Help with picking a rivet press

John:

I can tell you second hand that Hobby Horse stands behind their product and that they are very honest.  They are always in Orange Hall at York.  Great family.

I do know someone that has one and is please with its performance.  I also know there was a minor issue with the press in the opinion of the user (I don't doubt that opinion, I just never saw the issue) and Hobby Horse promptly addressed the matter.

Hope that helps you what you want.

Thanks.

Jeff Kane had a set of tooling made that duplicates the original Lionel fifteen piece set. IMHO, the quality is very high.
I think the fifteen piece set is a must, but I found it limited in what it will do. Over the years I have added to the set with extra tools made by Jeff Kane, Hobby Horse, and TTRP. In addition, I have a fair number of original Lionel tools that were modified, usually by grinding away portions for clearance.

I have also accumulated all sorts of small machined pieces of metal that typically are used as anvils to support the item being worked, or as spacers.

One should also be aware that wheel cups typically only work with one specific wheel (postwar). Lionel only offered four different pairs. TTRP has a couple that they have designed, and Hobby Horse has quite a few. I have cups from all three sources.

I do not feel comfortable recommending a specific press. I have used the original Lionel ST-350 press made by Chicago Rivet, and two different Hobby Horse presses (they have evolved over the years)

As far as other tools go:

Those same assorted pieces of machined metal come in handy for use as anvils, and as punches for straighting/bending metal.

Sometimes I use press tools without the press, holding the tool between my fingers, and striking the tool with a leather, rubber, or plastic hammer. NEVER A METAL HAMMER!

I also have a brass hammer, but it does not get used much.

I also recommend a set of pin punches, and cold chisels.

I have the Hobby Horse press and I am pleased with it. As with any tool there is a learning curve. I have the basic tool block and the long punch and anvil set whic I use the most. I also use the knuckle coupler tool often and the axle and rivet punches. The wheels sets are expensive, I have one universal pre-war set as that is what I work in the most. 

Gandy