prondzy 3,881 #1 Posted May 13, 2020 Picked up a HF 20 ton press today. Been watching a lot of youtube videos on modifications made to these to make them nicer. I completed my first mod today, a boat winch to raise and lower the press bed easier, and i have to say it works really slick. Got a knob ordered for the pressure release valve so i dont have to use the jack handle (anyone with one of these presses knows what im talking about and how big of a pain it can be). There is a metal brake that can be added to these (aftermarket) that looks really nice but i think i need to save my pennies for that one. 12 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #2 Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) I guess I'm not seeing the need for the winch for the apron Mike??? I get that old I can't do it by hand come get all my tractors Guessing you saw my mod for gettin a dash in ?? Only problem I have is the lame stand. Feet needs to be welded solid and anchored to the floor. Too tippy for me otherwise. Another issue was the bottle jack leaked after a few uses and had to add oil... prolly low to begin with...Chinese go figure...if yours does go get some of this. Worked wonders for a 20 yo crapsman 3 ton floor jack that always leaked. Fleets has it. Other than that for the money ....priceless for home shop. Edited May 13, 2020 by WHX24 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #3 Posted May 13, 2020 16 minutes ago, WHX24 said: I guess I'm not seeing the need for the winch for the apron Mike??? I get that old I can't do it by hand come get all my tractors Guessing you saw my mod for gettin a dash in ?? Only problem I have is the lame stand. Feet needs to be welded solid and anchored to the floor. Too tippy for me otherwise. Another issue was the bottle jack leaked after a few uses and had to add oil... prolly low to begin with...Chinese go figure...if yours does go get some of this. Worked wonders for a 20 yo crapsman 3 ton floor jack that always leaked. Fleets has it. Other than that for the money ....priceless for home shop. Jim the winch is just for raising and lowering the table. The big plus is being able to change table height with work not tipping off the table when moving pins. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,502 #4 Posted May 13, 2020 Mike, I made a press brake for making a curved bend. I twas made from angle iron, round stock & some scrap metal that I had lying around. Replacing the round stock with angle iron or a heavy bar at a 45 degree angle you would have a press brake to make 90 degree bends. 6 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #5 Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, prondzy said: work not tipping off the table when moving pins. Yup that I could see... I was doing that all the time when broaching. To solve it I made different lengths of push stock but still have to move the apron at least once. Edited May 13, 2020 by WHX24 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #6 Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) Looking at that winch setup on a big screen now Mike that ain't a bad idea. I probably have a boat winch laying around with nothing to do. Did yours come with the angle pieces from the feet to the H or did you add them? ? Mine does not have that and would make it much less tippy. No matter how tight those bottom bolts are it still tips. I didn't want to bolt it down... may rearrange the shop. Also that piece of angle holding the handle... I need to make a little tray for there. Edited May 13, 2020 by WHX24 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #7 Posted May 13, 2020 2 hours ago, WHX24 said: Looking at that winch setup on a big screen now Mike that ain't a bad idea. I probably have a boat winch laying around with nothing to do. Did yours come with the angle pieces from the feet to the H or did you add them? ? Mine does not have that and would make it much less tippy. No matter how tight those bottom bolts are it still tips. I didn't want to bolt it down... may rearrange the shop. Also that piece of angle holding the handle... I need to make a little tray for there. Those are parts came with the press 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #8 Posted May 19, 2020 Made this today ... 3 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shynon 7,459 #9 Posted May 19, 2020 36 minutes ago, WHX24 said: Made this today ... Nice Jim, will you be making more Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #10 Posted May 19, 2020 9 hours ago, WHX24 said: Made this today ... Thanks for the idea Jim! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #11 Posted May 19, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, Shynon said: Nice Jim, will you be making more I can... took about 5 min. got tired of arbors falling off and a place to store the handle. Need to put on those foot angles now. Those handles on the side of the apron where the cable attaches Mike did you put them on? Mine does not have them either. I could add them and winch but then my mod to get a steering shaft in with the dash on would not work. Edited May 19, 2020 by WHX24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #12 Posted May 20, 2020 On 5/19/2020 at 6:39 AM, WHX24 said: I can... took about 5 min. got tired of arbors falling off and a place to store the handle. Need to put on those foot angles now. Those handles on the side of the apron where the cable attaches Mike did you put them on? Mine does not have them either. I could add them and winch but then my mod to get a steering shaft in with the dash on would not work. New design Jim, but there are easy ways to make it work just google HF 20ton press mods. Just installed this guy on the release valve, no more using the jack handle , what a pain! Available online. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #13 Posted May 20, 2020 Sawwweett... Got a ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #14 Posted May 21, 2020 (edited) @WHX24 https://www.swagoffroad.com/ Gotta watch if you have a roll pin t handle or a squished flat t handle on your valve for which knob you need. Check out his finger brake for the 20ton HF presses, pretty sweet but kinda spendy, gotta start saving. Edited May 21, 2020 by prondzy 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prondzy 3,881 #15 Posted November 21, 2020 (edited) @WHX24 added the air jack last night no more stroking it and having the missus walkin in on ya! 20201120_191632.mp4 Edited November 26, 2020 by prondzy 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,773 #16 Posted November 21, 2020 Sounds like a machine gun! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
