Tree Reaper Report post Posted March 12, 2011 Ordered the snap in ramfoot, had it turned and threaded to fit my arbor press and tried a stamp on it. It works very well! Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) To Tree Reaper, and everyone......I'm researching an arbor press and how I may be able to rig it for various leather work usage. I want to be able to install line 24 snaps, stamp, and have dies made for punching slots, etc.......is this the type of press I should get? Or is a 1-ton adequate? http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-a-frame-bench-shop-press-1666.html Thanks! Edited April 9, 2011 by Rayban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philw Report post Posted April 9, 2011 6 ton is overkill - plus you'll be cranking away all day with the hydraulic jack. You need the arbor style press, which looks like this http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-arbor-press-3552.html 1 Ton should be fine for snaps etc, although you may want to bolt it down to a bench to stop it tipping forward when leaning on the handle. Phil Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shorts Report post Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) 1T is more than enough for snaps. I think the 1/2T would do the job just fine and be a few less bucks. I've got a 1T arbor press I just put together and it's working fine. In this honeymoon phase of using it I've got a few new ideas in my head about converting tools/punches to fit the center hole of the ram. I'll be transitioning my makers stamp over to that as well. Right now I use the vise. You definitely need to bolt or clamp the arbor press to the bench top. Otherwise it will tip forward at the vital point you pull the handle to make the impression on the item. I've got mine temporarily clamped but I'll be bolting it down this weekend. Treereaper, I figure on doing a little stamping with the press. Glad to see the concept go to fruition. Edited April 9, 2011 by Shorts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted April 9, 2011 Treereaper, I figure on doing a little stamping with the press. Glad to see the concept go to fruition. I've used it a few times now without any problems. There is ample room to slide a ruler in to line up the work or get your fingers in there to move things around. I just clamp it to a workmate and then stow it away when done. Kevin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikewood Report post Posted April 9, 2011 Hey guys, Though I would share. Here is my harbor freight 1/2 ton arbor press with home made jig for line text stamping. As you can see it's very simple and while not very fast to use it's quite precise. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 9, 2011 Good idea Mike, thanks for sharing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) Great idea on the fence and use of the bungee Mike, now we need a method to index the letters along the side to get equal spacing. You could leave the last letter in the impression to mark the next one but if you didn't have a spare letter set you would have a problem where two of same letters like ss were side by side. Edited April 10, 2011 by Tree Reaper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 10, 2011 I picked up my 1-ton yesterday, now working on coming up with a way for it to accommodate the various size rams on the stamping tools I want to use on it. As you all know, they can range from 1/2" to 1/4" or so....a friend suggested boring a hole up the rack at 1/2"+ dia. with a set-screw through the side to tighten....then make a sleeve for the smaller sizes. I'm digesting that one for a little while. Thoughts? Rg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shorts Report post Posted April 10, 2011 Rayban, about the sleeve, that's what I'm planning on as well for different sized tools. Haven't put it into actual practice yet but worth a shot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) Here's an idea I have....have a triangular shaped hole milled up through the rack which will be large enough to accept the largest size tool I would have, then a set screw through the side to tighten......then what my groovy little sketch shows is the smallest tool...... The tool would "bottom out" at the top of the hole, then the screw to tighten.....I'm liking this one more and more......thoughts?? Edited April 10, 2011 by Rayban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted April 10, 2011 You could go with a 1/2 inch drill chuck if clearance isn't a problem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 10, 2011 (edited) You could go with a 1/2 inch drill chuck if clearance isn't a problem. I thought about that too, but I wasn't sure what the inner workings of a chuck was all about....I may have to take an old drill apart and find out. Clearance would not be a problem because I would be happy to cut the tool rams in half if that worked. Edited April 10, 2011 by Rayban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted April 10, 2011 I have a 3/8 chuck that I can use on my press and it works well. I need a 1/2 inch for the larger leather punches. These normally have a single left hand thread screw that locks them onto the shaft. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=1/2+inch+drill+chuck&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=14591904385008270782&sa=X&ei=XyaiTe_gHYTC0QHoybT7BA&ved=0CDMQ8wIwAg# Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 10, 2011 Now I know...thanks Tree!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 15, 2011 A tool n die buddy of mine milled a tear-drop shaped hole in it to accept a 1/2" tool ram and down to a .200" . The tool rod rests against the smaller shape in the tear-drop and the set-screw holds it against it......works perfectly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted April 16, 2011 Looks good, will speed things up and make the work easier. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikti Report post Posted April 17, 2011 I just picked up my new arbor press today and now I gotta ask, how much would it cost to have a machinist drill a hole big enough and deep enough to hold my tool handles? I'm looking to use my all my snap setters as well as my alphabet stamp handle. Also, has anyone ever tried to use a lacing chisel on an arbor press? I have an 8 tip lacing chisel that I was thinking about using to help make holes faster. Next weekend I get to put my new workshop together and then I have no excuse for not producing anything. Damon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted April 18, 2011 A suggestion I made to Shorts: To get consistent pressure on the stamping, is there a way to mount a click style torque wrench in place of the handle? That way you could set it to a specific 'pressure', pull to make the impression and it clicks when you have the right (consistent) pressure for even stamping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tree Reaper Report post Posted April 18, 2011 how much would it cost to have a machinist drill a hole big enough and deep enough to hold my tool handles? Damon Depends on the shop rate. Probably $40-$60. You could add a torque wrench but you can get a pretty good feel for the pressure required. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 22, 2011 It's sooo nice having a gun totin tool and die type in the neighborhood.....look what he should up with today.... A jig so I can edge stamp on the arbor press, and he wouldn't have to hear me pounding on a dead cow from a mile away..... I couldn't wait to try it out......it's GREAT!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikti Report post Posted April 22, 2011 Is it steel or aluminum? Now that I have a press myself I was starting to think of ideas for something similar. Something to talk to my machinist next week when I take my press ram to him for making me my holes. Damon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted April 22, 2011 If theirs a trade school close by and they have a machinest shop / class i bet they would do it for little to nothing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted April 22, 2011 Is it steel or aluminum? Now that I have a press myself I was starting to think of ideas for something similar. Something to talk to my machinist next week when I take my press ram to him for making me my holes. Damon It's steel, and there's a few magnets between it and base of the press. STRONG magnets, I have to really try to budge it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shorts Report post Posted April 22, 2011 (edited) Rayban, nice work. I can squirrel together a piece of 1/2" square stock and some strap(no machinist nearby). Can you show how the magnets are placed under there? This is good stuff yall. Looks like I might be able to do some stamping afterall Edited April 22, 2011 by Shorts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
