How to Build Hydraulic Press Bottle Jack

To build a hydraulic press bottle jack, you will require an appropriate-sized jack that can apply pressure - most car-lifting jacks have 5 tons capacity which should provide sufficient pressure.

A jack operates according to Pascal's principle-pressure applied to a piston with a small cross-sectional area generates an immense mechanical force. There are two primary types of vehicle jacks: bottle and trolley jacks.

Frame

You will require access to a welder or know someone with one, as well as wearing protective equipment when welding (long sleeves and gloves are recommended) especially when engaging in arc welding processes.

Make a frame for the press by cutting 2 x 4s to size and drilling them in. Additionally, countersinking screws so they won't show up in your final print is advised for aesthetic reasons.

Once cut to length, weld both pieces together with your torch. Additionally, attach a small round tube to the bottom mounting plate of your bottle jack in order to stop its ram from shifting once in place and be sure that its welding points are centered with those on its top support structure.

Jack

Hydraulic presses can be utilized in numerous processes, such as forging, clinching, molding, punching and deep drawing. When operating one it's essential to wear protective gear such as blast shields and safety glasses to avoid injury to both yourself and others.

Instead of purchasing an industrial press, this home made version was constructed using a standard 5-ton bottle jack (the type usually used to change car tires). This should provide enough pressure to easily crush maple veneer in concrete skateboard molds.

Position two 3'-2" top support channels parallel and 4" apart, then tack weld them in place. Next, center and weld square tubing into place. At the dead center of your header assembly screw in an electrical box or metal circle to act as a ram cup to prevent pressure from digging into wood over time. Finally weld on your 4"x 7 3/16"x 1/4" plate.

Hydraulic Pump

Hydraulic presses offer superior force and deformation when it comes to metal shaping methods, from small hand operated presses up to massive hydraulic jacks that produce hundreds of tons of force. Their power comes from pressurized hydraulic fluid (usually oil).

These cylinders and jacks are specifically designed to withstand specific forces, with various sizes on the market available for purchase. Their operation depends on either pivoting or straight line mounts; which option you choose depends largely on how your load will be moved.

An air driven hydraulic pump can provide an economical alternative to engine or electric driven hydraulic pumps for many applications, especially high pressure systems that must remain mobile. An airless paint sprayer, for instance, can easily be converted into a hydraulic pump by adding fittings and parts - it can generate up to 3,000 PSI of pressure while remaining portable and cost effective.

Platen

A 2x4 platen can be constructed using measuring tape. Mark each end by three inches, centering a pad eye at each location and screws them securely into place.

Once completed, the top structure was attached to the bottom mounting plate by welding and bolting; this will help keep the bottle jack from shifting around after it has been secured.

People have asked whether this type of press can generate enough "instantaneous pressure" to do relief printing, but while it does have the capacity to do this it's not really designed for that application; though it does generate enough force to emboss dampened paper.

Pressure can also be applied to concrete skateboard molds to create maple veneer for your skateboard deck, although this method will take more time than using an existing blank. A 5-ton jack should provide sufficient force.