A or H frame press

[BMWM1]

Whats the pros and cons between the 2?

[Ford_Six]

It depends on brand and capacity. I have a 12ton Harbor Freight H-style press, and it's not bad. Great for wheel bearings, and other small jobs. At work we have a giant A-frame that has a bender attachment, it could fold a 4' sheet of 1" steel in half.
What models are you looking at?

[BMWM1]

Any of these below are options.I just don't want to buy one and then wish I would have got something else


- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

[*2fords*]

I have a 10 ton press from Harbor Frieght. i can't ell you what the pros and cons are. But I can tell you, that unless your floor is level, it will rack itself. My shop floor was just wood planks, and the first time i used it, it racked way out of shape. so I had to take it all apart and put it together straight again, then I welded all the joints, so it won't happen again.
I also had to replace the jack after only a short time. Harbor Frieght jacks are just crap. I wrote about that in another post in this section.

[BMWM1]

I'm not a press expert but what does the floor have to do with? Its pushing against itself isn't it? I can understand the importance of it being square with its self I also had planed on welding mine as well once everything checked out.

[Ford_Six]

There is enough pressure within the assembly that if you floor isn't available, it will rack. It will also rack if your not pressing evenly.

[BMWM1]

Whats the definition of the word rack?

[ckal704]

Originally Posted by BMWM1

Whats the definition of the word rack?

Check the club. There are photos.
Oh- you mean in the context of hydraulic presses? In that case, I do not know the answer, but supect he is referring to twisting or otherwise working itself out of square.

[*2fords*]

Yup what ckal said. thats what I mean. I'm a framer, that's a word used to mean to move a wall level and plumb.

[Ford_Six]

Racking in reference to a frame is when it moves out of square, like a parallelogram.
What's your primary use?

[fixnair]

I second the flat floor and I wouldn't get the A-frame press. With an H-frame you have the option of moving the ram sideways to accomodate unusual sized parts. With the A-frame you can only press in the center of the rails.

[daveengelson]

Might I suggest check Craig's list, happened to come across a quality 20T H frame shop press off Craig's list and got a great deal, not only for the press but it also included several press plates. Eventually installed heavy duty wheels.