Best Arbor press in 2022 (Reviews and Comparison)

Our first and favorite selection is the Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press. Palmgren has been a trusted name in tool manufacturing for more than a hundred years now, producing items such as bandsaws, lathes, milling machines, vises and arbor presses.

WHAT WE LIKE

This arbor press is capable of exerting one ton of pressure. Its base comes pre-drilled, meaning you can easily attach it to your workbench. You can use different attachments with this arbor press. They attach magnetically. 

Working Height: This arbor press has a working height of six inches. 
Capacity: One ton.
Build Quality: Made from sturdy cast iron, Palmgren built this arbor press to last.
Portability: Hypothetically, this arbor press is portable. It weighs 34 pounds, so you can move it if you need to. However, it works best when anchored to a surface like your workbench. 
Ease of Use: Current users have reported that the Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press is relatively easy to use, although many note that anchoring it improves matters.  

We like that this arbor press balances power with space efficiency. In addition, many purchasers have been impressed with the quality it offers, particularly for its price.

Next up is the Dake 1-1/2 Model Ratchet Leverage Arbor Press. Dake is another brand that has been around for more than a century, and they’ve built the trust to match.

WHAT WE LIKE

This arbor press has a capacity of three tons. That’s an incredible 6,000 pounds. It’s also an example of our second type of arbor press. The ratcheting mechanism can be adjusted to be a comfortable height for most users and will reduce strain while using it. 

Working Height: This press has a working height of 7.25 inches.
Capacity: Three tons. 
Build Quality: This press is heavy-duty. It’s made from iron and cast iron.
Portability: This press weighs 242 pounds. You’re not going to want to move it. 
Ease of Use: The ratcheting mechanism, handwheel and counterweight this arbor press includes makes it easy to use. 

We like that this press has a ratcheting mechanism, as do current users. However, it’s on the more expensive side. It’s not an arbor press for casual users. 

Our following selection is HHIP’s 8600-0031 Heavy Duty Arbor Press. Its name might be a bit of a mouthful, but it lives up to it.

WHAT WE LIKE

We’re looking at the half-ton option, but the company offers similar arbor presses with both one and two-ton capacities if you need something more powerful. 

Working Height: This arbor press has a working height of 4.5 inches. 
Capacity: Half a ton.
Build Quality: The 8600-0031 is very durable. It’s made from cast iron with a four-position steel anvil and steel pinions. 
Portability: For as much of a powerhouse as this arbor press is, it’s surprisingly lightweight at 20 pounds. You will, however, need to anchor it if you’re going to use it.
Ease of Use: We like that this anvil includes four ports, three of which are 0.55 inch wide and 1.38 inches deep. The remaining port is 1.02 inches wide and 1.69 inches deep. With a variety of ports, you can clamp materials of different sizes.

From the same brand as our second selection, comes the 00 Model Single Leverage Arbor Press.

WHAT WE LIKE

It’s a one-ton arbor press with a lever and ram cap you can adjust to make using it easier. Its base comes pre-drilled, so mounting it is easy. 

Working Height: Five inches.
Capacity: One ton.
Build Quality: This arbor press is made from cast iron, and we’re very impressed with its build quality. 
Portability: It’s relatively light, weighing around 24 pounds. You will have an easier time generating leverage when it’s mounted on something, however, so if you want to move it, keep that in mind. 
Ease of Use: The 00 Model is designed to be extra easy to use. 

Our favorite thing about this arbor press is its adjustable handle. If you decide to purchase one for yourself, we think you’ll love it too.

Next up is the Dake 1-1/2 Model Ratchet Leverage Arbor Press. Dake is another brand that has been around for more than a century, and they’ve built the trust to match.

WHAT WE LIKE

This arbor press has a capacity of three tons. That’s an incredible 6,000 pounds. It’s also an example of our second type of arbor press. The ratcheting mechanism can be adjusted to be a comfortable height for most users and will reduce strain while using it. 

Working Height: This press has a working height of 7.25 inches.
Capacity: Three tons. 
Build Quality: This press is heavy-duty. It’s made from iron and cast iron.
Portability: This press weighs 242 pounds. You’re not going to want to move it. 
Ease of Use: The ratcheting mechanism, handwheel and counterweight this arbor press includes makes it easy to use. 

We like that this press has a ratcheting mechanism, as do current users. However, it’s on the more expensive side. It’s not an arbor press for casual users. 

What Is An Arbor Press? 

To begin with, let’s start things off with a definition. An arbor press is a tool you can use to apply a large amount of pressure to something. It’s generally used in wood, leather and metalworking. Because you can attach different tools to the head of an arbor press, it has numerous uses, including stamping, cutting, punching holes and, of course, pressing. 

Arbor presses are generally affordable and don’t take up much space. So, if you’re interested in anything from leatherworking to jewelry making to car restoration, an arbor press might be a worthwhile investment.

How Does The Arbor Press Work?

The only things you need to make an arbor press work are yourself and fundamental physics. No motors, electronics or computers to complicate matters. That’s one of the things many people appreciate about them. 

There are three different kinds of arbor presses. The first is called a single leverage arbor press. While there are some internal workings, you essentially place whatever you’re going to press and then pull the lever. 

The second type, called a ratchet leverage arbor press, operates the same way. The difference is that it has a ratcheting mechanism to make using the press a little less work for you. 

Finally, there’s the compound leverage arbor press. It’s a little hard to describe unless you have one in front of you. Essentially, its internal mechanisms are more complex. They let you exert the same amount of force while generating more pressure. Unless you’re doing something seriously heavy-duty, you’re probably not going to need a compound leverage arbor press.