Without the accuracy and control you'd desire from a press, you might as well use a hammer. : /
I just bought another one. Adjusted small looseness in minutes. It was nice and CLEAN. I had one before but I live in Colorado so periodically the junkies steal everything.
i have a large drill press that i don't use that much and am short of space so i can mount my arbor press and cutoff saw on the table of the large drill press.... use small dress press much more.... and i have build a table that i can slide the press and saw off on to it when i need the large press....
NIIIICE.
Very nice mods. Came over here after reading the comments on Halligan142's "rant" video. Can you elaborate on the ratcheting mod? Did you simply mill off the bottom two teeth to make it ratchet like that?
deemstyle, yes simply mill or grind the bottom two teeth off of the ram's rack gear. That's all there is to it.
What mill did you use? Thanks.
A grizzly g0704
A one ton press should have no trouble pressing in wrist pins
Is Harbor Freight a good or poor company ?
This press sounds like a piece of junk if you had to do all that work to it, I think I'll spend more and buy a quality one since I'm not a Machinist
Needs a longer arm, too.
Dan Knight I think a longer arm would overstress the frame of the press. The casting was not built to take the extra force.
Todd Griffith there's a guy who expanded the arm with something like ten more inches and he seems to be fine. Unless it went bad and he didn't say anything :/
Why not just spend another 50 bucks and get a better one to begin with?
sunrisesurfbum where's the fun in that?
Todd Griffith Hahaha excellent! PS. I just ordered one on eBay, we'll see if they improved it any.
what's the point in being a machinist if you can't make a few silk purses out of sows' ears now and then. I have an extra hour more often than an extra $50.
All the small presses are probably made at the same factory.
Why not just buy a better tool ?