I mentioned Harbor Freight's shop presses to RSpeed, and was checking out the link...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/taf...emnumber=33391

I'll be damned, but isn't that a regular 'ol bottle jack controlling the whole press?

What do you think of the possibility of making your own press with a bottle jack? Looks like it's just a rectangular frame, with the bottle jack attached.

Harbor Freight's cheapest bottle jack (4 ton, $17) is at this link: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/taf...emnumber=41133

Figure $25 for the jack & shipping... what's left, just a metal frame? Opinions, anyone?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
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Yes, it's just a bottle jack and a frame, and for $100 you can buy a 12 ton version of it. By the time you buy the jack, the angle iron and other parts needed, and the press plates; you will have spent more than $100. Then you have to build it! I have the 12 ton version, and for the money it's great.

 

i made a press with a bottle jack and made another press with a porta power. pretty simple to do after looking at the catalogs.

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-=ICON MOTORSPORTS=-
1st & 3rd

 

Heh, good point, Odin. I get a little distracted when I find an opportunity to weld something! I guess I wouldn't save any $$.

BUT- It would be cool to say I did it. Thanks, Ede, for letting me know it's possible! I'll give it some thought- hell it's not like I have use for it soon, anyway.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

the idea of making a press sounds cool but i'd be too scared...if you've ever seen anything pop out of a press or get shattered in a press you wouldnt want to mess around with that kind of stuff...at least me anyway!

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers

 

Go to Steve Smith Motorbooks (or autosports...) website. His company sell all kinds of racing books. There is one about building shop equipment for about $15. has plans for an engine hoist, sheet metal brake, press, engine stand and some others.
If you have the equipment and the time i suggest building your own because you end up with a better product and you can customize it to your needs. A friend of mine has the harbor freight press, it is pretty flimsy adn the bottle jack is made in china, i suspect it will begin leaking soon...
I built a 6' brake that will bend 14 ga steel.

 

OK, the book is called "The Racer's Guide to Fabricating Shop Equipment" by John Block, sold by Steve Smith Autosports.
TomP, if you would like to look at it, i could copy a few pages and send them to you.
TO build this you need a decent welder, ie 220v Mig, Arc or Tig. You also need to be able to cut up to 1/4" steel accurately, i use a 7" cut off wheel ($3 at home depot) in a circular saw. Like i said, you wont really save any money, but if you are a decent fabricator youll end up with a much better product.
email me at merf23@yahoo.com
Sean

 

Merf, thanks for that book info! I "only" have a 120 volt MIG, but maybe I'll go hunt it down anyway. If the books as good as you say, I won't need any scanned pages- but thanks!

CamaroZ_85, you've got a helluva good point!


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!