How to Use a Shop Press

Work gloves protect the hands when using shop presses.

Shop presses are useful tools for home projects, such as constructing or repairing metal materials. It is essential for owners of shop presses to learn how to operate them properly so that they may avoid accidents and injuries, and will not risk damaging the materials being worked on. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, amputations are injuries most commonly associated with shop presses. It is worth reading the operation manual that comes with a new shop press to understand how they work, as well as what safeguards to employ.

Instructions

1. Inspect the shop press for evidence of damage, defects or missing or broken parts. Do not attempt to use a shop press that is not fully functional because defective products can result in serious injuries.

2. Mount the shop press to the floor or bolt it to a work table in order to keep the equipment sturdy and in place. Set up the shop press to a comfortable working level. Lower or raise the working table of the press to a height that allows you to easily operate the equipment. Use support pins to lock the work table into place.

3. Have all of your materials to be pressed ready in your workroom. Prepare to operate the machinery by putting on gloves to protect your hands and goggles to protect your eyes.

4. Position the press apron in the highest position and place the materials to be pressed on the work table between the arbor plates. Make sure the materials are lined up according to where the pressing point should be.

5. Pull the jack handle down to release and lower the jack plate. Force the jack plate to come into contact with the material. Lift the jack plate back up when the pressing job is complete, and lock into place.

6. Remove the material from the work table after the jack plate is back in its original position. Inspect the material to ensure that the press job was effective. Repeat the steps for the next item to be pressed.

Tips & Warnings

• Press two materials together at a time by making sure the items are lined up vertically. Remove all obstructive objects out of the way of the press before initiating the jack handle for a clean press job.

• Do not attempt to move the workpiece while it is being pressed, as this can cause a serious injury to the operator. Clear off all loads from the press whenever the work is done, or if the machine will be left unattended. Stand back or to the side of the press while the workpiece is being compressed to make sure limbs are removed from the point of operation.

• In the event that the press requires maintenance, use only certified mechanics and parts indicated by the manufacturer.

References

• Harbor Freight: Manuals
• OSHA: Hazards Associated with the "Unintended (Double) Cycling" of Mechanical Power Presses