How Can I Retrofit My Shop Press 'on The Cheap'?

[RoosterShooter]

I picked up a used shop press today from a yard sale. The owner said he only used it 2 times to remove bearings from a truck that he was working on, and I was all to glad at the price I paid?

Being that it's so close to Christmas ... funds are tight. However, I still need to get rolling on pressing holsters.

So, how can I retrofit my shop press to wet form holsters ... on the cheap?

For the info ... it's a 20 ton, standard style floor press made by Grizzly.

[renegadelizard]

i would think 2 1 inch steel plates welded to the frame and ram, along with some gum rubber, and you would be set...gum rubber is around 50-60 bucks i think, and the steel, im not really sure...

[RoosterShooter]

I already have the steel, but can't come to grips with buying rubber from McMaster Carr since it's $100 for the size needed.

Would the foam used in Kydex holster making work?

[dfwde]

This guy uses kydex foam

Also, find someone who installs carpet, they may have a lot of scrap carpet foam and just give it too you.

[RoosterShooter]

Where would I get something to use like the part that is on his 'arbor' of the press? It's the top piece that comes in contact with the foam.

[dfwde]

That I don't know, maybe you can go to his site and email him. He might just tell you.

[DuncanSinclair]

Where would I get something to use like the part that is on his 'arbor' of the press? It's the top piece that comes in contact with the foam.

It looks to me like a tamper used to tamp down a sand base when laying a brick walkway. http://www.lowes.com/pd_162933-42268-KR-2F-K+/+33962_0__?productId=3589556&Ntt=tampers&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dtampers&facetInfo=

[Dwight]

You will find that a 20 ton press is FAR more than enough to press holsters, . . . I did it for years with one made out of 2 x 4's and used a small 6 ton bottle press, . . . it gave me way more pressing ability than I could ever use.

The bottom and top plates can be made out of 3/4 inch plywood, . . . a double layer, . . . screwed & glued wil be quite sufficient.

The reason that the latex rubber is used, . . . it does not mar the surface. ANY foam that is not perfectly flat, . . . no bubbles, . . . WILL mark the leather.

I gave up using a press a couple of years back, . . . I get much better results with a vacuum bag, . . . less space taken up, . . . and I never have to worry about the possibility of messing up a gun when I use the vac bag, . . .

Make one extra, too many pumps on the press, . . . break a gun or somehow mess it up, . . . and a $50 holster profit just became a $1000 business liability, . . . to say nothing of the bad press he'll give you.

May God bless,

Dwight

Take a look here: http://leatherworker..."holster press"

Edited January 23, 2013 by Dwight

[Steven Kelley]

You can get a 1" x 24" rubber sheet from MSC for $83. Cut it in half and you have your two 12" x 12" pads. Here's a link.....http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce/NavigationServlet/Raw-Materials/Rubber/Rubber-Sheets/_/N-77dswZ1yxfh4aZ1yxgndu?refinement=4288835349&searchandizedOk=Y

[King's X]

Check out my blog. I built my shop press and posted the pictures/details on there. Good luck!