Are all arbor press the same?

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navycop

navycop

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Joined
Nov 4, 2010
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Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Harbor Frieght has a 1/2 ton press on sell. I know drillpress have different depths that the arm will move down. I was wondering if the depth was the same for the 1/2 ton and the 1 ton arbor presses. As far as pressing transmissions and nips on.
 
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While I would never suggest what one should or should not buy, I have not seen a need for an arbor press. After over 15 years and several thousand pens, I still use a bench vise with hard nylon pads to protect components and have never had a problem. The movement is controlled and steady. Small jigs to help control depth of insertion are beneficial, but not critical.
 
In answer to your question NO,

All Arbor Presses are not equal, I obtained mine as a special and I learned the following.

1. The downward press arm had slack in it So I rebushed the control arm shaft.
2. The pressing shaft was not square at the bottom so I reversed it then it was vertical and square.
3. From the front ie the left hand side in pics there was a mock adjustment (by that I mean there was only a cast pattern so I drilled and tapped five holes 4 around the perimeter one in the centre) this allowed adjustments to make a dead smooth raise and lowering.
4. It was many years ago now going by memory however I turned an aluminium anvil part to fit under the ram and drilled and tapped screws to hold it firm in place.
5. Fitted 3/16 inch white corian sheet by glue to the top of the anvil and the base of the ram or pressing arm.
6. Mounted the unit at eye height ( I sit at my lathe) so I can easily eyeball verticality and
simply swivel at the lathe to press)
7. Like all things mass produced from Asia you get the good with the ugly remember a fully engineered Bearing Press could cost up to 2000 dollars.

Having said this I am wrapped in my Press now for many years and regard it highly. Here and then it cost me 100 Dollars over your way cheap as chips, to me indispensable

Please find a few pics taken long time ago may assist to explain. Have success I did.

Kind regards Peter.
 

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Hi Jeff,

As one sparky to another want to thank you for the reference on U Tube, there is a difference in makes altogether so I wont apply this good mans mod. I use my press facing the front not the side and I need all the height I can get and cant afford to lose two down operating teeth. I imagine for shorter needs it will be magic.

Thanks Peter.
 
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