Wasted $60 on a cheap headset press that bent on the first job

I grabbed a no-name press online for a customer's carbon frame last month, thinking I'd save cash. The thing flexed so bad putting in a Cane Creek 40 that I had to stop halfway through. Ended up driving across town to borrow a proper Park Tool one to finish the job, which cost me two hours of shop time. Anyone have a budget press that actually holds up for carbon?

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3 Comments

the_claire5mo ago

Try a used shop press from a garage sale.

9

xena_campbell385mo ago

Yeah @the_claire, garage sale presses are cheap but check the ram for leaks first.

5

white.grant5mo ago

Hold up, you tried to press a Cane Creek 40 with a cheap press? That's a serious headset for a carbon frame. No wonder it bent. Those things need real force. I'm honestly shocked it even got halfway. That flex could have cracked the frame. You got lucky you stopped. What brand was that press so I know what to avoid?

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