building a simple sheetmetal brake

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i started on a sheetmetal brake a few days ago.. so far its been a fun project, i hope the pictures can help others if thier planning on building one...  the original plans were on my website www.tbuckets.us in the download section.. i have modified my brake build as i went, i made it big enough to bend up to 4 ft using 2" angle iron and beefed it up with bracing... i'm not completely done with it and will add more pictures as i go.... and dont think this is a simple job, it isnt.. its time consuming, it took me 4 tryies to set the hinges parrallel and square. if i had known it would have been that tough to set the hinges i would have machined some locating tabs on the hinges...heres the pictures. Attached Images
Reply:more pics Attached Images
Reply:Looks good to me! I'm thinking of making a little 3' wide one for little sheet projects.
Reply:and more pics..i'll add more as i go.. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by TaidenLooks good to me! I'm thinking of making a little 3' wide one for little sheet projects.
Reply:thought i put this in the projects section... maybe an admin can move it for me..
Reply:is that a spring or a stack of washers?safety last
Reply:its a spring thats almost compressed together. its a little larger diameter, and a little taller than what i wanted, but i had it laying around so i stuck it in there to test it lifting the clamp plate, and for viewing purposes..
Reply:thats col nice work ... i started to build one about a week ago on my days off ill show you pics if you wantLincoln Power Arc 4000 Thermal Arc Fabricator 252 iThermal arc 186Thermal Arc 26 tigTweeko 200 amp spool gunHobart AirForce 400WP-17V-12R
Reply:yea post them up.
Reply:You will have fun bendeding a 4xsheet you have to be a Big Boy!
Reply:i got most of the stand built today...when i put the angle iron across the the 2 legs at the bottom i spaced them out 16 1/2 inches apart so a cinder block would fit between them, just in case it wanted to tip i could add blocks for weight on the bottom of base..actually dont think i'll need any blocks after i got it together somewhat...i just have the brake clamped to the stand for now, i'm going to make some mounting brackets and bolt it on..after i got the stand made i think i might make a small fold out table/bracve to help hold up a somewhat longer piece.. i think that would be a nice addition.. Attached Images
Reply:how much did you spend on steel to make that brake?
Reply:not much... actually most of it i had laying around for a long time, i always wanted a brake and i wasnt going to spend $300 plus on a chinese brake, and i cant afford to buy an american made one, or a chinese one for that matter..  well i guess i can afford an american made one if i build it myself  ...    all of the stand come from scrap i had laying around..  only piece that was bought was the 2 inch angle for the brake itself and 1 inch anlge for the bracing.. i would guess you could build one for $100 in material.. the stand could be made out of 2 inch angle, that would be sturdy enough..  toughest part would be making the hinges, i used a bridgeport mill for those..
Reply:here you go the hing was made from my old truck shackles and i use a C clamp to clamp down my work it is made from 2"x4"x 6'channel iron and the handles are 1" pipe .Last edited by assassin_works; 11-15-2010 at 01:09 AM.Lincoln Power Arc 4000 Thermal Arc Fabricator 252 iThermal arc 186Thermal Arc 26 tigTweeko 200 amp spool gunHobart AirForce 400WP-17V-12R
Reply:i added the 2 angle pieces in the center, below the brake...i still need to add the bending handles and the casters...i went ahead and just welded the brake to the stand, dont think i'll need to be taking it off for any reason... when i added the clamp springs i had to notch the hinges so they would go past 90 degrees..heres some more pics... Attached Images
Reply:Let me know if you can bend 14 g with it??  Im looking to do a similar set up.  Just like to see you can bend that kind of thickness.
Reply:I've decided I want to make an 18" wide brake that will bend 1/8" plate 90 degrees. HMMMMMMMMMM
Reply:please please please buy a better camera... nice job though... you know I have often thought about doing this in the 30 years I've owned welders but never gotton  aroundtoit. (One day I've got to get around to marketing those too). Lots of guys need them.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpplease please please buy a better camera... nice job though... you know I have often thought about doing this in the 30 years I've owned welders but never gotton  aroundtoit. (One day I've got to get around to marketing those too). Lots of guys need them.
Reply:yes i agree with the poor pics,the camera i'm using for those pics is an older blackberry, i tried cleaning it, it helped but still not very good pics.. i'll swap and try some pics with my sony digital camera and see if that helps. when i add the handles and casters i'll take some more pics. hopefully they'll turn out better..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:If some of you guys are interested in building something a little more heavy duty, check this thread out:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=35661Post #8 through #14George Barnes -  Tubular Dynamics
Reply:hi george, seems i remember your drawings over on the jalopy journal maybe..  good stuff..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Hey, Brucer. Thanks for the post. And, yes please, more good pix!!!Thanks too George, for the link. I'd like to build on to bend 11 ga.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.