new shop press

[sfcdan]

About 10 months ago I purchased the pictured shop press from Harborfreight. Without much research, the only thing I did right was purchasing the 12 ton jack instead of buying the cheaper 6 ton. After some research on the pressses, some members recommend spending more money on other brands besides Harborfrieght. As a Harborfreight customer I want to inform any one who's thinking of getting a harborfreight shop press, don't! Spend a little more money and get the more expensive one, and here's why. Harborfreight shop press has a 1 inch diameter pressure rod. When I first started using the press 3 weeks ago, it did the job I wanted but I had to release the pressure rod and move it around stamp. The other brands have a wider pressure rod which helps distribute the pressure evenly, eliminating the need to press one item 3 to 4 times.

Eventually I fixed the problem when I purchased steel to use the press as a clicker. I removed the thin pressure rod the press came with and I had a friend weld the pictured 4x4x6 squared metal rod. With the added metal, the press works evenly and I get really crisp basketweave prints such as the one pictured. In the long run, if I would've spent the money to get the right press from the beginning, I would've been using the press 10 months ago instead of now.

[Kustom]

Thanks for the info. That's good to know.

[sfcdan]

I hope it helps, I wish I would've known this 11 months ago. To finish my earlier thoughts, if any one is looking for a shop press, a friend of mine told me the best place to shop for one is on craigslist/tool section. Any one living in the SF bay area, there's a really nice press for $100 bucks. I'd like to get it but I don't have the room for it.

Daniel

[ABC3]

sfcan;

I bought the same exact press to do holsters on & IMO it's crap. I will never purchase a big itme from HF again.

I weilded a 1/2" plate to upper and bottom & it will get me by but I would rather have spent twice the $ & got something alittle more stable.

Live and learn.