8 replies to this topic

[cmjlab]

I'm looking to get a bigger press, but can't afford a hydraulic one.

I looked at 3t Arbor Press but only find newer Chinese models with 11.02" over table working height.

Does anyone have one like this? If so, what size tooling and/or star plates will it work for? Any input would be appreciated.

I asked over on FW.com too, I'm hoping between the two forums I'll get some info on if I should bother with it or not. Thanks.

[Arthur]

Keep looking and researching! Decide how much you can spend and where you are going to put it. If it seems cheap to affordable it's Chinese. Look at https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-csa10ep-10-tonne-economy-hydraulic-floo/ OK it's a UK shop but it's a Chinese built workshop press so it will be on sale in USA in some way but under a different brand name. Harbour freight have like presses in 12 and 20 ton models. 

 

All of these simple economy presses are simply a bottle jack in a frame. SO if you can fabricate the frame a bottle jack from a car store or Harborfright or Ace Hardware could be useful.

 

Approach the problem from both ends. What task do you want to achieve? What length of tube do you want to press. What force will you need to apply? Floor or bench mounting? Then balance all the wishes on your wallet edge and then get the wife's approval!!!

 

Sometimes the answer really is a block of wood standing on the ground and a wooden mallet -cheap effective and multipurpose and recyclable.

 

Ask your favourite tool maker what force his tools need. Sometimes you can use a smaller press if you only press 20 stars not 50. If you want to press rockets you need a deeper press than a star press. For some short throw options maybe a DIY press driven by a front brake caliper and piston off a simple foot pedal and master cylinder may be a DIY start to a star press if your fabrication is up to standard.

[cmjlab]

Yeah I was looking for a simpler press for star plates (medium / Caleb plates / 4" x 4") and up to 3/4" rockets, so max tube length of 7.5". I have a smaller arbor press (but not with ratchet / wheel), and a bottle jack press (it's sort of a pain in the ass to set up and use, not real good for star plates).

The attractiveness of a 3t star press is that it should meet the PtF requirements of all the tooling I have now, but may require modification if I'm pressed full size black powder rockets, which I don't do often.

I was hoping someone else had one and could tell me how well it works for these types of tasks, and if it's much quicker to work with than a bottle jack press. Comet/crosette pressing comes to mind... Pressing them one at a time with a bottle jack isn't a very efficient practice, and would be much quicker with a larger Arbor press.

Edited by cmjlab, 09 March 2023 - 06:39 PM.

[cmjlab]

Ned had an interesting idea for extending the working height.

If I cut the Arbor press at the midpoint of the vertical supports, in half, I can then use steel plates (x3 1/4" steel plate) to add a few inches to the overall working height. I could add 3"-4" to the 11.05" height over table, to get 14"-15" of working height. That would be tall enough to do anything from 1# (3/4" ID) rockets in any comp, and down (to include 4"x4" star plates from Caleb).

I figured I would use a steel plate on the front facing flat vertical supports, and 2 steel plates on the rear part of the vertical supports (1 plate on each side). Instead of welding I would use 1/2" through bolts to securely bolt the plates on. This allows me to take advantage of the hand wheel, ratchet / weighted handle, and greater pressing capacity. It is also already bored for what looks like 1/2" press tools held in with a set screw.

So I went ahead and bought the cheap Vevor 3t Arbor press. If all else fails, I have a friend who can weld that may be able to do it. At worst, I'll only be out a couple hundred bucks and a cheap Chinese arbor press. Win/win, no? :-)

[Richtee]

Prolly comes with a free sample of the newest COVID batch too!

[cmjlab]

I've always like trying out the latest things..

[cmjlab]

So the arbor press came, it's pretty impressive how big the thing is. It is only 12" working height above the 1" thich rotating press plate that comes with it. So if I want to press 1# rockets with it, I'll have to cut it and make it taller. The other method of adding all thread and a plate below it to raise it (like the 1 tom arbor press modification) is also attractive but costs at least twice as much due to the steel plate dimensions I'd need (I can't find a reasonably priced piece of scrap steel plate anywhere). I'd much rather take that route, but I've looked online and nobody has "scrap", and the metal scrapyards around me won't sell any.

[Richtee]

 nobody has "scrap", and the metal scrapyards around me won't sell any.

Yer in the US right? Go spend $10 and get an “Assumed name” from the county. Then they’ll be more likely to sell to you. They try to avoid anyone without a biz license, selling or more importantly buying.

[Arthur]

Get the part you want drawn up on paper or CAD then get someone to make it.