Does anyone own the Harbor Freight 20 ton press?

[farmer2009]

Have had mine about 5 or 6 years. Paid about 180. Have stalled out the jack straightening a jeep bumper. Press held up well. The only negatives I've heard of are the press plates. Seams some have had quality problems with them. Mine are fine.

 

[George2615]

I've had the smaller 12T press for about 10 years now. Haven't broken it yet.

 

[bcp]

I like the A-frame press. The ram is guided by two plates and doesn't move around nearly as much as in the H-frame press. I have the 12 ton version which does all I've wanted.

20 ton A-Frame Floor Shop Press

Bruce

 

[Sodo]

I've had mine for 10 years. What can go wrong with it? Maybe a leak? I paid $169 or thereabouts.

I had to cut & straighten the main punch before using it, it was welded crooked. Had to move the bottom of the punch rightward 1/4" to be vertical. Easy job though, done in less time than to even re-box it much less drive to the store.

One internet guy broke the cast 'press-plates' and got injured, you can find pics online it's made quite a stink. Might be smart about pressing hard on those cast plates. Think about how you support them, or maybe employ a shield between you and the plate if it gets to "cranking hard". I have some cold rolled plates - you can bet I will use if really pressing hard though. Most jobs I'm not really pressing that hard.

:shocked:

Drill a hole in the hydraulic pump levers and hang them on pegs on the frame.

 

[HarryN]

That's agreat price. Go get it. I have one.
What kind of jigs will you use for bending angles in steel? Make them? Buy them? I want something simple to bend as well.

Can anyone comment on their 20 ton press? It's on a coupon sale for the lowest I've seen it---$153--and that's enough to push me over the edge. Any advice to go with this or other commentary? I want to bend angles in steel with it. Any advice appreciated.


20 Ton Shop Press - Hydraulic Shop Presses on Sale

 

[dfkrug]

Have stalled out the jack straightening a jeep bumper.

Maxxed out the force on mine many times. The wimpy bolted-on feet allows the jack to tip
forward under max force. I like STAN1's welded feet, above.

This is the first I have heard of the cast plates breaking. I use a plate of 1" A36 steel on top of them
many of the times I use it. I will prob do that more.

I have the 12T pipe bender (15yo?), which is not so useful. Cost less than $100.

Sometimes, I wish I bought the 50T or 35T instead, mostly for the higher force and bigger
frame. The air-over-hyd is a nice option some of the time, but I like the feel I get from
manual control. I have a free-standing 20T air-over-hyd jack ($75 on sale), and I like it for
what I use it for, but it does not have fine control. I DO like the winch lift for the table.

 

[Sodo]

The wimpy bolted-on feet allows the jack to tip
forward under max force. I like STAN1's welded feet, above

You're yankin' on it cuz you need a 35 or 50 Ton! :laughing: :laughing: Every time I look at those wimpy feet I think I ought to beef them up but honestly never had a problem with them (gotta leave some projects for when I retire )

 

[stans1]

Maxxed out the force on mine many times. The wimpy bolted-on feet allows the jack to tip
forward under max force. I like STAN1's welded feet, above.

This is the first I have heard of the cast plates breaking. I use a plate of 1" A36 steel on top of them
many of the times I use it. I will prob do that more.

I have the 12T pipe bender (15yo?), which is not so useful. Cost less than $100.

Sometimes, I wish I bought the 50T or 35T instead, mostly for the higher force and bigger
frame. The air-over-hyd is a nice option some of the time, but I like the feel I get from
manual control. I have a free-standing 20T air-over-hyd jack ($75 on sale), and I like it for
what I use it for, but it does not have fine control. I DO like the winch lift for the table.

DFKRUG; I can't tell you how much welding up a replacement bottom for my 20ton press helped the stability and just made it so that it won't move around while setting heavy pieces on the table. I needed to extend the bottom by about 2" so I used a piece of 4x4x3/16 wall square tube and a couple of pieces of 1/4x2x3 angle for the bottom, then used a 1/8x1 1/2x3 rectangle tube for the feet, then welded it all up. Here are a couple more pictures:

 

[Sodo]

made it so that it won't move around while setting heavy pieces on the table.

Stan I can see that. I suppose the first time it misbehaves it gets stronger feets.

 

[KubotainNH]

I have a smaller A-frame one that has done all I've asked it to. I added a wood base with wheels so it's higher and movable. Mine was shipped to my house and ended up having parts missing but HF was good about getting the missing parts to me. I read about the plates exploding too but I think the new ones are no longer cast. Google "harbor freight press mods" and you'll find some cool add-ons.

Any Tips or Cool Mods for a Harbor Freight Shop Press.... - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum
Harbor Freight 20 ton press is changing - Major Changes - Info inside - The Garage Journal Board