Texas Leash Co Report post Posted February 8, 2013 (edited) I finished making my clicker die press today. Total cost was a little over $500. I started off with a Harbor Freight 20 ton shop press and a Harbor Freight 20 ton pneumatic jack. I then had (2) 1"x12"x22" steel plates welded on to it. I also added 2 additional spring to lift the weight of the plate and jack. I pretty much followed the directions of some of the post on this website and then modified it to my specifications. I am going to order some dies next to try the thing out. What do you think? Here it is on YouTube in action: http://youtu.be/NQ1GfAO_rs8 Edited February 8, 2013 by Texas Leash Co Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tazer58 Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Looks great, I like the addition of the additional springs, I got my plates back from the welder on Tues evening, mounted them up and the weight is stretching out the stock springs more than I work like. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Texas Leash Co Report post Posted February 8, 2013 I picked the additional springs up at Lowes. They were about $5 each and then I attached the just like the originals with eye bolts. Here is the video I just posted on YouTube showing it in action. http://youtu.be/NQ1GfAO_rs8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tazer58 Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Looks like it will work great, I guess I should swing by Lowe's and pick some up. Will have to wait for reinforcements to show up at my house to assist in removing and putting the top plate back on. I placed it on there by myself the other night , that was a bear getting in place and thought a couple of times I was going to lose it and drop it on my toes. Same with you I haven’t had a chance to try mine yet, waiting for the 6 sets of dies to show up. (Any day now). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tzalabak Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Very nice work. I've been thinking about doing something similar lately. The additional springs are a great idea. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WScott Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Following along Show us more when you get some dies Great ingenuity! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clicker Report post Posted February 8, 2013 I have been working on an idea like yours here, Thats cool Nice work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whiteeugene Report post Posted February 8, 2013 Looks like it should work great! Can you put a presser gauge on it so you know how much force you are using, don't want to bend your dies. Any way to attach the die to the top plate so it comes up when you release the presser on mine I I'm always fighting with the dye it gets stuck in the bottom plastic plate. Doug Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Texas Leash Co Report post Posted February 9, 2013 I understand that the dies getting stuck is more a problem related to the type of cutting board/surface that is used. I suspect that a nylon/plastic type cutting board is more problematic that the type used on a real clicker press. But... my cutting board cost $10 at Sam's Club and the 12x24 clicker board is much more expensive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
whiteeugene Report post Posted February 9, 2013 I understand that the dies getting stuck is more a problem related to the type of cutting board/surface that is used. I suspect that a nylon/plastic type cutting board is more problematic that the type used on a real clicker press. But... my cutting board cost $10 at Sam's Club and the 12x24 clicker board is much more expensive. I came across some 1/2 inch white plastic like is used by most food processing places not sure what is used on a clicker, If you use a harder cutting board would it dull the dye. I also added some high density foam the blue stuff you buy a home depot in the garden section. I have some denser stuff that I use on my kydex press I might give that a try. An interstate plastic has good prices on most plastic. If you have a restaurant supply store you can try there I picked up a used 2x3 cutting board for 10 bucks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clicker Report post Posted March 2, 2013 There is a company named US plastics, they have every kind of plastic you can think of. search the website BUT Your much better off to give them a call Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloverpatch Report post Posted May 28, 2013 Could you use a very firm foam rubber to push the die and cutting board apart when the pressure is released? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tempestleather Report post Posted February 21, 2015 Awesome thread. I'm going to do this! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wedgetail Report post Posted September 15, 2018 Patience is a virtue... I waited about a year and a half, but finally the auto parts shop at the end of my street put their 6 tonne shop press on special, just about 50% off.... was AUD$304 down to $160 with bonus $60 accessory pack... which is cool, just in case I ever need the dies. Now I just need to find a bit of plate steel... good job the father in law is a steel fabricator maybe we can dig something out of the scrap bin. Given that a little clicker press with a smaller bed width is about $1300 here.... I should be able to deck out my shop with this shop press, steel plates, cutting mat, and a heap of dies for the same price as paying for one of those. Sure, it won't be as quick as a clicker press, but it will certainly be quicker and more accurate than my scalpel for the repeatable things I make. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
battlemunky Report post Posted September 15, 2018 Congrats on the score! I'm waiting for a similar bit of good fortune to find me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koreric75 Report post Posted September 15, 2018 9 hours ago, battlemunky said: Congrats on the score! I'm waiting for a similar bit of good fortune to find me. The Harbor Freight presses are fairly inexpensive and go on sale often, not sure if there's one near you as i'm not sure about shipping one. I simply just don't have the room to put one together yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
battlemunky Report post Posted September 15, 2018 We have one right up the road, actually. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
koreric75 Report post Posted September 15, 2018 3 hours ago, battlemunky said: We have one right up the road, actually. cool, now just need some steel plate and a welder...or a buddy that can weld ( haven't tried and don't think i'm ready to undertake another artform) and some dies and you'll be rocking and rollin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wedgetail Report post Posted September 17, 2018 They aren't the lightest of things that's for sure... Even though mine is only a bench top mount, on the floor it stands about waist height I suppose, it is pretty solid! Wouldn't want to put it in a space you intend to use for multiple purposes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
