Hydraulic shop presses are becoming increasingly popular, due to the amazing benefits they provide.

At PASSCA, we have refined our process for designing and manufacturing high-quality hydraulic shop presses for operators in both a professional automotive shop or a personal garage. 

The hydraulic power, similar to a hydraulic bottle jack, transforms simple mechanical motions from the operator into an overwhelmingly powerful force, for a variety of tasks. 

Because PASSCA makes many styles and tiers of shop presses, make sure to also check out our guides on pneumatic shop presses and electric shop presses. 

Hydraulic Shop Presses: The Ultimate FAQ

Because of the wide variety of functions and roles a hydraulic shop press can fill within an automotive business or home workshop, we at PASSCA thought a full FAQ guide would be a good way to help our customers make the best choice and learn about this incredible piece of equipment. 

By the end of this FAQ guide, you will be able to understand the situations where a hydraulic shop press will excel, how to find the ideal model for your needs, and even pick up some tips on properly maintaining your very own hydraulic shop press. 

We add to this guide all the time! So please, send us your questions. 

1. What Is a Hydraulic Shop Press and How Is It Different?

A hydraulic shop press is a machine press that makes use of compressed hydraulic fluid in generating the force behind the press’s power, paired with the force applied by its operator.

Once force is applied onto the plunger, the hydraulic fluid becomes pressurized, and then the ram is extended to apply pressure to whatever material the operator is working with, at a much greater force than a human could produce on their own.  

Hydraulic shop presses are mostly found in industrial manufacturing, metalworking, or fabrication environments and allow for many different kinds of operations in a professional automotive shop. 

While other types of shop presses use electricity or air compressors to power their force, a hydraulic shop press does not require an external power source, making it ideal for a remote workshop or reducing the ongoing overhead costs of a business.  

What Are the Features of a Hydraulic Shop Press? 

Flexible ; A hydraulic shop press will help you with: separating stuck or rusted parts, deep drawing, punching, blanking, molding, clinching, metal forming, and forging — there are an incredible variety of tasks a shop press can assist you with completing. 

Compact ; A hydraulic shop press does not take much floor space compared to all the tasks it can perform, and many models can be used as a benchtop shop press, which can be stored when not in use. 

Power ; You can swing a hammer all day and not recreate the power of a shop press when you need to flatten, bend, or separate pieces of metal — having a hydraulic shop press will save a lot of time and energy for automotive shop staff or any ambitious DIY-er. 

What Specifications of Hydraulic Shop Press Are Most Popular on the Market?

There are a wide variety of powers and sizes of hydraulic shop presses available on the market, but in many cases they can be much more than a person might need — avoid getting far more power than you ever expect to use, to save money and space in your garage.  

A simple 12 ton hydraulic shop press is effective for pressing, stamping, and straightening of components that are difficult to handle.

Apart from the operation of simple tools, a 20 ton shop press can also prove to be very useful in the compression of junk items and the separation of stuck or rusted engine parts or vehicle components. 

The heavier 30 ton hydraulic shop press is very effective at advanced crushing and fabrication tasks when you need to work on custom parts or seriously stuck parts. 

A 50 ton hydraulic shop press can help in the installation of rivets, bearings, U-joints, ball joints, and pulleys, as well as performing all of the other tasks a shop press can handle for you. 

 What Other Tasks Can a Hydraulic Shop Press Perform?

A benchtop hydraulic shop press can help in bending, stamping, straightening of components that you cannot handle on your own, while being easier to move or add to a small workshop. 

Hydraulic floor shop presses are extremely useful in the repair of electric motors in tasks like installation, removal of pressure-fitted components, and the straightening or bending of metals.

Finally, a shop press can also help with other tasks like the manufacturing of electrical and automotive parts and working on heavy-duty metal car parts.  

 What Are the Parts of a Hydraulic Shop Press? 

A high-quality hydraulic shop press has many important parts that add functionality or safety to an otherwise simple and potentially dangerous piece of heavy machinery. 

Shop press safety guards ensure that the operator is protected from being pressed themselves.  

The hydraulic cylinder of the shop press contains the pressurized hydraulic fluid that powers the force of the press.  

The shop press ram and piston channel the hydraulics in the cylinder into the actual motion. 

Hydraulic press frames support the intense workload of the press, and many of them allow the hydraulic system to be switched out and upgraded. 

What Are the Best Hydraulic Shop Press Accessories? 

Attachments for the piston aid in tackling the straightening, bending, and pressing of metal sheets.

A hydraulic hose crimper makes it possible for hydraulic hoses to be assembled properly, which is important in many tasks that your shop press will be used for in a professional automotive shop. 

Hydraulic press plates can also be switched out for different hardness factors or cutting implements that help with die cutting, snipping, or punch holes into metal parts. 

An excellent shop press accessory kit might include a bearing shield, V blocks, arbor plates, press guards, brake tooling kits, safety glasses, and a bearing splitter — many accessories and attachments will be needed for very specific tasks, so you can build up a set over time. 

What Strength of a Hydraulic Press Should I Get for My Workshop?

Some of the most important factors to consider are: available floor space, needed strength of hydraulic power (expressed in tons of pressure), and the size of auto or stock metal that you will be working within your workshop. 

Generally speaking, you can go for a 20 ton or 12 ton model of a hydraulic shop press, as they can perform most of the basic tasks you will want to use your new shop press to do.

If you will be working with larger engines, agricultural or industrial equipment, or extremely thick pieces of metal, you should get the strongest hydraulic shop press that you have space and a budget for. 

8. How Does a Hydraulic Press Multiply the Force?

A hydraulic press uses Pascal’s principle in the application of force — it multiplies force by directing it into a smaller surface area, which is why shop presses work great for both punching and pressing. 

The hydraulic fluid compresses as the operator pumps the handle, which compounds your strength into the ability to do incredible things. 

 What Maintenance Does a Hydraulic Shop Press Require?

• Periodically checking the hydraulic lines for leaks and ensuring excess oil is wiped off.
• Checking the level of hydraulic fluid to know whether a quick top-off is required.
• Always use the recommended type and quantity of fluid for optimal performance
• Regularly testing and tightening any fittings and bolts, once the shop press is older. 
• Bleeding air from the hydraulic cylinder can keep it in better condition and resolve most issues. 

 Maintenance: How to Bleed Hydraulic Shop Press? 

It is simple and quick to bleed a hydraulic shop press, and it is recommended to do it at least once a month, or after a long period of inactivity. 

Here is how to bleed the air from the hydraulic cylinder of your shop press:

1. Open the valve and pump ten times. 
2. Close the valve and raise the ram until it is fully extended. 
3. While extended, pump ten more times. 
4. Release the valve again, and lower the ram. 
5. Repeat this once or twice more to remove all the air from your shop press’s hydraulic cylinder. 

 How Can I Choose the Best Hydraulic Shop Press for Sale or Professional Use?

A hydraulic shop press from PASSCA is meant for hard use in a professional automotive body shop by a mechanic, but the price point means many people choose one for their home garage as well. 

You should consider the reputation of the manufacturer, the quality of the materials used, and the overall size and strength of the hydraulic shop press you are interested in. 

Hydraulic shop presses are a smart way to add job types to a business while keeping both upfront and long-term costs relatively low. 

For more information on the specific hydraulic shop press styles and models that we make, and to find the best fit for your garage, check out our current catalog. 

With the knowledge in this FAQ Guide, you are sure to find the best hydraulic shop press for your needs. 

Contact PASSCA Tools now for all your automotive equipment needs. 

How Does a Pneumatic Shop Press Work?

Pneumatic shop press linked the air compressor to faster the operation of the hydraulic shop press

Pneumatic shop presses depend on the application of pressure through air in tubes and valves thus completing the action.

You should consider using the pneumatic press due to its speed, efficiency and ease of control.

Apart from that, pneumatic presses are durable and will require minimal maintenance thus saving you money.

What are the Benefits of Using a Shop Press?

Shop presses have particular benefits that you will enjoy while using them.

Here are the main advantages of using the shop press.

• It has proper protection that will help in preventing injury in case of an accident.
• It is versatile and has different options that you can choose from.
• It has a compact shape that produces no noise during the mode of operation.
• You will spend less in purchasing, installing, operating and even maintaining the shop press.
• It also offers a lot of power in one stroke thus making them very reliable in pressing.

Do the Shop Press Exhibit Any Form of Limitation?

There are very few limitations that you will experience by using the shop press.

Here are some of the limitations that you might come across.

• The handling process of the hydraulic fluids can mess you up.
• In case you are using the hydraulic shop press, there are chances that it might leak.
• At some instances, you might apply excess pressure that will burst the pressure system tubes.
• Most of them work a very slow speed thus consuming a lot of time.
• They also consume a lot of energy despite the fact that they are efficient.

What are the Applications of the Shop Press?

You can use the shop press in quite a number of different applications such as:

• Applying pressure on glued pieces
• Bending and crushing of different types and sizes of metal
• Straightening and flattening uneven parts of metal.
• Separation of rusty parts
• Reloading of ammunition in military applications
• Compressing filters in a bid to release oil

Which Accessories Can You Use Alongside a Shop Press?

You can improve the usefulness of the shop press by using other accessories alongside the shop press.

Here are some of the accessories that you will use alongside the shop press.

• Lumbers which will hold the wood in place you are compressing wood
• Center press plate for pipes welded at the center of steel plates.
• Steel Bed Plates
• Pins for keeping the plates in the right position
• Stoppers which you will employ in adjusting heights and adding stability in bigger projects
• Shop press drives including pipes, sockets, bearing sets of drivers, and kits of punch drivers
• Press brakes of steel that will assist in bending steel projects.

Which Types of Hydraulic Shop Press are there?

Broadly, you can classify hydraulic shop presses into the following main categories:

1. Hydraulic Press or Hydraulic Shop Press

These systems depend on hydraulic fluids to exert the required amount of pressure.

Of course, it depends on the mechanical force, which causes the hydraulic to exert the pressure.

1. Pneumatic Shop Press

It is also called the air hydraulic press.

Basically, this is a modified version of the hydraulic shop press.

It has air systems or air pumps that help the hydraulic fluid to exert the needed pressure or force.

Besides, it depends on tubes and valves to exert controlled action.

Figure 3 Pneumatic shop press

• Electric Shop Press

It is also called the electric hydraulic shop press.

Unlike the other two, this shop press has hydraulic systems and an electric motor.

It depends on the electric motor to exert controlled action (i.e. amount of pressure/force).

Figure 4 Electric shop press

Which is the Best Material for Making the Shop Press?

The best type of materials that you can use in making shop presses is stainless steel.

You will use stainless steel in making the shop press because it has very high tensile strength.

Apart from that, it is stainless and will not rust even after exposure to corrosion agents

Which Safety Precautions Must You take When Using the Shop Press?

When using the sop press, there are particular safety precautions that you need to take care of.

Here are the main safety precautions that you have to pay very close attention to:

• Use the guards of the machine inclusive of the hand tripping devices, as well as electronic safety devices.
• You must ensure that you attach the guards at the right point of the machine and eliminate any safety hazards.
• Make sure that you keep your hands away from the working station by using different hand adjustment tools.
• Keep the main control platform of the machine at a safe distance from the work station to avoid injury.
• You must also ensure that you guard the foot pedal to guard your foot.
• The machine must also have an emergency stop button that will help in stopping the operations fast.

How Do You Troubleshoot a Shop Press?

There are instances when you will experience particular setbacks in the operation of the shop press.

You can identify the source of the setbacks by troubleshooting the shop press.

Some of the issues you can identify by troubleshooting the machine include:

Figure 5 Shop press

· Oil Leakages

Oil might leak from the shop press due to lose fittings, wrong type and use of oil, as well as contamination.

You should repair or replace the shop press leaking joints and use the right type of oil.

· Overheating of the Shop Press

You might experience unusually high temperatures due to improper use of the shop press.

Apart from that, you might have high volumes or higher workloads than the usual or recommended load.

You should read the manual to understand the working procedures of the shop press and recommended loads.

What is the Maximum Tonnage of the Shop Press?

The maximum tonnage that the shop press can exert on different loads will vary according to the type of load.

Apart from that, you can decide on the amount of press that the shop press can produce depending on the application.

You can customize the shop press to produce different tonnage of force depending on your requirements.

Which Factors Should You Consider When Choosing a Shop Press?

Well, it is important to have the knowledge about the shop press you need before you go shopping.

You can have a rough idea about the type of shop press that you need by looking at the following features.

· Tonnage of the Shop Press

Here, the application and amount of force you need will determine the tonnage of the press that you will purchase.

The tonnage of the shop press will vary according to the final application of the shop press.

· Intended Type of Usage

The final application of the shop press will also have an influence on the type of purchase you make.

· Type of Press Selection

You must also consider the press selection type that you will have on your shop press.

You can choose between air/hydraulic press or electric press among other types of presses.

· Pressing Stroke, Working Speed, Length and Duration

These dimensions will affect the efficiency of the shop press according to the application requirements.

The better the above dimensions, the higher the quality and thus an increase in price.

· Maximum Pressure Within the System

You should have a working pressure range with the minimum as well as the maximum pressure in check.

With that, you can know or understand the amount of pressure to apply on a particular device.

· Rigidity of the Frame Construction

You should consider purchasing a shop press whose frame is as rigid as possible to maintain stability.

The higher the rigidity levels, the higher the cost of the shop presses.

How Much Does a Shop Press Cost?

The cost of a shop press will vary according to the type of shop press you intend to purchase.

High-quality shop presses will cost you more than low-quality shop presses.

Apart from that, the higher the tonnage of the shop press, the higher the cost of the shop press.

Generally, the cost of shop presses will range between 50 to 40,000 US Dollars.

What are the Main Components of a Hydraulic Shop Press?

Different types of hydraulic presses have different components that promote the proper functioning of the shop press.

Here are the main components that you will find in a hydraulic shop press:

Figure 6 Components of shop press

· Set of Hydraulic Cylinders

The hydraulic cylinders help in maintain the pressure that the hydraulic press releases on the load.

· Pistons or Punches

The pistons are responsible for creating the push effect on the hydraulic fluid as well as the load.

· Hydraulic Pipes

The hydraulic pipes will transfer the force or pressure from the hydraulic shop press to other parts of the machine.

They are also the channels through which the hydraulic fluid flows through to the right points of the shop press.

· Hydraulic Fluid

The hydraulic fluid will transfer the force from one side of the hydraulic press and transmit it to the other parts.

· Anvil

The anvil will be in contact with the product and then produce the pressing effect on the load.

What are the Compliance Standards of the Shop Press?

When purchasing the shop press, you must ensure that it is of very high quality by observing the compliance standards.

The main quality compliance standards that the shop press must have include:

• EN ISO12100:2010
• EN ISO 16092-3:2018
• ASME PALD-2010

How Do You Maintain a Hydraulic Shop Press?

Proper maintenance is imperative of the shop press to ensure that it lasts longer to the end of service life.

It involves cleaning and lubricating the parts of the hydraulic press to prevent possible damages on the shop press.

Apart from that, you will ensure that you replace the worn-out and damaged parts of the shop press.

Checking the oil levels within the shop press hydraulic system is also very important.

You must maintain proper oil levels by refilling the oil units up to the right oil levels.

In addition to that, you must replace the oil every other time after the expiry of the lubricant service life.

How Does the Hydraulic Shop Press Work?

To operate a hydraulic shop press, you must have proper knowledge about how the shop press works.

As soon as you apply the force on the peddle the fluid will flow into double-acting cylinders.

It will, then, lead to a repetition of the same process within the double cylinders into another large cylinder.

The back and forth pressing of the fluid will pump the cylinders and create enough pressure within the system.

Eventually, the pressure will be too high to force the anvil, die, or base plate to act on the load.

It will press the load and produce the right crushing or pressing force on the load.

It has a valve that will activate the reversal of pressure when the buildup of pressure is too high.

With this information, certainly, you can choose the best shop press for your business.

At Passca Tools, we design and manufacture a range of lifting equipment.

Whether you need, shop press, hydraulic jacks or engine crane, we have a perfect solution for you.