20 Ton Shop Press

[Billh51]

I have been busy in the shop over the last several weeks working on my shop press as time allows. Trying to fit it in amongst several other projects that always seem more important. Anyway, it’s all done and ready to use. It is my own design and built out of used materials I had left over from other projects.
I did buy a new 20 ton air assisted jack and hand winch from Harbor Freight. Also I picked up the guide bearings on EBay. I think the pictures are self explanatory so I won’t go into a lot of details. The one thing that I thought was rather important, was to enclose the springs. I don’t care for the presses that are made with them exposed right in front of your face, wouldn’t want to be there if one lets go.
I did attach the pictures in kind of the order it was built but they got kind of scrambled up after loading them, anyway I’m sure you get the idea.

 

[Ray C]

Limited only by the size of the bottle jack.... Nice build!

Ray

 

[Technical Ted]

Very nice job! A couple weeks ago I picked up a 20 ton press from Harbor Freight that was on sale for $149. Want to trade?

Ted

 

[brino]

Wow, Built like a 50 ton or more!
Nice work...it looks very professional.
-brino

 

[Bob Korves]

One way to deal with exposed springs under tension is to run a wire rope cable through them and anchor it. It can be pretty thin cable, depending on the spring size. However, I do like your diamond plate solution better, looks nice! A nice job on the entire build as well...

 

[Silverbullet]

I like it , super strong , the added diamond plate says it's quality built. SAFTEY first too. I'd say this is a build of the month in my opinion.

 

[BROCKWOOD]

I like the wench for moving the table up & down!

 

[GoceKU]

Beautiful job on the press i especially like the finishing touches, like rounded feet, and aluminium diamond plate.

 

[Boswell]

Very Nice !

 

[FOMOGO]

Nice build, handy tool to have in the shop. Mike