10
Bought a cheap headset press from an online auction, it bent on the first use.
It was a no-name brand and cost me about $40, which seemed like a good deal at the time. The aluminum arms flexed so much pressing a standard 1 1/8 headset that the cups went in crooked and I had to start over with my old threaded rod method. What's the least you've spent on a tool that actually held up for this job?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
andrew9162mo agoMost Upvoted
My buddy gave me a press he made from scrap steel pipe, total cost was a six pack of cheap beer. It's ugly but it hasn't quit yet, unlike my first try with a bent aluminum one lol.
7
schmidt.amy2mo ago
Remember aluminum bends way easier than steel.
2
the_keith24d ago
Yeah the aluminum ones are basically junk right out of the box, I learned that lesson the hard way too (bent mine on a cheap threaded headset, not even a press-fit). I'd say the best bang for your buck is an old Park Tool or similar quality press, even used ones hold up forever if they're steel. My buddy scored a vintage Schwinn press at a garage sale for like 15 bucks, that thing could probably crush a car if you tried hard enough. Sometimes you just gotta hunt around for the real stuff instead of that cheap online crap.
3