richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Anybody know anything about these? Can't find any customer reviews.
Texas Toggle press
Texas Toggle press
Texas Toggle?
- Thread starter richhodg66
- Start date
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I sent him a message asking for more info. Since it costs as much as an RCBS Rebel of MEC Marksman, I think I'd want to know more.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Never seen one before but that is an interesting design. It certainly looks solid. It looks like a combination of parts made on a lathe, and parts cut from flat stock. An “All machine shop” made press with no castings needed.
Notice the large bushing for the ram. It is a separate part from the base plate and appears that it could be made on a lathe. The upper and lower plates are simply flat steel with cuts and holes as needed.
You could make a lot of parts and assemble them into complete units as needed to fill orders. Not sure if that manufacturing process could be scaled up efficiently. But for limited production runs, that’s a pretty clever system.
Notice the large bushing for the ram. It is a separate part from the base plate and appears that it could be made on a lathe. The upper and lower plates are simply flat steel with cuts and holes as needed.
You could make a lot of parts and assemble them into complete units as needed to fill orders. Not sure if that manufacturing process could be scaled up efficiently. But for limited production runs, that’s a pretty clever system.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I'm a bit surprised that press can be sold at that price for a profit.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
It might not be one of a kind but it would certainly be one of very few.
If you wanted something different and seriously strong - there it is.
If you wanted something different and seriously strong - there it is.
Looking at the pictures, I don't believe any of that is laser cut for the finish dimensions. It looks like some thing I would design as a machinist with access to CNC machines. I suspect the upper and lower plates are milled on a CNC mill with all the locating holes and hole for the ram bushing and die threads done in one setup which will make all the critical locations as accurate as the mill. Which is pretty accurate assuming it was done on an industrial quality machine. The vertical rounds are probably done on a CNC lathe along with the ram "sleeve". The bushings look very practical and "machinisty" If I had done the vertical rods on a manual lathe I would have turned bosses and tapped them to take bolts which is much faster than making OD threads on a manual lathe. I suspect the ram is some manner of turned ground and polished material, I whould have used 1144 or 4140ph.
If I had to guess the seller isn't making a massive profit on these, it looks like a labor of love or a I will prove I can do it project.
If I had to guess the seller isn't making a massive profit on these, it looks like a labor of love or a I will prove I can do it project.
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Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I don't think you would even need a CNC machine, although a CNC machine would make creating multiple copies easier.
The base plate, top plate and toggle could be cut out of flat stock and finished on a mill. Most of the other parts could be made on a lathe.
It's a clever design. Look at the slots in the base plate where the link arms attach. The upper pivots are screws that come in from the side of the base plate, he took advantage of the thickness of the base plate.
And the three vertical pillars are just round stock with theaded ends, and I suspect, shoulders cut on them. There are probably dozens of ways to connect the base plate to the top plate but that was a pretty simple and strong way to do it.
The design doesn't lend itself to mass production but for a limited run of a few examples with no castings required - that's pretty slick.
The base plate, top plate and toggle could be cut out of flat stock and finished on a mill. Most of the other parts could be made on a lathe.
It's a clever design. Look at the slots in the base plate where the link arms attach. The upper pivots are screws that come in from the side of the base plate, he took advantage of the thickness of the base plate.
And the three vertical pillars are just round stock with theaded ends, and I suspect, shoulders cut on them. There are probably dozens of ways to connect the base plate to the top plate but that was a pretty simple and strong way to do it.
The design doesn't lend itself to mass production but for a limited run of a few examples with no castings required - that's pretty slick.
RBHarter
West Central AR
Maybe I'm thick but it seems like the ram would be the single most intensive part.
3 squared edges on the top and bottom plates , 2 drill changes , 2 taps .
The shouldered rods would only need be length accurate between shoulder faces even if the threaded shanks were tapered or partial light press fit .
The lever to ram fitting would be a challenge to cut but not terribly difficult if it were flat with angled drills .
Looks like the first one took a week , the second about 2 days , only because the machine guy fixed and made a better suited tooling plate . I don't think after the 10th day a guy would struggle to make 30-40 a week . Unless it were a one horse shop doing other demand jobs and this was just a side gig . 10 a week might be a stretch . But an hr or two here and there for "busy work" or training would surely make enough to fill local numbers.
3 squared edges on the top and bottom plates , 2 drill changes , 2 taps .
The shouldered rods would only need be length accurate between shoulder faces even if the threaded shanks were tapered or partial light press fit .
The lever to ram fitting would be a challenge to cut but not terribly difficult if it were flat with angled drills .
Looks like the first one took a week , the second about 2 days , only because the machine guy fixed and made a better suited tooling plate . I don't think after the 10th day a guy would struggle to make 30-40 a week . Unless it were a one horse shop doing other demand jobs and this was just a side gig . 10 a week might be a stretch . But an hr or two here and there for "busy work" or training would surely make enough to fill local numbers.
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I agree the shouldered rods to hold the two plates would be easy parts to make. Probably why he chose to go that route.
The top and bottom plates might be aluminum, it would be strong enough and easier to machine.
I don't doubt one could make several a week, but I don't think one could sell them for $375 each and make much profit.
The stock is not super expensive but there's a fair amount of labor involved and not a trival amount of raw material used.
Right now you can buy a brand new RCBS Rebel for $263. So, while it's a neat project, I don't think it's a money maker.
The top and bottom plates might be aluminum, it would be strong enough and easier to machine.
I don't doubt one could make several a week, but I don't think one could sell them for $375 each and make much profit.
The stock is not super expensive but there's a fair amount of labor involved and not a trival amount of raw material used.
Right now you can buy a brand new RCBS Rebel for $263. So, while it's a neat project, I don't think it's a money maker.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Seems to me like it has an awfully long lever stroke from top to bottom that might get tiresome.
I like the looks of it, just can't really justify another press. At the point in life I need to be reducing stuff not adding to it.
I like the looks of it, just can't really justify another press. At the point in life I need to be reducing stuff not adding to it.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
I have rarely used anything besides that Rockchucker attached to the same 42" height bench for 30+ years now and it seems anything else feels weird. I mounted up a Forster Co-Ax to a seathed height bench and I just can't warm up to it, the ergonomics of that handle directly over the axis of movement just seems uncomfortable and weird and that press will likely go down the road at some point. No doubt it is well made and innovative, just not for me.
I have, over a couple of years, picked up two CH4D Champions for ridiculous cheap prices and I think one of those will become the main press, enough like the Rockchucker in how you use it that I think I can adapt, but a superior press in most respects.
I'm tempted to get one of these Texas Toggle presses just out of curiousity, though. Really does look like a good design. Maybe if I used it enough, I could get used to it.
I have, over a couple of years, picked up two CH4D Champions for ridiculous cheap prices and I think one of those will become the main press, enough like the Rockchucker in how you use it that I think I can adapt, but a superior press in most respects.
I'm tempted to get one of these Texas Toggle presses just out of curiousity, though. Really does look like a good design. Maybe if I used it enough, I could get used to it.