I spent $75 on a cheap headset press that bent on the first job

Back when I opened my shop, I tried to save money by buying a no-name headset press from a discount tool catalog. The thing was made of soft aluminum and warped trying to press a Cane Creek headset into a steel frame. I had to buy the proper Park Tool HHP-2 the next day anyway. Anyone have a good source for used, solid shop tools that won't fail?

4 comments

4 Comments

seth_singh202mo ago

Yeah that soft aluminum junk is a total trap. It feels like a deal until it folds. Seen it happen with cheap bearing presses too. The good used stuff is out there but you gotta hunt. Check the old school shop closings, not the online marketplaces. Those guys maintained their tools. My old shop's headset press was a used VAR from the 90s. Thing is solid steel. Still use it.

nguyen.lily2mo ago

Used to think those cheap presses were fine for light work. Seth_singh20 is right, they just fold. Learned my lesson the same way.

grays132mo ago

Actually aluminum's fine, it's the cheap castings that fail, not the metal itself lol.

wesley_jones1mo ago

Soft aluminum junk is a total trap" nailed it. I still have mine in the back of the shop as a reminder not to be cheap. Thing bent so bad on the first try it looked like a bent paperclip. Actually tried to straighten it with a hammer and a block of wood. Made it worse. Now it's a weird little paperweight that sits next to my register. Tells a good story every time someone asks about it.