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Thread: An old hydraulic press

  1. #1
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    An old hydraulic press

    Found this old hydraulic press on CL and picked it up yesterday. I can't tell it's capacity, but guessing maybe a 20 ton. What's cool is the hydraulic setup...it all works and doesn't leak (much). And the cable/crank/pin setup for quickly raising or lowering the bottom base bars. The seller didn't have any arbor plates to go with it, so I just ordered a new alloy steel set off ebay.
    Some cleanup and maybe paint and this thing will have another life in my (soon to be built) shop-garage.
    Saving another old piece of American Iron. (this was made in Los Angeles).

    IMG_3733.jpg

    IMG_3734.jpg

    IMG_3735.jpg
    Last edited by WagonCrazy; 07-20-2017 at 06:49 AM.
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  2. #2
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    I have a modified HF POS of the 20 ton variety and I shattered the press plated that came with it. Store mgr said I overloaded them. I asked why they sold plates not capable of 20 tons with a 20 ton press. I have some cut from 1 inch steel now.

  3. #3
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Pretty cool Paul. We had a similar newer one in the shop where I worked at H-P and one thing I always liked about it is that it has a gauge on it so you could tell how much force you were putting on it. You might consider putting one in the pressure line and trying to calibrate it. I think it would be good to know.

    I have the HF 20-ton press and it's worked really well for me for lots of things. My biggest complaint is that it's so short, and I'm not a tall guy. I may put legs on it to raise it 8" or so. I bought a nice press-brake for it and I can easily bend 3/8" steel with it. I think it would be pretty easy to over-load the press without knowing how much force you're putting on it. Clearly a 20-ton ram could exert more than that if you put more force on the handle than intended. That's why a pressure gauge would be nice.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
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    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
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    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

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    Registered Member BamaNomad's Avatar
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    That's some nice looking 'old American iron'... clean it up and paint it 'industrial gray', and it'll last another 100 yrs ...

    Gary

  5. #5
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    The arbor plates that come with HF presses are just some cast junk. If you've ever seen how many voids can be in a cheap Chinese casting, you know that the strength is not determined by the material.

    Just plain low carbon steel will be far better. (And do as I say, not as I do - I still have the HF plates.)

  6. #6
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    I bought steel plates from an eBay seller.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/322329432961...chn=em&vxp=mtr
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  7. #7
    Registered Member WagonCrazy's Avatar
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    I bought a nice press-brake for it and I can easily bend 3/8" steel with it.
    I'm looking for something like this. Post a pic and tell me what you got so I can find one too.
    1957 Nomad- LS1/T56 on C4 chassis
    1959 Fleetside Apache 1/2 ton, shortbed, big window, 327ci.

  8. #8
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    Too easy to just order up those ebay plates rather than find a local supplier, and figure out all the notches. Plus they have to be cheaper than a one off.

  9. #9
    Registered Member chevynut's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WagonCrazy View Post
    I'm looking for something like this. Post a pic and tell me what you got so I can find one too.
    Paul, Swag Offroad makes some really cheap cool stuff for home fabrication. Check this out.

    http://www.swagoffroad.com/Metal-Fab...ools-_c_7.html
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

  10. #10
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    It looks like this press has more adjustment holes than my HF model that's good it was a pain in the ass to drill a hole in between each hole. It also appears to be taller and have a sturdier case another modification had to make, eight inches taller and a stronger base. Nice score.

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