Shop Press

[Highpower]

(05-07-2014, 07:16 AM)EdK Wrote: Thanks Arvid. I was hoping that would be the case. I'm going to get this compressor for now and upgrade later, if necessary.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardwa...-12910.htm

Ed

WARNING! Personal opinion ahead...

Ed, while that is a fine looking compressor I can just about guarantee you that it won't be long before you'll want to upgrade if you plan on this being a "shop" compressor. If it is portability you are after I'm sure the 20 gal unit will serve you well.

But if you consider that for another $140 you could move up to a 60 gal unit, the extra volume of the larger tank is a huge benefit in terms of CFM.
Sanborn 60 gallon verticle compressor

I have that very same compressor and it has been going for 25 years now. I keep waiting for it to die so I'll have an excuse to move up to an 80 gal compressor. But it's just like the Energizer bunny and keeps going... and going...

I can run a die grinder, air drill, air hammer, impact wrench etc. all day long without issue. If I want to fill tires on an early Sunday morning I can air up 10 of them easily (both cars - mine & the wife's, including spare tires.) without turning on the compressor and making noise. I keep my tank pressurized at all times. It pays off some times in case of a power outage.

The only drawback to the 60 gal is when you need major CFM. If I am doing a marathon session in the bead blasting cabinet or constant cutting with the plasma cutter, the compressor has to run constantly to keep up. It will work... but I do stop now and then to let it cool down a bit before getting back at it.

If you want to do it "one and done" my suggestion would be to get the larger compressor now, and save the expense of buying 2 compressors if you upgrade later. On the other hand, if you don't mind spending the money for both, you'll have both a shop compressor and a portable one. There is nothing wrong with that either for a card carrying tool-oholic.

Again -- just an opinion. We all know about those things...

[arvidj]

Ed,

Agree 100% with what Willie said.

My "air" system is somewhat of a dichotomy. I spend a fair amount of money to get a large compressor knowing that it was the heart of the system, and I wanted to make a sound investment in money, time to install, plumbing, etc. and finally did not want to do this a third time.

Yes, I did have a much smaller compressor to begin with and quickly found it was not up to the tasks I immediately found for it.

   

Then I use mostly Harbor Freight or similar inexpensive tools ... with lots of oil ... because they are easily replaced.

As Willie says, get the biggest tank and the biggest pump you can reasonably afford, never worry about having enough air, and plan on leaving to to your nearest competent relative [this is a significant problem for me to determine!] when you move on.

Of course this is all a moot point if all you want to do is fill tires and run the shop press.

Arvid

[TomG]

Ed,

You'll never notice if there is more air available than you need, but you will certainly notice if there isn't. My compressor is a 3HP single stage and I have it set up for low pressure (90 psi) and high volume for painting and air tools. I've struggled with it for years because even though it has an 80 gallon tank, it struggles to keep up when I'm painting or sand blasting. I'd love to move up to a larger one, but with a working compressor on hand, it's hard to justify the expense, even though the one I have is too small.

Unless you need that compressor for the portability, I would suggest cranking it up a notch and getting one bigger than you think you need. You won't regret it.

Tom

[EdK]

You guys have given me some good advice. I'll skip the small compressor and hold out for a larger one.

Thanks,
Ed

EDIT: compressor discussion continued here: http://www.metalworkingfun.com/showthrea...8#pid32798

[EdK]

Well the shop press is finally functional. Not done but functional. I got the winch today so that has to be added and the air over hydraulic jack should be here next Wednesday, but that can be put on hold until I get a compressor.

Ed

   

[DaveH]

Looks very nice Ed

DaveH

[Highpower]

Looks good Ed. I'm really tempted to get one of those air/over jacks for my press, but I'm going to wait and see what you have to say about them after you've used yours for awhile.

One of the first things I did on my press was to tack weld a couple of large washers onto the ends of the table support bars. It keeps the bars from sliding all the way through. Once I had unknowingly bumped into one of them and pushed it through the frame, leaving the front channel sitting on about 1/8" of the support bar. Thankfully I caught it before getting too much pressure on the part I was pressing on.

[EdK]

(05-10-2014, 05:47 PM)Highpower Wrote: Looks good Ed. I'm really tempted to get one of those air/over jacks for my press, but I'm going to wait and see what you have to say about them after you've used yours for awhile.

One of the first things I did on my press was to tack weld a couple of large washers onto the ends of the table support bars. It keeps the bars from sliding all the way through. Once I had unknowingly bumped into one of them and pushed it through the frame, leaving the front channel sitting on about 1/8" of the support bar. Thankfully I caught it before getting too much pressure on the part I was pressing on.

Good idea Willie. I'll have to do the same.

Based on how much I had to pump the hydraulic press to press a 1/2" long aluminum piece into a hole, I'm already thinking the air over hydraulic is going to be worth it. There's very little downward movement per stroke with the hydraulic press, but you already know that.

Ed

[tackit]

Here my homemade press, I built it years ago. I have around $500 in it. 1 X 5 Legs, platen is made out of 7" X .314 web channel. Side plates on platen box and box at the top of press are 3/8' also.

The press has been a great help over the years.

[EdK]

tackit,

That's a beast of a press. Nice job on building it.

Ed