• Hello there guest and Welcome to The #1 Classic Mustang forum!
    To gain full access you must Register. Registration is free and it takes only a few moments to complete.
    Already a member? Login here then!

Cool New Tool Thread

So i picked up the baby press from ye ole Harborland. Not impressed with the tool out of the box.

I ended up making a few simple modifications anyone can do in their garage.

First two are important. The main crossbar has two issues i found.

Its a very sloppy/loose fit within the frame. Moves around alot, not good when applying pressure to things. This is easy to address. I grabbed some scrap 2x4 and chopped a wedge out real quick. Hammered into the space on one side and the platform is solid.

The other main issue is friction...or really the lack of. The bar is powdercoated and the press plates are too. Very slippery against each other. That makes them not ideal to use in high pressure applications. I actually solved this by simply putting a piece of duct tape down on the surface of the bar. I used some gorilla glue forever tape i had on hand. Now the plates don't slip around.

The last "upgrade" may not be required for everyone. Throwing the 12 ton jack away. I had a 20 ton bottle jack just sitting around so I easily slipped that right into place. The 12 ton didn't seem to have the oomph I needed.

I also want to note that I replaced the cheap grade 3 hardware away and used grade 8 hardware with what I could find. Only piece I used that concerns me is the bars that hold the plate. But so far no issues. "Knocks on wood"

20240813_085726.jpg

20240813_143452.jpg

I had a scrap 7.3 engine that i pulled the main caps from. Worked great as press plates. Just beveled the sharp edges a bit.
 
Everything you found slightly wonky about the press is pretty damn accurate. I fixed none of them and have still used the hell out of it without issue. The slipperiness of the supplied plates is annoying and I've often threatened to do something about it but I'm always in the middle of a task and relegate it to later and later never happens! Having a larger jack to swap in laying about was nice but I assure you I doubt you find a task the 12 ton couldn't handle. At least for automotive purposes. At least I haven't yet. The smaller size of the 12 vs the 20 ton units is a real advantage in a home shop, I think.
 
I tried using the 12 tin jack to press out some wheel bearings. It didn't seem to want to budge at all. Granted these bearings were super Fd and probably original. The 12 ton may have worked but I literally had a 20 ton jack sitting there holding the floor down.

The duct tape is a super easy and quick solution to the slippery surface. It works so effortlessly.

It is a nice size, very convenient to use while sitting.
 
I’ve had that same press for almost 30 years. Haven’t broken it yet! Does everything I’ve ever needed.
 
For years I want one too but I don't have the place for it anymore. Workplace is full/loaded.
Grade 3 ? Good thing you used grade 8 IMHO.
Sometimes its handy that the "table" can move a bit .
Those main caps ....good idea !
 
I found that is part was so uneven/out of flat that I took it to a local machine shop and had it milled flat. Other than that it works fine.
1723619477883.png The picture was taken from above. I'll keep the tape idea in mind.
 
Auction score again. Big set of metric and SAE helicoils. With drills and taps even. So offbrand it doesn't have a name but who cares. Seven dollars. More helicoils than I will EVER use so I took it to work. Guys at work are chomping at the bit to try them out and see how they compare to the "name brand" ones. Now for a stripped bolt hole....
helicoil.jpg
 
That is a crazy stupid cheap find. Might be interesting to take a mic and check the sizing on the drills and taps. I made the mistake of buying a large import set of tap and dies once and every single piece had issues to the point I threw the whole thing in the trash.
 
Maybe not a tool but I am chuffed anyway. I have Cricut vinyl thing and have found I can use it to make my own gaskets. (Like I have the time.) For weird stuff that you can't buy them for mostly. I made my own 351W timing cover gasket as a learning piece. Left off all those stupid overhanging bits that have always bugged me about those too. :)
So I figure I'm good. Except for some reason gasket material isn't cheap. So with the effort, making most gaskets isn't too sensible or cost effective if I just need one.

Following SWMBO around a flea market this morning I spied five of these rolls on a table. Guy said a buck apiece. Pulled out a ten and said I'd take them all. He said he had more and just gave his whole box of thirteen for the ten. I've already got at least one project in mind, a side cover gasket for an off-brand motorcycle I've got. One roll should net me two of those.

Any suggestions on how to flatten this stuff so the machine doesn't choke on it. I'm thinking maybe a steam iron. Last time I just tried to press it with limited success.
gasket.jpg
 
Might not be the answer for immediate use but I would cut up a sheet of plywood into a couple pieces of desired size and unroll it all and sandwich between with just enough weight to hold it flat and set aside for use later. Time and natural environmental humidity ought to make it lay nice and flat.
 
A while back I posted about picking one of these Harbor Freight surface conditioning tools (Eastwood knock-off). Well, got an email from HF that they are having a unique new sale thing happening where every day they are putting certain items on sale for what look to be significant sale prices. For example, today only you can get this one for 50% off. So, if you were thinking about getting one today is the day! I picked another one up myself for spare (possible gift?).

 
Today's (Oct. 1st) one day only sale item at Harbor Freight is their Black Widow spray gun (HVLP or HTE) for just $99! That's close to 50% off on what I have found to be really good guns. I haven't used them on a full car spray yet but have done panels and the finish they lay out is very nice. Get the coupon and grab them while you can!
 
I was rather let down with. Most of their sale items. I was curious about that spray gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top