Posted by Kevin in Ohio from 206.148.28.110 (110-pool9.ras12.ohclv.tii-dial.net) on Friday, March 29, 2002 at 7:22PM :
In Reply to: Sheet Metal Brake posted by Kevin S Cieciorka from 166.102.117.83 (sanc3pp18.alltel.net) on Friday, March 29, 2002 at 7:50AM :
I made my own after looking at the models in my price range. They were to cheezy to do what I wanted and way overpriced for what they were. I used features I like from several different ones and went from there.
It has a 46" wide capicity. I used 3/8 X 4" angle iron with adjustable strechers. Strechers increase your strength greatly and the adjustment feature will let you have a long term piece of equipment. A backstop to hold the clamp angle is also needed to make good even bends. I made mine adjustable, raised and removable for flexibility. Raised, so you can slide the metal under it,ect. Your hinge is the hardest thing to make. I used 1/2" plate on that witha 1" hardened pin.
I made this about 2 years ago and had a little over $50.00 in it. I got all the steel from the local scrap yard. If you get the Power Wagon Advertiser look in the Dec.2000 issue on page 10 for a picture of it.
On a side note... I bent some steel .060" thick 36" long and it gave me about a .125" radius in the corner. I needed it tighter than that so I made some more blanks and took them to the local Fab shop and told them to make the tightest corner they could. Their bends had a bigger radius and got bigger in the center. Granted this was an older brake but it sure surprised me it couldn't do any better. Hope this helps. I'd post pics but don't have a digital camera. Maybe Gordon could if he still has them. Kevin