Shop Press To Clicker Press

[Shooter McGavin]

I just purchased a 20T press from Harbor freight for 160 dollars on sale. Order 2 pieces of 1" thick, 20"x20" sheared plate for another 200 dollars.

For a total investment of 360 dollars and a few hours of my time grinding and welding, I hope to have a very capable press.

I guess the trick will be knowing when I have cut through the leather. Im afraid I will go to deep and ruin my cutting boards..

[Shorts]

I just purchased a 20T press from Harbor freight for 160 dollars on sale. Order 2 pieces of 1" thick, 20"x20" sheared plate for another 200 dollars.

For a total investment of 360 dollars and a few hours of my time grinding and welding, I hope to have a very capable press.

I guess the trick will be knowing when I have cut through the leather. Im afraid I will go to deep and ruin my cutting boards..

Dang, I hate to think what that unit is gonna weigh when it is all together. A 12x12x1" plate is 40lbs! lol When you weld the crossbar don't use too uch heat. Too much will warp 1" plate.

When I clicker press a piece there is a really loud POP! that tells me when I'm through. Just before the pop the tension on the pump handle gets real hard - the POP! is the cut through. You will cut into the cutting board, that's just a fact. Rotate the board around so that the cuts are dispersed and you aren't making an exact cut in the same place every time for the same patterns. Conider the HDPE as a maintenance item. It'll be up to you to deterine when it will need replacing. As you go you learn the sound and feel of cutting through, just practice. Always center your piece so the crossbar over the plate is evenly applying pressure to the die. This will help te life of your die so it isn't being crushed sideways and stays straight.

Post up photos when you get it all done.

[Shooter McGavin]

Ya each plate is something like 114 pounds lol. Ohand when you shear them it leaves really sharp edges! Good thing I have a 9" angle grinder. Acyually I used to do a lot of metal fab but had to quit due to lung problems. Im excited to be back at it a bit. Last winter I cut my Harley in half and hardtailed it for fun.

Im thinking of popping holes in the corners of the bottom plate for some 1/2" grade 8 threaded rod to use as stops. Not sure if they will really be needed but it sounds like a good idea. I imagine I may need to gusset the plates if I plan to exert that much force on the outer corners though.

I will certainly post pics.