crazyal
Super Member
The difference between buying a HF and building your own is the HF will barely handle the strength of the jack/ ram. When pushed near it's limit the HF will flex some. I don't think you can damage it but never the less it still flexes. Maybe welding the bolted connections might help and if needed adding bracing. If you are going to build your own I wouldn't use a jack. Pick up a hydraulic cylinder (like Enerpac) and make it slide from side to side so you can tackle odd shaped projects.