Anyone ever regret getting just a 12 ton press? (instead of 20 ton)

also, anyone have experience with the difference between the A frame and more expensive channel frame versions at harbor freight?

 

My Experience:

I bought a 6 ton press & it sucked. Barely could do my bearings I needed done.

This was back a few years ago... but I went to Harbor Freight & they had the 20 ton for $99.99 & I was like !! Sold!

I have needed the channel frame for a few things I don't think would fit in the A frame. One thing that comes to mind is knuckles. I use my press about once every other month & I'm glad I got a wider area to work with.

Good luck on your decision,

Pete

 

I bought a cheap 12 ton HF press (bolt together) a few years ago to do the bushings in my car. Big mistake. It would actually start rocking back and forth because the frame got so tweaked under pressure! The space between the channels in the bed also wasn't big enough to do hub bearings.

So I sold it to a friend super cheap and upgraded to an Arcan 20T welded frame press. Best decision I made. This thing is solid (and very heavy!), with enough room to do wheel bearings without any problems. The only thing I don't like is that the ram is not exactly perpendicular to the bed, and that's caused an issue before. One of these days, I'll cut the tubes and weld them perpendicular to the bed.

 

i bought harbor freight's 12 ton press and it works great (you just have to use a little ingenuity). for its low price this thing can definitely get the job done. however, i do regret not getting their 20 ton press though.

i've used this press for everything from hub bearings to rta bushings, you name it. also, wheel bearings do fit between the channels (mine are 98 crv size hub bearings).


Modified by 98SpecR at 6:20 AM 3/2/2007

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1418119

 

For the price difference, I'd definitely go with the 20 ton. It has handled every job I've needed it to effortlessly. It's nice when you have a job to do not to have to think about whether or not the press is going to be up to the task. They go on sale fairly frequently, so if you can afford some time to wait, you can pick one up cheaper than MSRP.

 

yeah, the 20 ton channel frame HF press has been on sale at under $200 before. i just slept on it.

so whats the practical difference of the A frame ones? same tonage, bit smaller?? not as adjustable?

 

get the 20 ton one. find some harbor freight coupons online . i believe there is a 20% off single item coupon floating around.

 

Just make your own, you can make it more rigid and wider to fit larger work pieces underneath. All you need is some steel channel , you can find the press jacks anywhere. Ive found a few 50ton press jacks on ebay for rather cheap. Just an idea

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah, the 20 ton channel frame HF press has been on sale at under $200 before. i just slept on it.

so whats the practical difference of the A frame ones? same tonage, bit smaller?? not as adjustable?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The A-frames give you less working area. They're almost 10" skinnier between the channels and their range of motion is considerably less. The tonage is actually all in the jack, so it's the same 20T bottle jack in both frames, but the box frame one just gives you significantly more working area at the expense of extra size and weight.

 

I have the H frame 20 ton works awesome. got it for 159.00

Edo

 

space is a commodity. it alsmost makes me think its better for me to get the A frame then.

the biggest thing i can think of using it for is a knuckle, or trailing arm at the most.

 

I figure that if any tool from Harbor Freight is still working after it has been used more than 4 times... It has paid for itself.
Our 20 ton press has paid for itself over, and over and over, and over....

FWIW

Kiwi

 

which model did you end up getting?

I was hoping to spend no more than $100 but it looks like i'm going to be up to $250 according to the current prices at harbor frieght.


any thoughts on this? yes i know its a 20T so it should be ok, but the construction otherwise in terms of size and shape, any thoughts?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=97022

 

Harbor Freight coupons in May 2009 Motor Trend page 133 including a one-item coupon for 20% off and the aluminum 3-ton jack for $59.

 

fail.

 

sweet, $4 magazine is definitly worth the savings. thanks for the tip!