how to use a shop press and is it worth the money? 

You nailed it with your opening statement... yes I'm considering buying one therefore I'm watching this video LOL. Great video with demonstration of it's versatility and how I'd use it most. So now I need to determine if I want to save $100 by getting the 12 ton 🤔

awesome idea to use the plates vertically as a die. Very smart!

that trick with the plates clamped to make 90 bends with bar stock is nice. they also sell a 12 in brake kit for doing wider metal. cheers

I went to get the 12 ton but they had this on sale for almost the same price. All I've used it for so far is bending the tines straight on my manually tiller. Couldn't have done it without this. A great tool to have!

great information, esp. adding wheels. i just purchased Vevor 6T press (used) on Amazon for > $90. need to push axle out of hub motor ... gonna swap out 6T press for 20T tho ... >$50 a press is that tool u don't know you need ... until u do. /Bklyn👑

I would use it for my press in wheel bearings that always go bad on front wheel drive cars.

I just purchased one for use in my home garage pressing in/out bearing and such. I love it already but you have shared some great ideas here. Many thanks!

I have owned my 20 ton HF press for a while , but i feel really stupid. watching you use it with the metal plates as a brake was like a light bulb went off in my head. I never put 2 and 2 together on why all the v and round cutouts were there. 😕

I like the idea about the zip ties I’m going to put them on mine. I have that 20 press I bought at Harbor freight that’s like yours.

If you has a questions about my shop press just leave them in this comment section and I'll get back to you. Have a great day.

"I pity the full!"

They pay for themselves pretty quick.

Nice video I just found one someone left at a rental property it is missing a few parts but I think that I can replace them .I understand what I need now Thanks

Thanks for sharing ! Great explanation !

Steve, thanks for sharing these elegant tips; the zip ties for packing out the jack platform and the press plates as a v-block especially! Makes me want to smack myself upside the head and say "DUH!" In my defense, the plates supplied with my older Harbor Freight twenty ton were cast iron, and not at all easy to prop up on edge. I am curious to know if your press platform rocks on its pins like mine (and many, many, other's) did? It was manufactured with a twist. Some folks assumed the pin holes in the uprights were not aligned, but I am quite sure that they all suffered from the same problem: one guy somewhere in China with a welding table that was not leveled for years. Sheesh, all it would have taken was a shim under one leg. Actually, this had very serious implications, as the platform became a powerful spring in itself and would be pressed flat into a wound up condition before any work got done. Some guys would try to press at or beyond the specifications of the jack, and crack those cast iron plates I mentioned, which was bad enough; but the energy stored in that wound up platform would propel the broken plates with extremely dangerous force. All the best!

What is the brand and model of this press?

How did you attach the press plate to the bottom of the ram when you bent the 90* angle?

Where did you get the hooks from????

I had to stop watching the video; your camera work causes motion sickness.