Shop Press
Good tools aren't always bought. Sometimes they're built one improvement at a time.
Why This Press:
When I started making knives in 2022, I needed a way to shape steel without filling my shop with expensive equipment.
The Harbor Freight 20-ton shop press was an easy decision. It was affordable, compact, and capable. Like many budget tools, it had room to improve.
Over time I made a handful of simple upgrades that made it easier to use, more efficient, and better suited to the way I work. None of the changes were complicated, but together they turned a good value into one of the most useful tools in my shop.
This page documents those upgrades in case they help improve yours.
On the Bench
This project starts with a Harbor Freight 20-ton shop press and a handful of upgrades that improve how it works every day.
Below are the components I used in these upgrades.
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Air-over-hydraulic bottle jack
Pneumatic foot pedal
Sillcock key
Locking casters
Making It Easier to Use:
When I purchased the press, I did quite a bit of research into common upgrades people were making out of the box. One of the first upgrades most owners recommend is replacing the factory bottle jack with an air-over-hydraulic jack.
After a couple small modifications, it drops right into the press and makes operation noticeably easier.
I added a 5/16" sillcock key to the pressure release, drilled the center slightly larger (25/64"), and added a retaining-pin hole through the side of it to attach to the jack.
None of these modifications are difficult, but together they transform an affordable press into a tool that feels purpose-built for everyday work.
Keeping Both Hands On The Work:
Running the press by hand always meant letting go of the workpiece.
Adding a pneumatic foot pedal solved that problem.
With a few air fittings and the original air jack, the pedal keeps both hands free while pressing. It's a simple upgrade that makes the press safer, easier to control, and much more enjoyable to use.
Mobility Without Compromise:
A shop tool only helps if you can put it where you need it.
Adding locking casters lets this press move easily around the shop without sacrificing stability during use. Since the pressing force travels through the frame, not the wheels, the casters aren't carrying the working load.
It turned a stationary machine into one that's always ready when I need it.
Bench Notes
A few thoughts after living with this build.
Purpose
Transform an affordable Harbor Freight 20-ton shop press into a more capable, easier-to-use tool for everyday work in the shop.
Build Highlights
Converted the press to air-over-hydraulic operation.
Added a pneumatic foot pedal for hands-free control.
Installed locking casters for easier movement around the shop.
The Result
What started as a budget shop press has become one of the most-used tools in my workshop. Each upgrade solved a specific problem, and together they made the press faster, easier, and more enjoyable to use.
Would I Build It Again?
Absolutely.
If I were starting a new workshop tomorrow, this would be one of the first major tools I'd buy—and I'd make these same upgrades again.
Biggest Lesson
A good tool doesn't have to be perfect the day you bring it home. Start with a solid foundation, improve it with purpose, and over time it will earn its place in the shop.
Continue Exploring
There are always more projects underway. Here are a few more from the workshop.