The number on a shop press is its maximum force, and it is the first thing buyers compare. It is not the only thing that matters. A 20-ton press with too narrow a frame will not take a truck hub, and a 50-ton press is slow and oversized for bushings. This guide matches tonnage to jobs, explains the frame dimensions to check, and covers gauges, pumps, accessories and safety.
Quick answer: which tonnage for which job
| Tonnage | Typical jobs | Usual build |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 t | Small bearings, bushings, pins, light straightening, DIY | Bench-top H-frame, hand pump |
| 20 t | Wheel bearings, ball joints, U-joints, suspension bushings: the general garage press | Floor H-frame, adjustable bed, gauge, plates |
| 30–50 t | Truck hubs, agricultural pins and bushings, hydraulic cylinders, heavier straightening | Floor H-frame, gauge, often air/hydraulic pump |
| 75–150 t | Industrial maintenance, mining and rail parts | Heavy frame, wide working width, winch-lifted bed |
If in doubt between two sizes, choose the larger one: a press working well below its rating runs smoother, and the frame is usually wider as well.
How much force does a job need?
It depends on the fit, the size of the part and its condition, so there is no single figure per job. Press-fits in clean parts often need only a fraction of a garage press’s capacity; the same bearing seized by corrosion can take several times more. Three rules help:
- Start low and watch the gauge. Build force steadily and note what a normal job takes on your press.
- A sudden rise means stop. If the force climbs far above normal, the part is misaligned, cocked in its bore or seized. Forcing it risks cracking the part or making it shoot out.
- Support the part fully. Press plates, bearing adapters and a flat, square bed matter more than extra tons.
Tons are not everything: working width, daylight and stroke
- Working width: the clear width between the uprights. Measure the largest part your customers press, such as a truck hub or a steering knuckle.
- Daylight: the height between the bed and the ram in each bed position. Adjustable beds on pins let one press take both short and tall parts.
- Ram stroke: how far the ram travels in one extension. A short stroke means resetting the bed or adding spacers for deep bores.
- Bed and plates: a pair of press plates (arbor plates) supports parts across the bed opening.
All of these are in the model tables on our shop presses page.
Bench-top or floor press, H-frame or A-frame
Bench-top presses (6–12 t) sit on a workbench and suit light work and small shops. Floor presses (20 t and up) stand on their own feet and have a bed that adjusts over a long height range. H-frame presses use two straight uprights with a bed on pins: stiff, square and able to take larger parts. A-frame presses are lighter and cheaper with less working width. Workshops and dealers mostly sell H-frames.
Manual or air/hydraulic pump
A manual pump is enough for occasional work. Shops that press bearings all day buy an air/hydraulic press: an air-driven pump builds pressure while both hands stay on the part, and a manual pump remains as back-up. Our air/hydraulic shop presses run from 20 to 100 tons.
Use the gauge: read force, do not guess
A pressure gauge lets the operator see the force and stop before damaging a bearing, a housing or the press. Our presses of 20 tons and above have a gauge as standard, and one can be added to 12-ton models. Gauges usually read in tons; some also show the oil pressure.
Accessories that make a press useful
- Press plates: a pair ships with every JackMaker press; extra plates are a popular add-on.
- Bearing-press and separator kits: adapters and cups for pressing bearings and seals in and out.
- V-blocks: hold shafts and round parts for straightening.
- Safety guard: a mesh or polycarbonate guard in front of the work area, required in some workplaces.
Safety rules for shop presses
- Wear eye protection and keep bystanders clear. A part under load can shatter or fly out.
- Use the guard where one is fitted or required.
- Centre the part under the ram and support it squarely on plates or adapters.
- Seat the bed pins fully in both uprights before loading the bed.
- Never exceed the press rating, and never extend the ram with improvised spacers.
- Stand to the side, not in line with the part, while pressing.
- Release the pressure slowly and let the ram return before removing the part.
- Inspect the frame, the bed pins and the cylinder regularly; retire a press with a bent cross-beam or cracked welds.
For distributors: which presses to stock
A 20-ton floor H-frame is the press workshop dealers reorder most; add a 12-ton bench model for retail and 30–50 tons for truck and agricultural customers. Offer the air/hydraulic version for busy shops, and sell plates, bearing kits and guards as add-ons.
Every JackMaker press is assembled and tested at its rated load, then packed knocked-down so a 40’HQ carries the maximum number of units. The frame is sized to carry the rated load, not only the cylinder; presses of 20 tons and above come with a gauge; every press ships with a pair of press plates; heavy models have a winch-lifted bed. MOQ is 10 pieces per model, and presses mix well with other workshop equipment in one container.
See our hydraulic shop presses 6–150 t or request a quote.