Shopping for a Clicker. Any input?

[JerseyFirefighter]

So I've started to buy some dies to cut some of the repeated patterns of my straps as well as dies to make use of scraps (fobs, coasters, shield fronts etc) and was wondering about clickers (since I only know what i've read in random posts). My largest die will be about 18-20x2 1/2" long and I will be clicking a mix of 9 oz and 13-15oz leather. 

 I've been going back and forth over Weaver's 8 ton clicker and just curious if there are other brands or machines that square up to theirs or are more cost effective (Tippmann, Cobra?). Any pro's or con's to them (besides being rather large and heavy) I reckon my price range would be anywhere between $1500-2500. Any insight from those that have had one or more different types of clickers would be greatly appreciated. I was going to wait until the beginning of next year to buy one but things have been going very well on the business front so I may just speed this purchase up. Thanks!

 

[Art]

I've had a couple of bottle jack type press/clickers, one hand pump and one air driven bottle jack.  The air drive one has been setting for 5 or so years since I got the 10 ton hydraulic.  The 10-ton does everything, and does it quick.  Really large dies can be done in sections with either type.  The 10-ton definitely holds down the garage, neither it or the garage has moved since it got here.  I left it on the metal shipping pallet, and if I have to move it, the pallet jack comes in handy.

To keep cost down, look to a used one from a reputable dealer, like Campbell-Randall or someone they recommend.  The Chinese machines work ok, at least mine does, a used Atom would be good too.  Check Craigs List.

Art 

[JerseyFirefighter]

1 hour ago, Art said:

I've had a couple of bottle jack type press/clickers, one hand pump and one air driven bottle jack.  The air drive one has been setting for 5 or so years since I got the 10 ton hydraulic.  The 10-ton does everything, and does it quick.  Really large dies can be done in sections with either type.  The 10-ton definitely holds down the garage, neither it or the garage has moved since it got here.  I left it on the metal shipping pallet, and if I have to move it, the pallet jack comes in handy.

To keep cost down, look to a used one from a reputable dealer, like Campbell-Randall or someone they recommend.  The Chinese machines work ok, at least mine does, a used Atom would be good too.  Check Craigs List.

Art 

Thank you for your insight Art. After al these new toys my wife might get that new house she's been looking for so long as it comes with a much larger work area to comfortably space out work stations. :D

[shoepatcher]

Jerseyfirefighter,

Used hydraulic clickers usually  start at about $3000.00 and up.  Their is someone in New Jersey that sells used machines.  I will try to find their info and get it to you.

glenn

[CaptQuirk]

Are there any cheap redneck engineered options?

[bikermutt07]

A bottle jack press. 

[CaptQuirk]

14 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

A bottle jack press. 

Dude... I guess I need to Goggle that, because it seems like you are leaving out a detail or two

[bikermutt07]

You know, a shop press with plates welded on it. They are all over YouTube.

Thought you knew. You can build one out of a harbor freight press used for pressing bearings.

TOTALLY REDNECK.

Some people go ahead and replace the jack with an air or hydraulic cylinder.

Edited October 22, 2016 by bikermutt07

[billybopp]

What bikermutt is talkin' about is something like this, a shop press / hydraulic arbor press which some folks have modified with a plate top and bottom to make a clicker.  There are threads about it somewhere here on LWN  .. Here is one of them.   Apparently, with bottle jack power, it's not all that fast, but no doubt still much faster than cutting by hand.  

Bill

[CaptQuirk]

Thanks, I did find a few threads, and even mention of a fly press. Maybe someday I'll have the cash and the room for something like that.