Best Arbor press in 2022 (Reviews and Comparison)

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Are you in the market for an arbor press? If so, we’re glad you’re here. Today, we’re going over five different readily available options to help our readers determine which one is the best choice for them. 

Our review process is thorough, and we research the products we select thoroughly. Your time and money are too valuable to waste reading an unhelpful review or purchasing a subpar product. 

For ease of reference, we’re including the following comparison chart covering some of the basic details of today’s selections for review.

COMPARISON CHART

IMAGE PRODUCT

Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press, 1 Ton

Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press, 1 Ton
  • Working Height: 6 in
  • Dimensions: 14 x 10.75 x 14 in
  • Maximum Pressure Capacity: 1 ton
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Dake 1-1/2 Model Ratchet Leverage Arbor Press with Handwheel and Counterweight, 3 Ton Capacity, 11.5" Maximum Working Height, 7.25" Length x 18" Width x 19" Height

Dake 1-1/2 Model Ratchet Leverage Arbor Press
  • Working Height: 7.25 in
  • Dimensions: 19 x 18 x 7.25 in
  • Maximum Pressure Capacity: 3 tons
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HHIP 8600-0031 Heavy Duty Arbor Press, .5 Ton Capacity, 10" Height (Pack of 1)

HHIP 8600-0031 Heavy Duty Arbor Press
  • Working Height: 4.5 in
  • Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 8 in
  • Maximum Pressure Capacity: ½ ton
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Dake 00 Model Single Leverage Arbor Press with Base Opening and Slotted Table Plate, 1 Ton Capacity, 5" Maximum Working Height, 4.25" Length x 9" Width x 9.375" Height

Dake 00 Model Single Leverage Arbor Press
  • Working Height: 5 in
  • Dimensions: 9.375 x 9 x 4.25 in
  • Maximum Pressure Capacity: 1 ton
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JET AP0-M, 1/2-Ton Arbor Press (333605)

JET AP0-M, 1/2-Ton Arbor Press
  • Working Height: 3.5 in
  • Dimensions: 12.5 x 11.9 x 7.4 in
  • Maximum Pressure Capacity: ½ ton
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Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press, 1 Ton

CHECK PRICE

Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press, 1 Ton

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Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press, 1 Ton

Specification

Working Height6 in
Weight34 lbs
Dimensions14 x 10.75 x 14 in
Maximum Pressure Capacity1 ton
Leverage Ratio18:1

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.

PROS

  • Affordable for the quality and power it offers.
  • Sturdy and likely to last a while.

CONS

  • Not the best if you want to be mobile since it’s on the heavy side and works better when anchored.
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Dake 1-1/2 Model Ratchet Leverage Arbor Press with Handwheel and Counterweight, 3 Ton Capacity, 11.5" Maximum Working Height, 7.25" Length x 18" Width x 19" Height

Specification

Working Height7.25 in
Weight242 lbs
Dimensions19 x 18 x 7.25 in
Maximum Pressure Capacity3 tons
Leverage Ratio48:1

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. 

PROS

  • Includes a handwheel and counterweight.
  • It has a capacity of three tons, which means you should be able to do all but the most heavy-duty work with it.

CONS

  • It’s very heavy. 
  • There’s not much information about it online, so community discussion and support are likely to be limited.
CHECK PRICE

HHIP 8600-0031 Heavy Duty Arbor Press, .5 Ton Capacity, 10" Height (Pack of 1)

CHECK PRICE

HHIP 8600-0031 Heavy Duty Arbor Press, .5 Ton Capacity, 10" Height (Pack of 1)

CHECK PRICE

HHIP 8600-0031 Heavy Duty Arbor Press, .5 Ton Capacity, 10" Height (Pack of 1)

Specification

Working Height4.5 in
Weight20 lbs
Dimensions12 x 8 x 8 in
Maximum Pressure Capacity½ ton
Leverage RatioUnlisted

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.

PROS

  • Lightweight and durable. 
  • Relatively affordable, particularly when you consider the value you’re getting.

CONS

  • A half-ton capacity won’t meet all needs. 
  • It has to be mounted on a workbench or other surface before you can use it.
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Dake 00 Model Single Leverage Arbor Press with Base Opening and Slotted Table Plate, 1 Ton Capacity, 5" Maximum Working Height, 4.25" Length x 9" Width x 9.375" Height

Specification

Working Height5 in
Weight24 lbs
Dimensions9.375 x 9 x 4.25 in
Maximum Pressure Capacity1 ton
Leverage Ratio25:1

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.

PROS

  • Current users have been wowed by the quality this arbor press offers. 
  • It will last as long as you need it to.

CONS

  • On the expensive side for a one-ton arbor press.
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JET AP0-M, 1/2-Ton Arbor Press (333605)

CHECK PRICE

JET AP0-M, 1/2-Ton Arbor Press (333605)

Specification

Working Height3.5 in
Weight19 lbs
Dimensions12.5 x 11.9 x 7.4 in
Maximum Pressure Capacity½ ton
Leverage RatioUnlisted

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. 

PROS

  • Includes a handwheel and counterweight.
  • It has a capacity of three tons, which means you should be able to do all but the most heavy-duty work with it.

CONS

  • It’s very heavy. 
  • There’s not much information about it online, so community discussion and support are likely to be limited.

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.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an arbor press but unsure where to start, we recommend the Palmgren AP10 Manual Arbor Press. A capacity of one ton will meet most needs, and the sturdy construction will last you a while.

Other Recommendations:

Want to learn more? Check out our blog for more reviews and advice.

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