Hydraulic press

[Firebird]

Hi

I built this press about 18 month ago and now wonder how I ever managed without it. A very versatile and easy to use tool.

 Built mostly from angle iron and off cuts and a 6 ton hydraulic jack. I have more photos and drawings if anyone is interested.







Cheers

Rich

[John S]

Rich,
Just a suggestion but get another base channel and some longer pins and put the channels on the outside.
This way you can press long shafts down thru the gap between the uprights. Also pays to loosely fasten them together with studding so they don't fall off when working three handed with some weird shaped piece - don't ask.



before the studding was fitted.

[SKIPRAT]

Hi Rich

I would be interested in more photos and drawings as i am thinking of building a press as it is a lot easier making boiler end caps than the usual copper bashing and would come in handy for other jobs too. I did follow your boiler and steam engine build on the other forum with great interest.

[gmac]

Skiprat;
Here's an old plan that may help;

http://bespoke-objekt.blogspot.ca/2009/10/hydraulic-forming.html

I'd recommend googling "hydraulic press plans" and searching thru the "image" files, makes for faster review of the search results. There are quite a few variations and designs and it will help you decide on a design that best suits the type of jobs you intend to do.

Cheers  Garry

[Firebird]

Hi

This is the 30 ton press we have at work, this is the one i based my home made one on.



Heres a couple of drawings





Early stage of construction



Another view from the top



John, I have carried out a mod similar to what you have suggested, its much better than the solid beam in the centre. I used what I had at the time but soon realised it restricted its use too much.

Cheers

Rich

[Dan Rowe]

Rich,
That is a nice press. I have a press on my list. I have an Enerpac ram and hand pump so that will be the hydraulic power.

They would not send us one on one of the ships I worked so we just borrowed a few parts and built one. It was very handy for pressing off pump shaft bearings.

Dan

[Dean W]

Well done on that, Rich.  I like the size of it.  Easily modified to be as small as needed for the size of a guy's shop.
I think one a bit smaller will be needed in my shop soon.  (My shop is quite small!)

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Dan and Dean

Heres a couple of shots of the press as it is now with the modified bed. I still have the solid I beam but don't use it much.





Cheers

Rich