When selecting an arbor press keep in mind what your likely uses for it will be. Broaching small keyways and pressing bearings is one thing, broaching 3/8 or ½ hex bores is another. Pressing bearings or cutting 1/16 or 1/8 keyways can probably be done with a 2 ton or even 1 ton arbor press but if you think you might ever want to cut those 3/8 or ½ hex bores in a hub or gear or something consider that a standard 3/8 hex broach is about 8.5 long and a standard ½ hex broach is about 12 long. In my opinion, a 3 ton arbor press is a better option because they usually can handle a 12 long ½ hex broach.
First the good news, as luck would have it
Enco has single lever 3 ton arbor press on sale for $69.95 (
item 805-1030, regular price $81.10). It has an over the table capacity of 12.5 inches which is probably just enough to squeeze that 12 long ½ hex broach in there while it is inserted in that ½ thick spur gear. Now the bad news, it weighs 160 lbs so shipping is going to be via truck freight and you will need a fork lift to move it around when you get it! Shipping isnt going to be cheap either!
If you can spare a little extra funds I would highly recommend going with a 3 ton ratcheting arbor press instead of just a manual single lever type. Enco has one for $143.95 (
item 805-1035)with a 12 5/8 max work height but again it weighs 148 lbs so shipping is probably going to be as much as the press.