Do-it-yourself hydraulic press: a universal tool made from a jack

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The hydraulic press is widely used in everyday life. It is necessary for work that requires applying a lot of pressure to the material being processed. A high-quality multifunctional tool has a high cost, which is completely unjustified for household use. You can make a hydraulic press with your own hands using a car jack.

The hydraulic press is used for work in which it is necessary to exert high pressure on the material being processed.

Purpose and scope of use of a hydraulic press

A hydraulic press is a device that exerts great pressure on the material being processed through little effort. This operating principle is based on Pascal's law, according to which the applied force acting on a certain area is transmitted throughout the entire volume and is equal in all directions.

The hydraulic press is used for stamping, pressing, extrusion, assembly, forging, bending

The hydraulic press device consists of two cylinders. When exposed to a smaller chamber, the pressure of the liquid in it increases, which is transmitted through a special channel to the larger chamber. The working fluid exerts pressure on the piston, which contributes to the effect of the element on the workpiece. Cylinders are usually located vertically, but there are also options that have horizontal placement. A special oil is used as the working fluid.

The installation is used for pressing, stamping, extrusion, assembly, forging, bending, and straightening of metal elements. You can buy or make your own cardboard press, which will be indispensable for packaging, briquetting, pressing and recycling materials made of plastic, paper and rubber. The equipment is characterized by versatility and can be used in different areas of life for repair, maintenance and preventive maintenance. Depending on this, the press has a certain design.

What is a silent block

This word is of foreign origin. Translated from English, silent means silence, and block means detail. A silent block, or simply “silent,” is a rubber-metal component; in ordinary words, these are two bushings that are connected to each other by a layer of durable rubber. This invention, in addition to guaranteeing comfortable and silent movement in a car, has a number of advantages that will be listed below.

Purpose and functions

Silent blocks perform the following functions:

1. Protect components from wear and tear by damping vibrations .
2. They dampen vibrations that come from the chassis of the wheels, thus providing a comfortable and soft ride.
3. Prevent vibrations and beatings that appear during the movement of the car between different elements of the chassis and engine compartment.

And these are just the main advantages; in fact, there are many more.

Options for using a hydraulic press at home

To squeeze metal elements out of the shell or base, you can buy or make a hydraulic press with your own hands for the garage. The equipment is also suitable for pressing out bearings and silent blocks that cannot be mounted and dismantled manually. Using such a device, you can straighten, join two elements, and bend a metal workpiece.

Helpful advice! When making a press with your own hands, you need to decide on the further purpose of the device, its dimensions, piston performance, weight and the possibility of installing a pressure gauge.

When manufacturing a hydraulic press for a garage, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the vehicle being serviced.

When creating a hydraulic press for a garage, you should take into account the size of the car. For passenger vehicles, it is enough to make a simple design, but for large vehicles it is better to make a more complex and larger unit.

The device is often used as a waste paper press. With your own hands you can make good fuel for the stove from old paper. For such purposes, it is enough to make a simple design with an average power rating, which will allow you to recycle a large amount of waste paper.

The equipment is also suitable for pressing sawdust. Such briquettes are good fuel for stove heating; they burn for a long time without producing smoke, creating intense heat. Instead of sawdust, coal chips are also suitable as a filler for the press. Such a unit will consist of a work table, a base, a power frame and a drive.

A good result is ensured by a self-created press for PET bottles, which turns the container into neat layers. The hydraulic tool can be used as a hay picker. In this case, the design is complemented by a frame frame made of timber or metal without an upper part. The element is fixed to the front using special fasteners. You will also need a transport pick-up and running gear.

Hydraulic press is also used for squeezing juice from fruits.

MASTAK 110-20026C

Another good option made in Taiwan. This impressive set consists of 26 elements, which allow it to be used to remove a wide variety of silent blocks and bearing races.

Characteristics:

• Availability of 20 mandrels with ø 44/34 (11 pieces) and ø 48/38 (9 pieces).
• The set also includes thrust washers (2 pieces) and 350 mm power bolts (M16x2.5, M14x2.0, M12x2.0, M10x1.5).
• Type: universal tool.
• Weight: 18 kg.

Pros:

• High-strength material for all parts.
• Possibility of universal use (suitable for various brands of cars).
• Suitable not only for silent blocks, but also for external and internal races of bearings.
• Convenient storage case.

Minuses:

• Price.
• The latches on the case do not always fit tightly.
• Weight.

Design of a homemade press made from a jack

Before you make a hydraulic press with your own hands, you should understand what components are included in its design.

To ensure the stability of the device, a strong and reliable lower part is required, which acts as the base of the installation. It looks like a platform and is made of massive thick rolled metal. For this purpose, channels and corners made of metal are mainly used.

As can be seen from the diagram of the press, the vertical parts of the structure are represented by racks. The elements are made from steel angles and welded to the base in such a way as to ensure a right angle between the elements. The height of the racks is calculated as the sum of the height of the jack, the length of its rod and the thickness of the workpiece. A fixed stop is fixed at the top of the racks. A corner is used to make it.

To create the necessary force on the surface being treated, a hydraulic jack is used. It will need to be secured to a movable stop. The jack is operated using a manual lever or an electric drive.

The height of the side posts must correspond to the sum of the thickness of the workpiece, the height of the jack itself and the length of its rod

The movable stop exerts pressure on the pressing mechanism. The element is made of steel strips or corners. A return device is used to move the stop to its normal position. It is represented by several springs. Their length and degree of stretching are calculated based on the parameters of the press.

Additional settings

When using a homemade hydraulic press, users often have a question about how to make the jack rod move a shorter distance. This will allow you to spend less time processing parts using a homemade press. There are several ways to solve this problem.

• A rectangular or square profile pipe is mounted on the lower fixed stop of the press (either a removable version or fixation using a welded joint is possible).
• A height-adjustable lower stop is installed on the press, which is fixed to the side posts of the device with bolts. To install such a stop at different levels, holes are made in the side posts of the press at the required height.
• The distance between the press stops can also be reduced by using replaceable pads or anvils installed on the surface of the lower stop of the equipment.

Construction of a homemade garage press: design characteristics

Before making a hydraulic press, you should decide on the type of installation. Depending on this, the equipment can be desktop or floor-standing. The first type of tool is located on a workbench, and the second is placed on a special pedestal. Such presses differ in size and load capacity. A self-made tabletop hydraulic press provides a force of up to 12 tons, and for a floor-mounted device this value reaches 25 tons.

The desktop design is more stable and mobile. Thanks to its small size, it does not take up much free space. This type of press is used for processing small workpieces.

The floor-mounted hydraulic press is characterized by its large size and heavy weight. To install it, you will need to build a special platform. Such a machine will cope with processing large metal elements, disassembling and assembling complex components.

A self-made hydraulic press for a garage can have a vertical or horizontal design

Important! To expand the functionality of a floor-mounted hydraulic press, it should be equipped with an electric motor.

You can make a complex structure that will be used to perform a wide range of tasks. However, making such an option will take a lot of time and require the use of specialized tools and equipment. As a garage hydraulic press, it is better to make a manual model equipped with a hydraulic pump and drive. This design is two-speed, its piston is characterized by mobility.

A self-made hydraulic press for a garage can have a horizontal or vertical design. The first type of device is used for straightening, cutting and bending individual metal elements. Vertical equipment is designed for unpressing and pressing parts. A self-made hydraulic press for waste paper is becoming increasingly popular.

Calculation of dimensions and production of mechanical

Mechanical presses are used for processing leather products, metal components, as well as cardboard and foam rubber. To make the device yourself, you need:

• Connect four identical metal corners with a length of about 90 centimeters with four corners whose length is 55 centimeters. To fasten them together, use ordinary screws or electric welding.
• Secure the two resulting iron rectangles together with metal pipes.
• Reinforce the manufactured box with steel plates and transverse rods.
• Make a small door in one of the walls through which you can remove the compressed products.

Then they begin to form the main component - the piston. To do this, iron channels 55-65 centimeters long are welded to each other. After which the structure is reinforced with a transverse iron beam. A flange with a rod inserted inside is attached to its center. Then channels are welded to the iron box from opposite sides.

When the structure is completely assembled, a washer with a nut and a bearing is put on the rod.

Features of creating a hydraulic press with your own hands

A homemade design must perform the necessary list of tasks. A device that creates a force of 15-25 tons is sufficient. To make it, you will need to prepare a working drawing of a hydraulic press with your own hands from a jack with the dimensions of all structural elements (such a diagram can be found on the Internet). In this case, one should take into account the type of tool, which can be stationary or removable, the dimensions of the product, the piston stroke and the design of the frame.

Depending on the type of installation, the hydraulic press can be tabletop or floor-mounted

The working cylinder of the hydraulic press is located separately or built into the structure. In this case, it can be located in the upper or lower part. In the case of the first option, pressure will be applied to the lower surface of the base. If the operating element is located at the bottom of the frame, the pressure will be directed upward as a result of the operation of the main rod.

A jack is used as a hydraulic cylinder, which acts as the main working element. It should be taken into account that the tool can be presented in different designs. Therefore, when choosing a jack, it is necessary to decide for what purposes the press will be used and take into account the maximum force of the device.

However, keep in mind that a bottle-type industrial tool will not function upside down. Therefore, before making a press from a jack, it is necessary to finish the product. The design should provide for the installation of a socket that will be in contact with the hydraulic cylinder rod. To make it you need to use a piece of pipe.

The material for the frame is selected with a margin of safety, which will prevent damage to the frame when applying the maximum possible force. After completing the task of processing the workpiece, the rod must return to its original position. To do this, it is necessary to select the right springs, based on the degree of rigidity, so that they will be able to effectively fulfill their purpose. Their edges are attached to the movable upper and fixed lower parts of the base.

The material for the racks and bed must be selected with a margin of safety, this will prevent damage to the press when applying high pressure

Licota ATC-2286

The set of silent block pullers is equipped with mandrels and cups of the most popular sizes, which are excellent for working with parts of domestic and foreign production.

Before using the puller, you only need to select a mandrel of the required size, install it on the element to be removed and perform dismantling by rotating the nut. Using the kit, the entire silent block removal process is quick and easy.

Characteristics:

• It is used for both pressing out and pressing in silent blocks.
• Internal mandrels: 34, 36, 38 – 70, 72, 75, 80 mm.
• Outer mandrels: 44, 46, 48 – 80, 82, 85, 90 mm.
• Pins: M10, M12, M14, M16, M18.
• Type: universal puller.
• Weight: 17 kg.

Pros:

• It has different attachments, making it suitable for different brands of vehicles.
• All parts are easy to assemble and disassemble.
• Possibility of dismantling and installing silent blocks.
• Convenient case for storing all puller parts.

Minuses:

• Relatively heavy weight.
• High price.

Designing a homemade hydraulic press for a garage with your own hands

After choosing a jack, you should begin designing the frame on which the hydraulic cylinder will apply pressure. To do this, create a drawing of a hydraulic press with your own hands. And the dimensions are marked on it for each individual element of the device. The structure must be strong, since when the device is operating, the jack will exert both downward and upward pressure on it, trying to break the frame.

The base must ensure the stability of the equipment; the best solution is to make it in the form of a platform. The width of the table is determined based on the size of the product that will be processed on the press. However, it should not be less than the total width of all elements of the press equipment.

The height of the bed is calculated as the sum of the dimensions of the jack, the value of the free movement of the rod, the height of the parts intended for processing and the thickness of the mobile working platform.

The jack is fixed to the base. The focus for the products is the top of the frame. Using a movable table, pressure is transferred to the part. The surface is installed on top of the jack on the frame, along which it moves freely up and down with fixation on the sides.

1 - upper thrust beam, 2 - nut, 3 - lower mobile beam, 4 - stand, 5 - thread, 6 - jack, 7 - base

To ensure adjustment of the free movement of the jack rod, you can install replaceable pad inserts made of a solid or hollow metal profile. Another option involves making a removable support in the form of a desktop that moves. It should be secured to the frame using nuts and bolts or rods. To do this, it is necessary to make holes in the frame with a height less than the range of movement of the jack rod.

Another solution is to create a so-called screw press with your own hands using a drive with a steering wheel. It will be possible to reduce the clearance for the workpiece inside the frame by tightening the screw with the plate.

Helpful advice! To regulate the free movement of the rod, it is better to use a combination of several of the above options.

FORCE 949T1

The model belongs to the hydraulic puller type, the set of which includes 49 items. With its help, you can easily disassemble the bushing and replace it (with the exception of parts without holes). Compared to the above puller options, FORCE 949T1 is lighter and easier to use.

Characteristics:

• The maximum load on the cylinder is 18.2 t.
• The comfortable and durable spindle has dimensions: Ø 16 mm, Ø 14 mm, Ø 12 mm, Ø 10 mm.
• Deep mandrels - 22 pieces (18 internal ones of 110 mm each and 26 external ones of 68 mm each).
• Short mandrels - 22 pieces (18 internal 40 mm and 26 external 68 mm).
• Bolts - 4 pieces (diameter 16, 14, 12, 10 mm).
• Type - hydraulic universal puller.

Pros:

• Convenient collars.
• Sturdy case with metal clasps.
• Strong ratchets.
• Long heads.
• The handles are made of high-quality material that is not corroded by technical liquids.

Minuses:

• All parts of the puller are sensitive to moisture and quickly rust when exposed to it.
• High price.

The sequence of making a press with your own hands from a jack

Before you make a press with your own hands, you need to prepare a welding machine, electrodes, an angle grinder, a drill and drill bits. To finish removing burrs from metal structural elements, you will need a grinding machine. At the first stage, the frame for the press is assembled. The quality and efficiency of the work process depends on its strength and reliability. The bed will contain a working cylinder (in the form of a jack) and the workpiece being processed.

To manufacture the base of an installation designed for pressure up to 5 tons, a channel of standard size 8P is required

The material for the frame, its design and assembly option are determined based on the perceived pressure of the jack. According to the do-it-yourself drawing of the press, the base of the device is represented by a U-shaped rectangular frame made of a channel or a welded steel angle. The main force will be concentrated in the central part of the horizontal crossbars. The maximum possible stability of the structure can be achieved by welding it to the base of a metal plate 08-1.2 cm thick.

Related article:

Manual hydraulic presses: features of highly efficient devices

The design and principle of operation of the tool. Types of devices. Areas of use of hydraulic press. Rules for selection and operation.

To make an installation frame designed for a force of up to 5 tons, you will need a channel of size 8P and two hot-rolled angles measuring 50x50 mm, which are connected by a solid weld or connected with rods every 25 cm. If the tool will take a force of up to 10 tons, a channel is required for the frame 10P and paired corners measuring 63x7 mm. To manufacture a press with the required compression force of 15 tons and above, you should use a 14P channel and a paired angle of 75x8 mm.

Important! A frame made from the above rolled metal will have a tenfold safety margin, which will facilitate the normal operation of the device - without destroying the frame.

Features of assembling a press frame for a garage with your own hands

All elements for the frame are connected to each other according to the drawing of the hydraulic press. First, the base is assembled, then the side parts and the top bar of the frame. It is important to ensure that the structure is geometric, in which all elements must be sides of a right angle.

Joining of workpieces occurs through welding work

Docking occurs by performing welded solid double-sided seams with cutting of products end-to-end. An alternative is to use cotter pins or bolts to assemble the parts. In this case, the maximum permissible shear load must be taken into account. With such a connection, the main load will be concentrated on the bolted connections. Therefore, it is important to correctly calculate their number.

Next, we make a do-it-yourself movable bar for a hydraulic forging press. For this, a square pipe or channel is used. A piece of pipe is welded in its central part, which will subsequently serve as a socket for the rod. The guides are made from two steel strips, the length of which must be equal to the outer width of the housing. The elements are attached to the side posts of the mobile structure using bolts.

A removable stop is made in a similar way. It is necessary to make holes in its guide parts to adjust the height of the working space. At the final stage, the jack and springs are installed.

How to Convert an Abdominal Jack to Work Upside Down

The most affordable option, which is used as a hydraulic cylinder for a do-it-yourself hand press, is a bottle-type jack. The main problem with such a tool is the inability to function in an inverted position. In this case, you can fix the tool permanently on the upper beam. In this case, the lower base will be used as a supporting element. Before you make a press with your own hands, you will need to modify the hydraulic mechanism.

To convert the jack to work upside down, it will have to be disassembled

There are several options for modifying a jack that can be used when assembling a homemade hydraulic press. The first consists of the additional installation of a 300 ml expansion tank. The container must be connected to the filler hole of the jack using a regular silicone pipe. To ensure that the element is tightly fixed, you need to use fittings for the oxygen hose, which can be purchased at any auto parts store.

The second option for remaking the jack involves disassembling the tool. To do this, completely drain the oil from it and bleed the plunger. Next, the upper clamping nut is twisted by clamping it in a vice. Then you need to loosen the outer glass using a rubber mallet. The element should come out of the seat ring, which is located at the base of the jack.

After the plunger lever there is a hole for collecting liquid. If the glass is not completely filled and in an inverted position, the hole does not come into contact with the oil. This is the main problem when using a jack for a homemade press. This can be solved using a tube, which should be pressed into place over the entire length of the glass.

The jack can be left in its original design. However, to ensure the functionality of the structure, the installation of an additional third beam will be required. It is attached to the side walls quite tightly, which facilitates the stationary position of the jack when creating pressure. The tool is fixed in an inverted position to the central part of the upper beam using M8 or M10 bolts.

The converted jack is fixed with bolts in an inverted position to the central part of the upper beam

How to make a press: manufacturing and installation of pressure pads

To work with large workpieces, you will need a large area of ​​compression beams. In this case, the jack rod will not provide this, since when pressing, the force must be evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​the surface being processed, eliminating the formation of deformations.

As clamping blocks for a hydraulic press you create yourself for a garage, you can use solid ingots, in which blind holes with threads are made, through which the elements are fixed to the structure of the press.

The best option is to make your own pads for the press with a jack. To do this, you can purchase four pieces of metal corner or two channels. Using the elements, a parallelepiped with open side faces is created. The joint areas that absorb the main force should be welded from the inside with a continuous seam. The remaining places are welded from the outside.

One of the faces must be sealed with a square insert, and the internal cavity must be filled with M500 concrete mortar. After the solution hardens, the block is welded on the other side. Thus, two incompressible elements are obtained.

Making your own press pads from channel bars is the best option.

A jack with a rod is attached to the upper block. To do this, a blind hole is made into which the heel of the tool is inserted with a minimum gap. Holes are also made here to fix the return spring mechanism. The lower block is mounted on an adjustable beam. For greater reliability and limiting shift, a pair of corners made of metal rods are welded onto it.

Installation of an adjustable support beam for a return mechanism for a homemade hydraulic press

The lower and upper beams must have the same cross-section. The elements differ only in design. To make the lower support element, two channels are used, which should be turned with their ribs outward. They must be placed on opposite sides of the racks and welded to their central part using inserts from corners or thick reinforcement.

Fixation of the beam on the racks is carried out using massive steel fingers. Under them, a series of circular cuts should be made at different heights with parallel placement in vertical channels. The diameter of the holes must correspond to the cross-section of the bolts.

Another structural element of a self-made hydraulic garage press is a spring mechanism, thanks to which the jack returns to its original position when the bypass valve opens. Simple springs for finishing doors, which can be purchased at a hardware store, are suitable for this.

The springs used for finishing the doors ensure the operation of the adjustable support beam of the return mechanism

The task is complicated by the upper pressure beam, which has significant weight, as a result of which the spring may not compress. You can get out of this situation by increasing the number of spring elements to 4-6 pieces, which is acceptable for a self-made desktop hydraulic press. You can also use more powerful elements designed for doors, which is more relevant for floor installations.

If there is no top block, the springs are attached to the jack rod. Fixation is performed using a washer whose internal hole is larger than the rod adjusting screw, but smaller than the diameter of the piston. The spring should be fastened through two small outer holes and fixed to the upper beam in the same way. The spring may not be installed strictly vertically. Excess length of the element can be compensated by its inclined arrangement.

Helpful advice! Welded hooks can also be used to secure the spring.

Which one should I do?

Pressure pressing allows you to perform almost all pressing operations necessary in everyday life.
Homemade presses are most often made energy-autonomous, i.e. without a separate drive, working fluid reservoirs, pumping stations, etc. The choice of one or another design of the press is ultimately determined by its purpose and working force. It is easiest to use a car jack as a power unit built into the press - it develops a force of up to 100 tf, and jacks for 10 tf are commonly used. The only operation that a jack press cannot handle is molding (flattening) the ends of rods during artistic cold forging.

The most commonly used jack is a hydraulic bottle jack (but see also below). In this case, a hydraulic press can be made according to one of the traces. frame design diagrams (see figure):

Basic design diagrams of homemade presses

• Pos. A – the jack is turned upside down, tightly fixed to the fixed upper cross-beam, and a punch is attached to the head of the working rod of the jack. This is the simplest and at the same time reliable and vibration-resistant design (see below for the role of vibrations in the operation of the press). Disadvantages - if the jack is needed for its intended purpose, dismantling it is quite difficult and time consuming, and swinging the lever of a jack hanging upside down is not very handy.
• Pos. B – diagram with a movable table. Structurally more difficult, because a movable traverse is added - a table. They pump the jack as always, it’s easy to remove it, because... it may not be secured at all. Disadvantages – worst vibration resistance; in addition, the technology of most pressing operations is designed for the punch to press on the workpiece or part from above, but if it’s the other way around, it’s difficult and may not work out at all. But for repair and/or mechanical assembly work, this is the best option: if you need to squeeze out a tightly rusted shaft from a pulley or bearing or, conversely, press them onto the shaft, then its (the shaft’s) length is limited only by the height of the ceiling in the workshop. In general, a hydraulic press with a moving table made from a jack is the best option for a garage or service station.
• Pos. B – with a power unit on a movable cross-beam. Structurally the most complex, but vibration-resistant, strong and durable, because the load on the weakest link - the movable traverse - is not point-based, but actually dispersed. The jack may also not be secured, but if it turns out and crashes, the consequences will be worse than if it falls off the base plate. The disadvantage is that pumping a jack that slowly creeps down is not very convenient.

A manually driven screw press (pos. D) allows you to create a force of up to a maximum of 1.5-2.5 tf. In working with metal it is used when this is sufficient, in the following. cases (see also video):

When pressing force less than the specified values ​​is sufficient:

Video: screw press 2/2

As a small or mini press for small, not very important jobs:

How to remove:

Is it just hydraulics?

A homemade jack press can be not only hydraulic. Many passenger cars are equipped with a diamond-shaped screw jack when sold. It produces a force of no more than 2-2.5 tf, but is cheap (“a new, good one” can be purchased for 1,300 rubles). A small amount of effort is not only a drawback: the frame of a press with a screw jack can be made of a wooden beam from 150x150, and it is also possible to adapt an electric drill to it as a drive, see fig.:

Homemade mechanical press with electric drive from a screw diamond jack

If the maximum you need is to bend rods up to 8-10 mm, such a press will be enough for that. And an interesting fact: about 10 years ago, the author of the article happened to accidentally meet a figure who, working 3-4 hours on the first 2-3 days of the week, earned 20-25 thousand rubles. per month At that time the amount was considerable. How? I bought empty metal cans for half the purchase price of scrap metal, flattened them and sold them at a normal price. Most of the cans they brought were beer ones, they are aluminum, and they are expensive. He complained, however, that the work was dirty - the bulk of the raw materials were brought in by homeless people.

Pressing and vibration

Vibrations of metal stretching during pressing are the scourge of large industry, and giant presses, like the one that NKMZ supplied from the USSR to the French “Forzhal”, because of this they are the most complex units

But individual entrepreneurs and amateurs should also pay the most serious attention to the vibration resistance of the press. Score on the hardened shaft or journal of the axle shaft is an irreparable defect

Features of creating a hydraulic oil press with your own hands

A homemade press made with your own hands from a jack can be used as a device for squeezing oil. However, during its manufacture it is necessary to provide for some design features.

A homemade jack press can also be used to squeeze out oil.

A metal plate needs to be secured to the top crossbar of the frame. It should move easily along the guides when acting on the screw shaft. This mechanism makes it possible to control the gap between the clamping block and the material being processed.

To fix the removable mobile block of a homemade press from a jack, bolts are used. They are installed in pre-created holes with a certain pitch, which is determined by the working process conditions. However, the distance between the holes should not be greater than the free movement of the hydraulic jack rod. The clamping elements are made of metal of different thicknesses and are removable. Using this technology, you can also make a paper press with your own hands.

Helpful advice! The clamping beam can be fixed to the guides using fingers made of durable metal, the diameter of which is selected based on the size of the body and the force applied during operation of the device.

When to buy

Tabletop manual mechanical mini press

But when you under no circumstances need to make a press yourself, it is when you are engaged in precision mechanics, optics, or jewelry work. All homemade presses are not particularly accurate: you can’t make them better at home and/or homemade conditions. And an inaccurate mini-press can break or irreparably damage a tiny irreplaceable part, crack a lens, a gemstone, etc. In these cases, it is still better to purchase a desktop mini-press; Of these, manual mechanical rack and pinion (see figure on the right) are widely available and their prices are reasonable.

How to use a hydraulic jack: design features

Most often, a homemade press is made from a hydraulic jack. This is explained by the design features of the product and the principle of its operation, which is based on the laws of hydraulics.

A homemade press is most often made from a bottle-type hydraulic jack

The jack cylinder contains a piston. Above it or in a separate reservoir is the working fluid in the form of mineral oil. The hydraulic jack is operated by a small pump that forces oil through a bypass valve above the piston. The force is minimized due to the difference in diameters of the plunger and the tool cylinder. The working fluid, which is located above the piston, pushes it out, which helps lift the load located above it.

To lower the tool, you must know how to use a hydraulic jack. To do this, it is necessary to slowly bleed the working oil from under the piston into the reservoir or into the upper part of the cylinder. For this purpose, a bypass valve is used in the form of a round head with shoulders, which must be loosened.

When operating the device, certain difficulties may arise, which occurs as a result of insufficient oil level in the device. To troubleshoot problems, it is important to know how to fill a hydraulic jack with your own hands. To do this, you need to unscrew the filler plug on the tool body and insert a hose into the hole to fill the tank to the required volume. Upon completion of the process, the jack is pumped.

Possible malfunctions and maintenance of the jack

Meanwhile, making a press using a jack is not all. You need to know how to further service this device and eliminate defects. The most common malfunctions of the jack include oil leakage and air penetration into its working chamber.

Leaking oil usually indicates failure of oil seals and various seals. This defect is eliminated by replacing faulty seals with an appropriate repair kit. To do this, the jack is disassembled, the pistons and rod are removed from the body, then they are checked for corrosion, contamination and deformation. The dirt is removed, and if a noticeable bend in the rod is detected, the defective element is replaced with a new one.

Construction of a finished hydraulic press.

The bypass valve is also examined for distortion and contamination. In case of mechanical deformations, the damaged valve is replaced with a new one, while the clogged valve can be cleaned of dirt.

After this, the old oil is drained from the jack cylinders. You can speed up the process by pumping the system up and down with the lever. Instead of old oil, new working fluid is poured in, but only after installing a new repair kit.

As a result of prolonged use of such a press, air bubbles can accumulate in the working chamber of the jack, which significantly reduce the efficiency of the entire device. In this case, the jack either does not function at all, or its rod extends too slowly.

Air bubbles are removed by rapid pumping of the jack pump with the oil tank plug and bypass valve open. As a result of vigorous movements, air from the working chamber of the lifting device will flow into the oil tank. After this, the oil tank plug and the bypass valve should be tightly closed.

If everything was done correctly, the jack will work normally again. If the malfunction does not disappear after the first time, the described pumping will need to be repeated.

Features of a self-made electro-hydraulic press

You can independently make not only a manual hydraulic press, but also a device equipped with an electric drive. Such a device is capable of developing enormous forces, which expands the functionality of the equipment and increases its efficiency.

A hydraulic press with an electric motor can be created as a floor-mounted or table-top type

The operating principle of a self-made hydraulic press with an electric drive is as follows. The hydraulic pump is driven by a motor that is connected to an electrical outlet. In turn, the hydraulic pump helps maintain the required pressure of the working fluid in the first chamber of the press. The piston ensures the transfer of pressure to the second reservoir of the press, where it increases several times. Thus, the resulting force is transferred from the second cylinder to the material being processed.

Important! The magnitude of the force transmitted to the workpiece will depend on the ratio of the areas of the pistons in both cylinders.

With an electric motor, you can create both a floor-standing and table-top hydraulic press with your own hands. Both options will differ in size and the amount of force exerted on the workpiece being processed. For tabletop devices it does not exceed 20 tons, and for floor-standing devices – 100 tons.

DIY hydraulic press with electric motor

The manufacture of the device begins with making a drawing of a hydraulic press with your own hands, drawing all the structural elements and indicating their dimensions.

The flange for a hydraulic press with an electric motor can be made from a car hub

The frame of the structure must withstand significant loads, so it must be made of durable material. The best solution is to use a T-beam, which will not bend under a hydraulic press.

The frame is represented by a U-shaped frame, which is installed on a base of thinner angles or channels. In the central part of the frame in height, it is necessary to install a working platform from a thick-walled channel by welding.

The next step in making a homemade hydraulic press with your own hands is the installation of a hydraulic cylinder on the frame, which is carried out in a certain sequence. To ensure reliable fastening of the hydraulic pump, it should be fixed to a metal plate using a flange. The slab itself is mounted on I-beams of the frame.

The flange can be made from a car hub by processing it on a lathe. In the metal plate for installing the hydraulic cylinder, you need to weld a round boss to fix the lathe in the chuck. After boring the hole, the plate is welded to the base of the frame.

A high pressure hose is used to connect the oil station to the hydraulic cylinder.

A flange with the required mounting hole is put on the hydraulic cylinder and welded in a circle. To ensure the reliability of the device, it is necessary to manufacture and attach another flange to the upper part of the hydraulic cylinder, welding it to the beams.

Important! The flange and hydraulic cylinder must be welded to each other as evenly as possible, so the surface of the first is pre-processed on a lathe.

A metal plate with welded beams is fixed to the frame by welding. It contains holes for mounting bolts. To ensure normal operation of the press, an oil station should be installed, connecting it to the hydraulic cylinder using hoses.

Required drawings

As for the drawings and dimensions for making a press, there are a lot of options and possibilities. First you need to decide what size car you will use the jack with press for.

Everything here is extremely simple, the larger the machine, the correspondingly larger the press will be, and therefore the more sophisticated the drawings.

You can use many online resources where there are a large number of drawings of any size. But in short, the approximate numbers in the drawings will be as follows:

• A-1800
• B-1000
• F-500
• L-300
• Kg-120

In almost all cases, the jack will be installed at the very bottom at its base. The press drawing will also indicate the dimensions of the bed.

Do-it-yourself hydraulic press repair using a jack

To maintain the long-term performance of a hydraulic press made on the basis of a jack, a homemade device requires proper operation and maintenance. During operation, it is necessary to monitor the oil level in the hydraulic cylinder, lubricate moving parts, check the condition of sealing joints, and the reliability of fastening of assembly elements.

To maintain the operation of the press, it is necessary to monitor the oil level in the hydraulic cylinder, check the reliability of fastening of the elements and lubricate the moving parts

However, any mechanism can malfunction, which is the cause of improper operation or wear of individual structural elements. If the hydraulic garage press you created yourself has stopped or does not start, you should check the oil level in the hydraulic cylinder. If its volume is insufficient, you will need to fill the container and then pump the jack.

If there is a liquid leak, this indicates mechanical damage to the structure or breakdown of its individual elements. To eliminate the defect, it is necessary to disassemble the jack and check all its parts for corrosion damage. The rod is inspected for any deformations. Damaged elements should be replaced with new ones. The operating oil must be completely drained. The internal cavity of the jack and all its elements are washed with kerosene and dried. Old sealing gaskets and cuffs must be replaced with new ones.

Other problems when operating a home-made hydraulic cylinder press

If there is an insufficient level of force from a hand-made hydraulic press, or the mechanism operates intermittently, this problem is associated with the possible entry of air into the cavity of the jack, which negatively affects the operation of the piston. To eliminate the damage, working fluid should be added to the cylinder by removing air through the tubes.

The low pressure of the mechanism is explained by damage to the valve, which has moved away from the compartments, become dirty, or has weakened springs. In the first two cases, the element is repaired or replaced. The valve is cleaned using a damp cloth and then drying the element. In case of severe contamination, the mechanism is washed with kerosene or gasoline and dried with compressed air. If the reason lies in the wear of the springs, they must be replaced with new elements.

When air enters the cavity of the jack, an insufficient level of press pressure is observed

Important! If the jack's body or piston is damaged, a complete replacement of the mechanism is required, which cannot be repaired.

After disassembling the jack for repair work, the mechanism must be reassembled under certain conditions. The valves must fit snugly into the seats. It is necessary that there is a sufficient amount of fluid in the hydraulic cylinder. There should be no air in the system.

A hydraulic press is a multifunctional universal equipment that can be used to solve various problems where effort is required. The tool can be purchased at a specialized store or you can make a press yourself from a hydraulic jack, which will save money. To do this, it is important to choose the right material and adhere to the algorithm for assembling the elements.

How to understand when it's time to replace

Before you set out to press in these parts, you should first of all inspect them thoroughly to make sure that they really require replacement. Check for holes and any deformations, for swollen rubber on the hinges and for cracks. Manipulate the components, determining the presence of backlashes. If the permissible norm is exceeded, then replacement of parts is inevitable. It is not recommended to delay the pressing procedure. Over time, this problem will only get worse and can lead to suspension arm failure.

The main indicators that indicate the failure of one part or several:

1. Driving the car has become much more difficult.
2. When overcoming bumps, the suspension begins to knock loudly. Tires wear unevenly, which has not been observed before.
3. It has become much more difficult to adjust wheel alignment.

Production equipment

Even high-performance equipment designed for producing vegetable oil in industrial conditions is small in size and, accordingly, does not require much space for installation. Modern models are often mini-complexes for the production of vegetable oil, equipped with various working modules, which significantly expands their functionality.

Screw oil press, designed for cold continuous extraction as part of a production line or as an independent device

Thus, a typical sunflower oil production line operates according to the following principle.

1. The raw materials must be dried, cleaned of various contaminants, and foreign impurities are removed from them.
2. In a special module, the seed kernels are separated from the husks and crushed.
3. The crushed seed kernels are steamed, and if we are talking about hot pressing, they are also fried.
4. The oil is squeezed out from the prepared mass.
5. The oil obtained immediately after pressing goes through a filtration stage, which significantly increases its purity.
6. After filtration, the finished oil is poured into containers and sent for storage.

Homemade oil press – Homemade machines

I received a question from Instagram about the cold-press technology of EcoFarm YAKUSHEV. A good question deserves a good answer and gratitude, so we provide a link to the author’s profile: rodnoy_medok

Question from rodnoy_medok: Tell us how you can fry using extra cold-pressed oil?) After all, there are only three methods of extraction - an oak barrel, a screw press and extraction. You can buy it from a screw press in a store - “cold” pressing and the smell of roasted seeds. Do you have the same?

The answer was prepared with the support of Alexey Yakushev: Dear rodnoy_medok, thank you for the wonderful question, because many people only know about the existence of refined and unrefined oil, and even unrefined oil can be different. So let’s put harmful refined oils aside and consider the technologies for the production of unrefined vegetable oil.

Like presses made from other types of wood, oak presses are very beautiful, and during the production process they emit an incomparable aroma and the oil flows so deliciously that you can admire it, but everything is so rosy only before they begin to be actively used.

The main disadvantages of wooden oil presses:

• low performance. On average, 1-3 liters per hour, which means even with a 12-hour working day you can’t get more than 36 liters of oil
• low oil yield - about 20% of the weight of the seed
• rancidity, drying and fungus. When the cash press is idle, it must be cleaned and treated with beeswax. If this is not done, then the oil remaining on the surface of the wood will dry out, go rancid, and the new smell will no longer be eradicated from the old barrel. If the press is not dried, then mold may grow on wooden surfaces, which also will not make the oil useful and environmentally friendly.
• High cost or low quality oil. If the equipment is used regularly, without downtime and is cleaned and dried in a timely manner, then problems with its damage can be avoided, but who can vouch for an unknown manufacturer, especially when every preventive maintenance means equipment downtime, a waste of time, and therefore an increase in cost.

Screw oil presses are more technologically advanced and can operate in continuous mode for a long time. They also require cleaning, but metal is easier to clean than wood. However, screw presses have no fewer pitfalls than wooden ones.

DIY cold pressed oil press

A business idea for the production of sunflower oil is based on an oil mill. From an investment perspective among professionals, the idea has not lost its popularity and is still in demand and profitable.

However, for many, the issue of income in this area is quite controversial, which is in vain. Let's take a closer look so as not to rely on the opinions of the majority, but to base our own conclusions on specific numbers and facts.

In this business you won’t be satisfied with just butter.

The profit from its sale is hardly enough to reach the cost level.

But we must not forget about the additional products obtained from the creamery, which bring a significant net profit.

Equipment for the production of vegetable oil

The production of vegetable oil at home is limited by financial resources. This type of business is attractive for its flexibility of rapid development.

You can start with a minimum set of production workshops, and then expand with additional equipment for the production of by-products. Thus, the range expands, and profits grow progressively.

A full-fledged plant for the production of vegetable oil must be WASTE-FREE!

The minimum configuration of the line consists of the following equipment:

1. Mini oil press. The power of such an oil press is 2 kW. per hour, 220 V. Capacity = 13 liters per hour. Press weight 45 kg. The average cost is $800.
2. Food filter. The oil must be cleaned using a special filter with a capacity of 0.5 m2. at one o'clock. Productivity = 5 liters per hour. Filter weight 100 kg. Cost 1100-1300 dollars.

By and large, these two components are already quite enough to produce and sell two products: good sunflower oil and meal.

By the way, meal from oilseeds is widely used to feed animals and birds in agriculture. Therefore, it sells much faster than the main product.

In addition, there is much more of it at the output of processed raw materials - 65%.

But if you plan to earn more, then you should think about expanding production.

Additional technological equipment for the production of vegetable oils allows us to obtain several products from one oil mill at once: