Palmgren Arbor press, 0.5 ton

It's a basic arbor press. This baby one at 0.5 ton is not going to move the world, It's a simple rack and pinion + lever advantage tool (normally) used for joining or moving press fit metal components. (arbors, bearings on shafts, etc.) Clever users can find many other applications where controlled downward force is needed rather than brute hammering. For full force application it needs to be bolted to a sturdy bench or stand. A hole in bench beneath anvil may be requited for some applications needing more clearance. Works smart. Don't purchase a tack hammer to drive railroad spikes... This tool is 100% satisfactory in construction and material and for use within its capacity. The rack is reversible for solid or hole end. There is a depth stop clamp for the rack included which is not shown. The holding magnet in the hole end is never intended to receive press force. Supplied tools rest against square rack end, not against the magnet. Consider your application when designing tool holders. Good price and value in its class. I recommend for all hobbyist and/or miniature to small prototype machine shops. Any other light pressing operations that can be imagined.

Well made, flexible to use. If you need a small press .. this is definitely the one you want. Well made, functional and dang what a value. Price them out there ... but you'll be back. Palmgren makes a wonderfully made product. No complaints at all. If the larger presses they offer are as well made as this one ... I might just have to pick one up later. Comparing what I got from Palmgren to the ones available locally ... no comparison. This is much better and comes with the three tips. Reversing the ram to use the tips couldn't be easier. Do I sound please? You bet I am. Great press and I spent at least $30 less than I would have for one that's not even on par with this one!

I bought this to use to press in guitar frets and I must say it’s awesome! I tried another cheaper one and it was junk compared to this one. This one didn’t come all dirty and greasy and packed very well. Also much better quality than the other one I ordered and sent back. Also better than the Harbor Freight brand one. I haven’t used it for anything else so not sure how it works for pressing in bearings and stuff like that. It did come with a stop to keep it from falling down too far and a 3/8” hole to add the fret press caul and other accessories. Only thing I wish it had a treaded hole with an Allen nut to lock the fret caul in place but that’s easy enough to do yourself with a drill bit and threader tool. I actually got some 3/8” circle magnets and put up in the whole to hold the fret caul and works out perfectly! If you don’t want to spend the money on the Stew Mac press then this one is definitely worth it! Don’t try to save money and order a cheaper one because you’ll be disappointed and wish you just ordered this one in the first place!

Plan on doing some mods to make this work. The bores for the pinion shaft are not round and a very sloppy fit on the shaft. Had to ream the bores to make round and fabricate sleeves to get good fit on shaft. Casting surface finish runs from OK to very poor. Had to clean up casting nerds in many areas and repaint. Ram is a poor fit and adjustment screws bear on it in very small areas. Had to shorten the screws and fabricate a couple small flat gibs to get more surface bearing on the ram. Added threaded hole in the bottom of the ram to lock attachments in place using a 1/4" grub screw. Reworked the press plate to clean up the slots and relocated the pivot hole in the base to get the plate under the ram where it should be. Expected a little better quality from Palmgren.

It's not the greatest press in the world but it will get the job done no problem. It's dirty, not evenly cut. Look like it's cast. Has shape edges. That's all cosmetic stuff though and like I said this press works just fine. My advice is when you get it take it apart, clean it, oil and grease it up well.