Home Head Set Pressing

[climberman]

Any ideas for a home head set press process?

Was thinking some timber either side, threaded rod through the middle, crank down with the spanner on a nut to slowly compress.

Any other ideas? Anything to watch out for with this method?

 

[SummitFever]

That'll work. Otherwise, big washers in place of the bits of wood work well too.

 

[Ivan]

Any ideas for a home head set press process?

Was thinking some timber either side, threaded rod through the middle, crank down with the spanner on a nut to slowly compress.

Any other ideas? Anything to watch out for with this method?

I have a threaded rod with some big washers. I am tempted to use a wood block next time instead of washers as it would be easier to hang on to (it feels like one of those jobs where you need three hands). The only thing I would watch out for with timber is the headset cup making an impression in it and then making the cup not square.

I might also try wingnuts instead of bolts on the threaded rod, just so it's easier to get everything aligned and snug before tightening.

 

[Boom King]

It works. I use to pieces of timber and washers on the timber. Main thing to watch for is the cups driving in at an angle. Can straighten up with the judicious use of a rubber mallet.

 

[hakka]

I used one of these:

 

[Comic Book Guy]

I used a hole saw to cut two wooden disks that fitted into the headset cup. Then put a big bolt through the middle and wound the headset into place. Worked a treat.

 

[climberman]

Thanks all, will give it a run this arvo.

 

[link1896]

Doing one side at a time helps keep it square.

 

[The Duckmeister]

If you have a large bench vice that opens wide enough, a couple of thin strips of wood to protect the cups from the jaws & squeeze it in. You may need a helper to support the frame though.

 

[Boom King]

I used one of these:

Freakin brilliant!

 

[slippy]

I could never get the get the cups to go in straight with threaded rod and washers.
Buckled and bought a headset press on special for ~ $80. So much easier.

 

[pink poodle]

I could never get the get the cups to go in straight with threaded rod and washers.
Buckled and bought a headset press on special for ~ $80. So much easier.

I used a hammer and block of wood for years. Never an issue. Now I have a proper press. Its much quieter.

 

[slippy]

Who mentioned blocks of wood? That's what I did before I tried to get all home-tech with a threaded rod. It actually worked better.

 

[kwikee]

I use a big sash clamp and a couple of squares of plywood, squeeze them in then measure around to make sure they are square to each other.

 

[Minlak]

Wood, hammer, hulk smash

 

[pink poodle]

Wood, hammer, hulk smash

Thor's hammer yeah?

 

[The Duckmeister]

Nah, Maxwell's silver hammer.

 

[pink poodle]

Nah, Maxwell's silver hammer.

If you were in a pinch, Eugene's axe could be flipped over and used as a hammer.

 

[fatboyonabike]

block of wood and hammer to get em in, brass drift and hammer to get em out!
have done for 30 years!

 

[The Duckmeister]

If you were in a pinch, Eugene's axe could be flipped over and used as a hammer.

Just be careful with it.