Shop Press recommendations

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Mar 30, 2013 | 09:54 AM

Piolet

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Joined: Oct 2006

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From: Francestown, NH

Shop Press recommendations

I'm looking to get a shop press for the garage, mostly for upcoming needle bearing replacement on my 6.0 hubs and new u-joints. With 2 other high mileage vehicles it will get used.

Harbor Freight has 20T on sale but the reviews are very disappointing.
Amazon has a Torin 12T for about the same price. I think the Torin brand will be a step up and I think the 12T will be plenty for my needs.

Any recommendations from anyone.

Mar 30, 2013 | 10:12 AM

acf6

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Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 13,710

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From: Manchester, CT

I just did u joints on my truck earlier this week and found it much easier to use the ball joint press instead of a 30t shop press we had. IMO

Mar 30, 2013 | 03:50 PM

Snowseeker

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Joined: May 2005

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From: Stevens Point, WI

I only have a small arbor press in my shop that works for most stuff. However when its not enough my buddy has one of those HF 20T and it has worked just fine for everything I have ever needed.

However the deal with a press is you need "stuff" for setting up the different situations you run into for doing the actual pressing. You need blocks of all different sizes as well as "punches" of different sizes. Sockets will work for many things but actual press punches are better.

Mar 30, 2013 | 06:53 PM

galaxie641

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Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 4,517

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From: SE Wyoming

Nuts and pipe fittings work nicely for press tools. I'd be curious what the bad reviews are on a HF press, not much you can get wrong there. I can see if the jack is crap but just buy a better name brand jack. Biggest thing is to have a perfectly flat lace to put the press as well as a nice thick flat base plate.