Springs for an H frame shop press

[markknx]

I am thinking about building a h frame shop press. A manual one like you see at HF. but I need to find the return springs. Anyone here know where I might find them?

 

[JimDawson]

Try McMaster http://www.mcmaster.com/#extension-springs/=rkzzmd

Just about any size you want.

Your local hardware store might be a good source also.

 

[furpo]

Local Junk yard and hood springs off any older vehicle or Fleet Farm or tractor supply springs for pickup truck snow plow.

 

[markknx]

2 Good ideas I will look into both. Thanks guysMark

 

[jpfabricator]

Trampoline springs. Or check at the resale shop for one of those old exercise springs with the handels on the end.

Jake Parker

 

[Tony Wells]

Got hood springs on mine. Works great. +1

 

[ELHEAD]

I'm with jp, trampoline springs!

 

[davidh]

again, don't forget to install a safety cable thru the spring, just in case . . . . .

 

[John_Dennis]

If you are building your own press, have a look at this Enerpac press. The table is raised and lowered by a single lift point. They are using a cylinder, but a small worm drive winch from Harbor Freight would work just as well.



What is not easily visible in the photo are the rollers that run on the left side post. I have used a press like this and it really works better than having multiple cables and pulleys.



An improvement on this design would be to have the lower roller shaft be adjustable to level the table.

John

 

[markknx]

again, don't forget to install a safety cable thru the spring, just in case . . . . .

David, Not sure how I could run a cable through and still let them stretch. Could you clarify on this a little? Would the cables be just a little longer than the stroke of the ram? So if the spring failed the ram would not crash down?