[donkismash]

after building my first I am now hooked....ordered some ak-builder parts and made some of my own(yes I copied your design)...

Is a 12 ton press enough or should I go with the 20 ton?
Should I get the A-frame design or square?

Budget is $100-$200

Also I have heard that you should bake your parts at 200-250 for 30 minutes before pressing...not needed or makes life easier???

 

[lewcifer820]

A 12 ton will suffice, but you should get the best that you can afford. Also, I've never baked parts prior to using the press and I've never had a problem.

 

[lordofwar2]

go to harbor freight and get a 12 ton press.do a google search and try to find a 20% off cupon.done many builds with a 12 tonner.

 

[donkismash]

cool...12 ton it is....any advantage to A-frame design??

maybe stability???

thank yall for the info :hail:

 

[lewcifer820]

I have a 12 ton H-frame and it wobbles a bit, but nothing to the detriment of what I'm working on. I've heard that the A-frame offers a bit more stability, but haven't seen for myself.

 

[HobbyMachinist]

I have a 20 ton A-frame - love it, very stable, never been at a loss for power.

 

[MRIman]

I've got a HF 12 ton H press. That said a friend has an "A" frame,spend the extra on an A,or weld up your H .

 

[m0ondoggy]

12 tons will do it, but the 20 ton H frame is welded at the top and is a lot sturdier.

 

[jonpo]

I have a 12T now. When it finally gives up, I will probably buy a 20T. But my current press has been adequate

 

[GPSIG]

I have a 12 ton Harbor freight H frame, on sale for under $100 when I picked it up. On the way home, I stopped by Home Depot and picked out about a dozen washers, including some thinner "fender" washers. When I built it up, I used the washers to close the gaps in the frame, and it came out nice and straight and stable. A welded 20 ton would be nice, but this works and was priced right.

 

[BigAL]

Alot of the wobble from the 12 ton "H" presses is that they (nuts & bolts) loosen after initial use. Keep an eye on them and re tighten after the first couple of uses.

A 12 ton will do anything you need AK wise

 

[dead_eye]

Get the 20 ton.

 

[TonyG]

Here is a link to a 20% off coupon for harborfreight that is good until the end of the year. Just print it and hand it to the cashier.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/SingleMagLanders/americanprofile/images/20_c.jpg

 

[donkismash]

Here is a link to a 20% off coupon for harborfreight that is good until the end of the year. Just print it and hand it to the cashier.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/SingleMagLanders/americanprofile/images/20_c.jpg

:banana: :allright: :bd: :50cal: :animak: :beer:

 

[deathbud]

i have 20ton A-frame its very sturdy compared to my friends 12 ton h-frame

 

[joe_sun]

Everyone is correct, the HF 20 ton is better in every way except for 1 and it's the reason I have a 12 ton.

I had a 79.99 coupon for the 12 ton.

 

[RogueHK]

I had the press get miss aligned while I was pressing a barrel pin out of a PKMS one time about 2 years ago.. The pin punch I was using shot out and hit me in my right ball. I was wearing jeans I NEVER saw the pin punch that's how hard it came out. I was also standing to the side of the press. After I got hit I started jumping up and down. I knew the pain was coming but it didn't for about 9 minutes. :doh:



So I go up stairs and sit on a chair, the next thing I know my father is SCREAMING my name asking me to wake up.. apparently I had a seizure then I woke up with him screaming.. Then my heart stopped and dad had to do CPR. I'm lucky to be here today my wife had called 911 when I had my seizure.. The doc told me after he got me stable something about a nerve going all the way from down there to your heart. I now wear a full leather trench coat,a hockey mask,goggles,gloves and a cup.



Two years later I now have TWO daughters ages 1 and 2. I thought I couldn't have kids HAHA I Mean 20tons to the nuts?

 

[jonpo]

I had the press get miss aligned while I was pressing a barrel pin out of a PKMS one time about 2 years ago.. The pin punch I was using shot out and hit me in my right ball. I was wearing jeans I NEVER saw the pin punch that's how hard it came out. I was also standing to the side of the press. After I got hit I started jumping up and down. I knew the pain was coming but it didn't for about 9 minutes. :doh:



So I go up stairs and sit on a chair, the next thing I know my father is SCREAMING my name asking me to wake up.. apparently I had a seizure then I woke up with him screaming.. Then my heart stopped and dad had to do CPR. I'm lucky to be here today my wife had called 911 when I had my seizure.. The doc told me after he got me stable something about a nerve going all the way from down there to your heart. I now wear a full leather trench coat,a hockey mask,goggles,gloves and a cup.



Two years later I now have TWO daughters ages 1 and 2. I thought I couldn't have kids HAHA I Mean 20tons to the nuts?

What are you serious? That's why you have to use a captive pin when pressing down with that much force

 

[RogueHK]

Well I didn't have one.. Actually still don't but I use a big hammer now to knock them out. Some what safer :mrgreen:

I had the press get miss aligned while I was pressing a barrel pin out of a PKMS one time about 2 years ago.. The pin punch I was using shot out and hit me in my right ball. I was wearing jeans I NEVER saw the pin punch that's how hard it came out. I was also standing to the side of the press. After I got hit I started jumping up and down. I knew the pain was coming but it didn't for about 9 minutes. :doh:



So I go up stairs and sit on a chair, the next thing I know my father is SCREAMING my name asking me to wake up.. apparently I had a seizure then I woke up with him screaming.. Then my heart stopped and dad had to do CPR. I'm lucky to be here today my wife had called 911 when I had my seizure.. The doc told me after he got me stable something about a nerve going all the way from down there to your heart. I now wear a full leather trench coat,a hockey mask,goggles,gloves and a cup.



Two years later I now have TWO daughters ages 1 and 2. I thought I couldn't have kids HAHA I Mean 20tons to the nuts?

What are you serious? That's why you have to use a captive pin when pressing down with that much force

 

[SJgunguy24]

12 ton will work but the 20 will work better. Here's my reason why, while the 12 provides plenty of pressure that will not be as smooth as the 20 ton. When pressing barrels back in the 12 ton tends to jump a bit. Even with lube the barrel can be a little tough to get in smoothly. This can make head spacing a chore, press in......oops, too far, press out, now back in. The 20 tons of power is smoother and I find that you can get that 1mm if you need it, where as the 12 may jump you past where you need to go.
My 2 cents