From One To Many: Tips For Hiring Your First Employees

Having a good hydraulic press in your shop will allow you to achieve all kinds of new processes and tasks. However, picking out the best model can take some doing. You can find presses that are designed for benchtop use, which is great when you only need something small. Unfortunately, some of the smaller units do not have all the awesome features like the larger, freestanding industrial models. Take a look at just a few of the features and attributes to look for in the best benchtop hydraulic press for your shop.

1. The press has a heavy-duty frame created out of heavy materials. 

The frame is a hugely important component of the hydraulic press, even with benchtop versions. Make sure you look for a press that is created out of heavy-duty materials like steel and iron. Anything less can lack in stability and cause you issues when working on certain projects. 

2. The press has a piston ram that is designed to negate skiving. 

Take a good look at the piston ram in the center of the press. Make sure it is well-polished and has been treated so that skiving can be prevented during use. Skiving is a term used to describe marks made in the metal with the brute force of the press, and you definitely do not want this to happen. 

3. The press has a durable finish. 

The press's frame itself should have a good, durable finish. You will need a hydraulic press that can stand up to things like oil and grease, which are going to be common occurrences in most shops. Some of the best models are finished with a powder-coated paint, which can last for many years no matter what it is exposed to. 

4. The press includes a dial gauge for accurate pressure readings during use. 

While operating the press, you will want to know how much pressure you are using. Therefore, having a nicely sized dial gauge is an important feature to look for. Some of the better-designed units will have a pressure gauge that is almost front and center for easy readings. 

5. The press has an integrated overload protector. 

Overload protectors will prevent the press from damage if you inadvertently overload the press. Not every benchtop model has an overload protector, so you may have to look at several models to find a hydraulic press that does. This one feature can be almost a form of insurance for your machine, so it is a worthy feature to pay for