Sheet Metal Brakes?

I've wanted a sheet metal brake for years, but I know very little about them, other than the fact that I'd prefer a finger brake. When I search, Di Acro seems to be just about the only brand that ever comes up. Anything I need to look out for when shopping for one of these things?

At a point they become unset from use. They are very adjustable so take some time and set it all back to the way it should be. I got my finger brake as a trade for some race car graphics because it was no longer aligned.

Whitney Jenson is some really good stuff.

Check Sign Shop going out of business sales and trade sale forums like:

http://www.signweb.com/forum/for-sale

I have a nice 4ft Roper-Whiney finger brake but its 20 gauge steel max (0.0359) so not that thick. Heavy ones to do thick stuff are just WAY to much money. After looking for years I Stole mine for $300, even sent my brother (3rd shift worker so around day time) over to pay for it. For heavy stuff i have a homemade one but its only 4 inches wide.

I want and at some point will buy http://www.lowbucktools.com/platebrake.html

If I had to build another Europa frame (and I might, I haven't got under my other Europa yet), I think I would build it like Lotus did with box steel, made on a 4' sheet metal brake. I think it would be easier to build the 4' brake and then bend the steel (16ga) than to make another from scratch as a space frame.

No affiliation or anything but... there is a pair of them here:

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/tls/2861392630.html

5 ft chicago 20 ga hand brake--- $650.00 --- Connicut 4 ft 22ga box & pan (finger ) brake --$650.00 call 717-792-9282

I totally thought you were referring to brakes fabricated from sheet metal.

http://www.woodwardfab.com/sheet_metal_bending_tools_2.htm

WFBP5014

I bought this one at SEMA a couple of years ago. Its about the most serious hobbyist brake out there. Woodward Fab has a wide array to select from.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: No affiliation or anything but... there is a pair of them here: http://lancaster.craigslist.org/tls/2861392630.html 5 ft chicago 20 ga hand brake--- $650.00 --- Connicut 4 ft 22ga box & pan (finger ) brake --$650.00 call 717-792-9282

I just want to go buy all of that guys stuff.

I have one of the combination brake-sheer and slip roll and it hs been a grat additon to the shop. Not really meant for anythng but outomotive sheet metal.

Resurrecting a Zombie thread here...

I went to a car show today, fully expecting to buy a small new Woodward Fab brake from a vendor who has been at every show ever, except this one.

This was what I wanted:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hck-wfbp1220/overview/

But, I'm also wondering if anyone has any experience with one of these:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hck-sp3-1-12/overview/

44Dwarf wrote: I want and at some point will buy http://www.lowbucktools.com/platebrake.html

That has also got my interest. My needs are minimal.

DaewooOfDeath wrote: I totally thought you were referring to brakes fabricated from sheet metal.

Yeah. Me too.

I use a 36" box and pan brake daily. Before that I had the big HF unit

I could never go back to the non finger style. Too limiting.

This stainless box was bent in 5 minutes on the finger brake

There is simply no way I could have made it on the old one.

This is what you WANT. It is a magnetic clamp brake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWvMW1Zxoyc

i have the slightly better version of the HF red one pictured above. it has paid for itself so many times already. sometimes i wish i had a finger brake, but if i clip the corners at a 45* angle i can make a bend perpendicular to a flange, then weld it together.

In reply to NOHOME:

Great. A new tool on my wish list.

I have on of these. Gave $20.00 for it at a yard sale and it works great.

Just be sure to bolt it down really well.

Shawn

Woody wrote:

44Dwarf wrote: I want and at some point will buy http://www.lowbucktools.com/platebrake.html

That has also got my interest. My needs are minimal.

I made this for about $40. 3 hours from the concept in my head to loading the finished product into the back of my truck. It's ain't pro-quality, but it folded the rocker panels, fuel tank parts, and radiator tanks that I needed folding. I added some triangulation to the top and bottom later, as it was flexing too much.

Woody wrote:

My neighbor has the Harbor freight version of this one. It works well, I've even used it on some 1/16" flat stock and it bent it fine.

bgkast wrote:

Woody wrote:

My neighbor has the Harbor freight version of this one. It works well, I've even used it on some 1/16" flat stock and it bent it fine.

I have one of these. Does a lot of work for me. The problem is that you get addicted to the quality and ease, then run into the length and gauge limits and feel cheated.

In reply to NOHOME:

How well does the shear work? I only see myself using the brake and maybe the shear.

MrJoshua wrote:

DaewooOfDeath wrote: I totally thought you were referring to brakes fabricated from sheet metal.

Yeah. Me too.

x3.

I think I'm leaning towards the Williams Lowbuck. It's fractionally more expensive and not the finger brake that I've always wanted, but it has a small footprint for my limited space and can bend heavier stuff.

Naturally, one of my friends, who incidentally needs to bend some 20" metal this week, pointed me toward this, which is so cheap that I might get one when I need to bend thin wide stuff.

http://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-bending-brake-61791.html

*Full disclosure: I fully expect everything about it to suck.

I've always used a section of 4" I-beam, clamps, a hammer, and wooden dowel. I just don't have room for a proper brake, and if I did, I'd want it to be able to handle up to 0.065" material. Actually, two brakes would be nice, the above one, then a small one from bending brackets out of 0.125" stock.