12 ton or 20 ton shop press?

[lupinsea]

I'm thinking of getting a multi-ton shop press at some point but I'm having difficulty settling on which size.

My projected uses are:
- Changing u-joints
- Changing TJ control arm bushings
- Changing bushings on BMW control arms
- Maybe bending metal a la press break adapter or something

um

- Any other "pressing" needs

The problem is I'm not sure how often I'd actually use it, maybe a few times a year? Seems like a Harbor Freight press would be ideal for such minimal usage. The thing is, what size do I get, a 20 ton or 12 ton? It's an $80 cost difference between the two ($200 vs $120) at non-sale prices. I'd hate to get the 12 ton and then curse myself for not getting the 20 ton that one time I'd need it. But if the 12 ton would do well for 95% of my uses why bother with over kill (yeah, I know, no such thing as overkill ).

HF 12 ton A-frame press - $115
HF 12 ton "square" press - $130

HF 20 ton A-frame press - $190
HF 20 ton "square" frame press - $200

Also, I'm not 100% sure it makes sense to get a press at all. I'd love to get one for those times I'd need one. But in the 3+ years I've had my Jeep I've gotten by "ok" with a bench vice for doing general maintenance such as u-joint changing. Do I really need a press, then? The only reason I'm considering it is that I have a number of control arm joints that I think I'll need to be changing soon and I'm not sure a bench vise will cut it. I don't want to get halfway into the project and then need to go hunt down a shop to change out the bushings. . . especially since I can see the shop labor costs equaling about half to 2/3 of the HF press cost. And if I do get the press then at my usage levels it should last a good 10-20+ years.

So, questions:

1. Should I get a press?

and

2. If yes, what size . . . 12 ton or 20 ton (being realistic)?

and

3. What's the difference between square or A-frame presses? Is one better than the other?


Any other thoughts?

[bren]

For the price a press is a very worthwhile investment IMO. We've done a lot of random work on a 12 ton HF press, only one job I can think of in ~5 years required a trip to a mechanic with a larger press. Personally I'd buy the 20 ton though seeing as the cost/size difference is negligible.

I'd go for the square, seems like it would give you more fitment room for odd shaped parts. Not sure what he downside would be.

[rumatt]

12 vs 20?

Is there really a choice? Are you a man or a woman?

[FC]

Square frame 20. If you are goign through the trouble of buying a press, get more capacity. A square frame is a sturdier design. The A frame relies on linkages to create the A-shape that the press pushes against. A square frame seems to not be so crowded and have a very beefy cross-member. FWIW, we have a square 20-ton press in the manufacturing floor at work. It's very cool. For the nominal price difference, I'd go square.

[Pinecone]

A frame will have less flex.

Get the 20 ton.

[clyde]

yes, get a 20t.

A press is like TiVo.

[BahnBaum]

Originally Posted by clyde

A press is like TiVo.

It makes you lay around and not get shit done?

Alex

[rumatt]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

A frame will have less flex.

Hmm, that's what I was thinking.

What the upside of the square frame? Why have two designs?

[kognito]

Originally Posted by Pinecone

A frame will have less flex.

sure about that?? I have seen many more H frame presses than A frame presses in machine shops.


It almost looks like the ram on the A frame could offset itself under high downward pressure (pivot left or right)

[rumatt]

Originally Posted by kognito

It almost looks like the ram on the A frame could offset itself under high downward pressure (pivot left or right)

Right, that's what I was thinking.

I now vote for the square. (seriously)