Need some help on this item

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
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I am going to build a hydraulic press for making kydex sheaths and have been checking out these air/hydraulic jacks at Harbor Freight for a while. I just can't figure out if the air input operates the jack's hydraulics or not. Anyone have any experience with these jacks?? I don't know diddley about putting together a hydraulic cylinder and pump and this would be perfect for my needs if I could hook it up to my air compressor and run it off that. Thanks for any help you can give me!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40609
 
Michael: If it was hydraulic I could help you. But 12 tons for a kydex press seems to me to be a over kill.
 
That is ready to go. We have one that goes to 40 tons and is based on the same principle. Just look at the cfm requirements to make sure your air compressor can handle it. But that does seem like a lot of tonnage to press plastic. That press is gonna move about an 1/8 to 3/16 on every stroke.
 
Michael, If its just for kydex sheaths why not buy a cheap arbor press and put big pressing plates on it. Another idea.....They sell hydraulic floor jacks for cars that will go up about 8"+ with the first stroke and then pump up to 2 tons with the handle for only $29 on sale at Wally Mart. My son bought one It works cool on hid jeep. I use my 36 ton damascus press, talk about over-kill.
 
L6
Why do you need a press, a vise and some rubber coated Plates to put between the vise will do the job,I am just curious?The reaon I ask is I seen Allen Blade do it in his Kydex sheath making video and that is what he used,it looks simple enough.
 
Try making 30 sheaths at a time and then you'll know why I want to make a press for the job, lol. Plus I want to make the best sheaths I can and I figure a hydraulic press would get the kydex as crisp as possible. I don't want anything thats manual because it takes too long to put the pressure on and the kydex cools too fast.
All I was asking here was if the air line on this jack runs the hydraulics??
 
Looks to me like you can operate it with air pressure or with the hand jack (hydrolic). You have a choice, air or manual. Looks good to me. I might stop by the neiborhood Harbor Freight and see if they have one.

Roger

P.S. I just learned that Harbor Freight has the hand operated 'only' model on sale for $10.97. I might just lean into one of those.
 
Michael,
IMHO 2-3 vices set up with good stiff foam glued to some boards will work. I milled out the center about 1/2 way thru so the wood blocks just slip over the vice jaws face. The foam they use for kneeling in the garden works pretty good, ala Home Depot. I just find that you have to squish it pretty good and leave it alone for about 10-15 mins or so. This gives it a chance to hit all the detail. I'm sure you know this but just in case make sure your Kydex is about the consistancy of a limp noodle. Sounds like more pressure may work faster but the Kydex will still cool at the same rate!
Robert;)
 
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