Anyone have plans for a benchtop press

[Kraftymate]

I need to flatten some conduit ends and want to flatten both ends at the same time....the pieces are mostly 12" to 18". Anyone have some brilliant ideas. That won't cost as much as a new shop press.

Thanks
Kraftymate

[4shorts]

Hi Kraftymate. Been seeing your post on here for awhile and although I didn't make a bench top press I did build a floor model. I used all used material building the thing. I went to an industrial auction and purchased the electric Enerpac system with remote and the cylinder for $250 (great deal) I also made a plate bending unit that's pictured in the press and that can pull out and it becomes a regular press then. I installed a winch to lower and rise the work area as well. Had my buddy do the decals and all in all I put about $450. into this thing and it's a great addition to my shop. Hope you get some idea's on your bench top one. Good luck, Paul

[welder.man]

Paul that's a great looking press, looks as good if not better than a shop bought one.

I have built a bending set up for a press where I used to work, It is amazing how useful they are.


Simon
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html

[Sandy]

Hey kraftymate, no plans for you but some thoughts. I'd stay away from making a press just for the purposes of bending those few conduit pieces. Once a guy figures out what all a press is good for the uses tend to grow and grow. I'm thinking you can whip out a fairly beafy benchtop model or even floor model about as quick and easy as a single purpose one. What you bend/press is all in the jigging.

[4shorts]

Originally Posted by welder.man

Paul that's a great looking press, looks as good if not better than a shop bought one.

I have built a bending set up for a press where I used to work, It is amazing how useful they are.


Simon
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html

Thanks Simon. It's a very useful press. I didn't go through to much pain building it and really didn't care how it looked but man is this thing ever useful. I can bend plate with it of pull out the plate bender and just use it for pressing bearings or whatever. A press is a must have tool in my opinion. As for Sandy's advise. That's good solid advise and I would follow it to the letter. When ever I got to build a tool I try and make it bigger/stronger than I need it. That way I know it can take more abuse and allow me to do other work with it as in the case of this press. Paul

[Kraftymate]

Ya, Sandy, I will use it for many other projects but I just want an excuse to the wife to build one and since I am building several ladder stands and each one has 20 step (rungs) I do not want to be hammering them one by one. So a press was the logical choice.

kraftymate