Using the Harbor Freight 12-ton press

I'm using the same little press plates I've used before, only this time with some help from some bar stock and the $99 HF Press.  Note the layout and usage of the materials - YES, that is the center bar from the HF 24" bolt cutters I use as the trunion rivet squeezers:

To use, just clamp down and watch to be sure the press doesn't shift, which it usually will, but only slightly.  You can feel the press "bottom out" as the rivets crush... you can visually verify they did crush.

UPDATE:  I have been able to get better-looking rivets by removing the bucking bars with the cups altogether, and placing the rivet heads directly on the flat press plates. 

The steel press plate is still required to crush the rivets flat on the inside.  Notice how the rivets are slightly flattened... this is identical to my factory builds .