Hydraulic press recommendations

[Domdom]

Evening chaps. Looking for some recommendations for a smallish hydraulic press. I’ve been looking at a sealey range, either a YC10B or a YK10B. Pics at the bottom.

Usage will be various, suspension bushes, bearings, hopefully also for some sheet steel if I make the dies.
Would either of these be OK at 10 tonnes, and which frame, open throat or full frame?

Ta very much.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

I have the top one, it works fine for most stuff, but i think the 10t rating is a little generous. For bushes and such it's fine. Mine has flexed a bit in use, and i maxed it out pressing out Sprinter ball joints, needed a bit of heat to get them moving. I've used it for wheel bearings, but really seized ones will max it out and may require heat.

So it will work fine for most stuff and is a pretty decent bit of kit. If it's something that you need for work and will earn money i'd speak to CAM Equipment. I have one of their 15t presses and its never failed me.

Had a beautiful 25t Enerpac but sold it when i moved house.

As for open or closed, that depends on what you're doing. For general work, closed frame. More so for strength. If you're dimple die'ing sheet metal or doing lots of suspension bushes or king pin bushes then open frame. If i could only have one, and needed to do wheel bearings and the like it'd be closed frame. Having flexed mine i don't know how much the open frame can actually withstand.

 

[m_c]

I've got the Clarke version of the top press, and it's an OK press, but I have bent the support (I can't remember how, but I was pushing it's limit!).
As Moose says, the 10t rating is quite generous, but that's more to do with the pump. I think I've had mine up to around 8t, and by that point it's taking a lot of effort to work the pump, and given I'm around 15 stone, anybody of a lesser weight is going to struggle to get much higher.

 

[Rannsachair]

I picked up the Clarke version cheap second hand:

It has been handy for bushes and bearings, it has managed everything I have tried so far: mainly Landy and motorbike related.

 

[8ob]

Evening chaps. Looking for some recommendations for a smallish hydraulic press. I’ve been looking at a sealey range, either a YC10B or a YK10B. Pics at the bottom.

I would stick with Clark or Sealey unless you can find a good second-hand high end Churchill or Enerpac.

Dont be tempted by the ten ton bench top presses on the bay of thieves.

Bought this one and had to send it back

 

[wristpin]

The greater the capacity the heavier the “ anvil” . I have a 20tonne press and being of short stature and old I struggle a bit lifting the anvil and repositioning the pins. If I was buying one today I’d be looking for one with a built in winch or counter balance weights to assist with raising and lowering the anvil.

 

[Domdom]

I would stick with Clark or Sealey unless you can find a good second-hand high end Churchill or Enerpac.

Dont be tempted by the ten ton bench top presses on the bay of thieves.

Bought this one and had to send it back

Ouch, one of the reasons I asked. I’ve seen some of the cheap imported kit and there’s no way it’s rated or coded or owt like compliant to any kind of standard.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I think there is only one British manufacturer of presses left, so unless you have deep pockets or pick up a second hand one you are probably going down the Chinese route.

I have an 30T automotech press, and very happy with it.
They are the same as all the rest of the (better quality) Chinese units, but far more combatively priced - I don't think they do a small one, but if you can have the space you will get more for your money.

 

[Brad93]

I’m looking at Powerteam SPX units and just came across your post.

I’d keep an eye out on eBay for something used.

 

[Rrobson]

I’d say go as big as you can afford, that way you’ve always got plenty of head room should you need it.
Sometimes wheel bearings can be stubborn and “10 ton” may not be enough. I would be looking at a 20t at least. What are you fabrication skills like? You can easily knock a simple press together provided you’ve got so workshop equipment. I made a bench mounted 25t press a bit back and I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t used it yet... but it was substantially cheaper to make than to buy

 

[sako243]

Bargains do appear on here sometimes...

Got a feeling this wee press was £80 but can't honestly remember now. Ram was resealed a few years back and discovered it was a 700bar Enerpac so capable of something like 80t with a suitable pump. Never struggled with anything I've thrown at it but it's not light - the nuts are 3" AF.

 

[Brad93]

Bargains do appear on here sometimes...

Got a feeling this wee press was £80 but can't honestly remember now. Ram was resealed a few years back and discovered it was a 700bar Enerpac so capable of something like 80t with a suitable pump. Never struggled with anything I've thrown at it but it's not light - the nuts are 3" AF.

View attachment 292878

I’d say that rams about a 50T looking at it. 80 ton rams are getting on for 5” in diameter.

 

[Brad93]

I’d say that rams about a 50T looking at it. 80 ton rams are getting on for 5” in diameter.

Probably looking at over a £1000 for the same ram from Enerpac though

 

[frank horton]

just an idea, they are very simple to make....
I just made mine......has a Tangye 25 ton alloy jack to do the work.....
I to old to lift the bed so built in a winch......
extra large/long bed as the hydraulic top will move from side to side.....
it gets used to push out seized pistons and liners from negelected tractors.....
(the bed will take a stripped out 6 cyl Perky cylinder block at a squeeze).....it's often at max pressure.....

doin it's thing....hahaha....still wouldn't budge them king pins at max and with heat....had to go to the big tractor shop near me ...
they have a 100 tonner press......!!!!!

 

[8ob]

Ten ton bench top is ok most things but only if you have a big guns press elsewhere to handle bigger/ stubborn jobs. If its the only press you are getting I would recommend going to a 20+ton version.

Bob

 

[Brad93]

There’s a nice used Clarke 25t on eBay for £200 at the minute. I might have a bid on the 50t

 

[Bornfree]

here's my home made one.

 

[8ob]

There’s a nice used Clarke 25t on eBay for £200 at the minute. I might have a bid on the 50t

The big ugly presses seem to go cheap,I wouldn't give some of them workshop space but they are handy to have. This old 65ton press lives out, wouldnt be without it.

Its a bit of a brute, never been beaten yet

 

[8ob]

here's my home made one.View attachment 292897

Very nice

Bob

 

[Slowcoach]

The big ugly presses seem to go cheap,I wouldn't give some of them workshop space but they are handy to have. This old 65ton press lives out, wouldnt be without it.

Its a bit of a brute, never been beaten yet

I’m reporting you to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Large Ugly Hydraulic Presses..