20 ton Press and Mods

[gatz]

Looked long and hard at 20 to 30 ton presses. Even thought about making one using an inverted hydraulic jack. (plenty of how-to vids online)
Finally found one that didn't break the bank and yet had a lot of the features I was looking for.
It has a direct-reading tons/psi gauge, Movable cylinder left-to-right, and air-over hydraulic pump.
Granted, the air-over does not give much tonnage, but provides a quick way to move the ram down.
This is a nicely made press of surprisingly good quality for being made in China.
Model BD-PRESS-20A. It is distributed through Discount Ramps and I bought it on Amazon for about $500. (I see they're higher now)
I was happy with the price & the quick and free shipping that Amazon Prime offers, but it might pay to shop around.
The freight on this item alone would offset the yearly Prime membership cost.

Assembling the press took some time, but nothing overly complicated. Helps to have an A-frame hoist ! But, no fit-up problems at all.

So, some mods were in order right away. Casters (fixed in the rear, swivel in front) were bolted on after adding a small plate to the inside of the bottom rails. Surplus Center caster set p/n 1-4706



Next was to add a small winch (boat type) to raise/lower the "work press table" as this is a Royal PITA to manually move without it falling to the floor, or worse, on one's foot.
Even more so if you have parts or spacer blocks, aka heel blocks, on the table and need to move it up/down.

Modified a Dutton-Lainson winch by adding a 2" diameter "spool" to the drum, so that the cables start winding faster. The stock spool was only about 5/8" diameter.



The cables are then routed over some pulleys



and connected to the spacer tubes using some electrical ground wire clamps.

.....here, short chain links welded to the spacer tubes of the table provide an anchorage for the 1/8" cables



I didn't like the way the cylinder plate fit loosely on the top beams; made things wobbly and there was wasted motion when pumping; so I modified that arrangement to allow it to slide left/right, yet have very little clearance in the vertical plane.
Put a roll pin in the head of a 1/2-13 HexHd screw just to take up what little slack there was. 1 in front, 1 in rear.



Next, I visited the local Goodwill and got a nice alum cook pan. Made a swing-out frame and holder for all the press tools needed.
A friend had a long piece of a 4-sided V-die and we cut off an 8" long piece. Drilled holes in the ends and made a handle for it
(Like to keep my toes) Made a couple of V arbors for the ram. These sure come in handy for bending.



The swing-out pivots outward to the left and allows the table to be moved to the lowest setting without getting in the way.



I've got some drawings of the pulley mounts if anyone is interested. Got the Dutton-Lainson p/n too.

gatz

[DIYer]

Thanks gatz! We've added your Press Modifications to our Brakes and Presses category,
as well as to your builder page: gatz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Press Modifications by gatz

tags: press, modification

[marksbug]

thats some good mods!!!especialy for us old decrepid ones whoo can nolonger lift squat.

[stewsimac]

Looked long and hard at 20 to 30 ton presses. Even thought about making one using an inverted hydraulic jack. (plenty of how-to vids online)
Finally found one that didn't break the bank and yet had a lot of the features I was looking for.
It has a direct-reading tons/psi gauge, Movable cylinder left-to-right, and air-over hydraulic pump.
Granted, the air-over does not give much tonnage, but provides a quick way to move the ram down.
This is a nicely made press of surprisingly good quality for being made in China.
Model BD-PRESS-20A. It is distributed through Discount Ramps and I bought it on Amazon for about $500. (I see they're higher now)
I was happy with the price & the quick and free shipping that Amazon Prime offers, but it might pay to shop around.
The freight on this item alone would offset the yearly Prime membership cost.

Assembling the press took some time, but nothing overly complicated. Helps to have an A-frame hoist ! But, no fit-up problems at all.

So, some mods were in order right away. Casters (fixed in the rear, swivel in front) were bolted on after adding a small plate to the inside of the bottom rails. Surplus Center caster set p/n 1-4706



Next was to add a small winch (boat type) to raise/lower the "work press table" as this is a Royal PITA to manually move without it falling to the floor, or worse, on one's foot.
Even more so if you have parts or spacer blocks, aka heel blocks, on the table and need to move it up/down.

Modified a Dutton-Lainson winch by adding a 2" diameter "spool" to the drum, so that the cables start winding faster. The stock spool was only about 5/8" diameter.



The cables are then routed over some pulleys



and connected to the spacer tubes using some electrical ground wire clamps.

.....here, short chain links welded to the spacer tubes of the table provide an anchorage for the 1/8" cables



I didn't like the way the cylinder plate fit loosely on the top beams; made things wobbly and there was wasted motion when pumping; so I modified that arrangement to allow it to slide left/right, yet have very little clearance in the vertical plane.
Put a roll pin in the head of a 1/2-13 HexHd screw just to take up what little slack there was. 1 in front, 1 in rear.



Next, I visited the local Goodwill and got a nice alum cook pan. Made a swing-out frame and holder for all the press tools needed.
A friend had a long piece of a 4-sided V-die and we cut off an 8" long piece. Drilled holes in the ends and made a handle for it
(Like to keep my toes) Made a couple of V arbors for the ram. These sure come in handy for bending.



The swing-out pivots outward to the left and allows the table to be moved to the lowest setting without getting in the way.



I've got some drawings of the pulley mounts if anyone is interested. Got the Dutton-Lainson p/n too.

gatz

The winch idea is great ! ! ! I will be adding this to my press ASAP. Thanks.

[melbakid]

Gatz,
Really enjoyed the mods you did to your press! I would like the drawings and the p/n for the winch. Thanks so much.
Being a retired electrician, I think I can find some of those clamps!
melbakid

[gatz]

here ya go, melbakid and any others that are interested;
There are 2) of the Left Cable Bracket (1st dwg)
Bend the ear as shown for the rear-most bracket.
Bend the ear on the other one the opposite way for the front bracket. (There's only one of the Right Rear Bracket)

The bend should not interfere with the pulley and if you make it 1 1/16" inside from the 3/8" hole, the tab can be bent over to contain the cable.

(If these don't show up large enough, PM me and I'll send them.)

The cable pulleys were made from 2" Alum stk with a 1/2"OD x 3/8" ID bushing.



Winch is a Dutton-Lainson DL600A



Spool with 5/8" center tube;



As I mentioned, I cut a piece of 2" diameter tubing in half, then welded it into the spool.
There are holes in the side flanges where you can weld the ends of the tube into position. (remove paint first)
There's also enough room in one set of holes to run the 1/8" cable through, and loop back inside the flanges.


Leave ends long enough to go over pulleys and attach at the chain link welded to the table spacers.
It's not readily apparent, but the cable is just one piece.

Hope this helps
gatz

[melbakid]

I have to chuckle, 4 years after I posted a request for the plans for your press modification I get a notice today telling me you have responded. Your were kind enough to post the very next day after I made my request. For this I am very grateful, thank you gatz. I just wished I had been notified a little sooner.LOL I have copied the plans and will now endeavor to make the mods to my homemade 30T press. Once again thank you for yur excellent drawings and great narrative.

[gatz]

@melbakid
You're entirely welcome. Glad to be of some help.
4 years, eh? That's really surprising.
I see that the original post has been re-posted now along with other "oldies but goodies" and is probably why you rec'd a notice.

[katy]

I had a 20 ton press (sold recently) that I found the working area too low for comfortable working. I fastened 6" X 6" wood blocks under the legs on both sides to raise it for a more congenial work area.

[katy]

using some electrical ground wire clamps.

FWIW, they're known as split bolt connectors, AKA servits (Burndy)