The reason for the name "press brake" is the sheet metal is flat or a plane bending a plane you are braking the plane. And that is why it is called a press brake not press bend.
Would the bender work as well if instead of clamping the pan to the table, clamp the portion of sheet metal to be bent up, directly to the angle iron portion of the table. You can still use any length angle iron you need to fit the job.
@10000jd I sure it would. The professional break presses don't have big tables. I just happen to have had a table to start from. It is handy not to have to hang onto a big piece while it gets clamped down.
@submarineboat A really nice bender. I got some sheet metal to bend and need to build one too. Could you please tell how thick are those angles? In the movie you say they are 3/8 inch thick and 2 1/2 inch wide and in one of your posts you say they are 1/4". Of course thicker is better but my sheet metal is 16 gauge and i dont want to make this bender overpowered :)
@Doug, Nice job, Try welding angle pieces every 6-8 in. on ur angle bender piece to stiffin it up & maybe put ur bend handle in the middle to for those long bends or cut off what U have on there now & weld on 2 short pieces half way from the middle to help keep the angle piece strighter, then find 2 pieces the will fit inside of those for new handles. And drill some holes for pins to help hold that square piece for ur short bends. Should be able to bend thicker metal then too Good Luck
What's the thickness of your sheet & what type of metal? I'm trying to bend 50" zincseal & having trouble with it atm. Using your same idea your angle is bigger & thicker than what I have & mine is bending in the middle rather than a clean line. I may have to Dremmel my line so it's thinner to bend.
@Fire4FX I think that is 18 gauge galvanized steel in the video but it works on heaver sheet too. The angles are 1/4" thick. I'm never tried zincseal. I have cut grooves into aluminum to bend it and that works. Maybe you could heat it?
also try making an A frame on the top angle clamp to help stiffen it in the middle. that is the solution on most professional brakes for the issue of crisp bend throughout the entire length of a brake on larger pieces
Doug, Excellent tutorial! What was the cost of materials for your brake? Nice touch of coating the brake for rust protection. Did you use shellac or some other clear coating? I like the setup and the addition of the casters for mobility since you have limited floor space in your shop.
@1foxtrot70 Thanks. A got the 1/2" plate for the table from a scrap yard for $65. The rest was new steel at about 65 cents a pound. The UHMW will cost about $10. Wheels I think were $10 each So, I'd guess about $200 for the whole thing.
I like your brake. I've looked at the cost of heavy duty weld-on hinges and they're expensive. Can you list exactly what you used for yours? The specs and/or parts numbers if possible. Pipe, nylon bushing and bolt. Thanks
@lantzn The bolt is just being used as a pin. The shank is 1/2" and smooth. I cut most of the threads off. You could easily use a piece of solid rod too. The bushing is UHMD plastic that is drilled to the size of the pin and turned in a lathe to fit inside the outer pipe, that I think is 1", but the sizes can vary depending on what you have laying around. If you dont have a lathe then buy a piece of UHMD rod the diameter you need, and epoxy it into the pipe. Best of luck.
if you take that top angle iron piece and run a grinder along the underside edge you bend over and sharpen it to a 45 degree edge you can get crisp folds!!
@NewJura I agree, that was what I thought as well. Also, if you want a straighter bend, attach another handle on the other side and join the 2 handles with a bar, that way the angle iron won't flex as much when you bend. If it is still flexing, you can put a third handle in the middle.
Good job on the whole thing I may have to copy this.
The angle iron is just hinged onto the edge of the table. You don't have to have a table. A 4 inch wide piece of C channel would work too, but the table is well over 500 pounds so it provides a really sturdy base and the angle on the edge of it does not get in the way of using the table.
I have a similar table (4.5 ' x 2.5 ' with a 1/2" top). I know what you mean, that thing is a heavy beast, but it is nice to have a table like that to work on as you said in your video.
That pan I'm bending in the video is 20 gauge and 5 ft on the longest side and that is the thickest metal I have bent so far. I think the limit is a function of the length, thickness, and radius of the bend. If I clamped the top bar further back from the edge it would increase the radius and I think it would bend 2" x 3/16" flat bar as long as I clamped it down close to the hinge nearest the handle. ...but that's ju
The reason for the name "press brake" is the sheet metal is flat or a plane bending a plane you are braking the plane. And that is why it is called a press brake not press bend.
kingmike40 3 weeks ago
Well done sir.
soldier715 3 weeks ago
Nice video sir, and well presented.
Jes437 3 weeks ago
wear some gloves when handling this sheet metal beacuase you will get blood poisoning if you cut yourself
TheBodvarg 3 weeks ago
Don't know how it could be simpler or more effective. Nice job. Thanks for sharing with us.
strube1369 1 month ago
Brilliant & very well explained too. Thanks for uploading.
PaulPreddy 1 month ago
Harbor Freight clamps. My man!
bedofrazorsqwerty 1 month ago
you gota love good ole yankee ingenuity,ive been wondering how to make a break and now i know..........thanks,good job
MrRichinil 1 month ago
Would the bender work as well if instead of clamping the pan to the table, clamp the portion of sheet metal to be bent up, directly to the angle iron portion of the table. You can still use any length angle iron you need to fit the job.
10000jd 1 month ago
@10000jd I sure it would. The professional break presses don't have big tables. I just happen to have had a table to start from. It is handy not to have to hang onto a big piece while it gets clamped down.
submarineboat 1 month ago
I like your idea. Thanks!
tgkg 1 month ago
@submarineboat A really nice bender. I got some sheet metal to bend and need to build one too. Could you please tell how thick are those angles? In the movie you say they are 3/8 inch thick and 2 1/2 inch wide and in one of your posts you say they are 1/4". Of course thicker is better but my sheet metal is 16 gauge and i dont want to make this bender overpowered :)
imbro84 1 month ago
@imbro84 They're 3/8" and 6.5 ft long. ...but you're right thicker is better especially if you're going to bend 6ft. Best of Luck
submarineboat 1 month ago
FEED THE DOG!!!!
unapro3 2 months ago
very resourceful...I'm just curious but what is that on your table, it looks very wet.
is it varnish?
GnosisMan50 2 months ago
Top work mate !!!!!!!!!!!
speedmotorsport 3 months ago
Very creative. Careful welding galvanized metal, though, if you value your braincells and major organs.
bladder1010 3 months ago 4
@Doug, Nice job, Try welding angle pieces every 6-8 in. on ur angle bender piece to stiffin it up & maybe put ur bend handle in the middle to for those long bends or cut off what U have on there now & weld on 2 short pieces half way from the middle to help keep the angle piece strighter, then find 2 pieces the will fit inside of those for new handles. And drill some holes for pins to help hold that square piece for ur short bends. Should be able to bend thicker metal then too Good Luck
rdrac496 4 months ago
Nice job I would like to try to copy it.
bargainbin2 5 months ago
Brilliant, thank you!
BC3012 6 months ago
What's the thickness of your sheet & what type of metal? I'm trying to bend 50" zincseal & having trouble with it atm. Using your same idea your angle is bigger & thicker than what I have & mine is bending in the middle rather than a clean line. I may have to Dremmel my line so it's thinner to bend.
Fire4FX 6 months ago
@Fire4FX I think that is 18 gauge galvanized steel in the video but it works on heaver sheet too. The angles are 1/4" thick. I'm never tried zincseal. I have cut grooves into aluminum to bend it and that works. Maybe you could heat it?
submarineboat 6 months ago
also try making an A frame on the top angle clamp to help stiffen it in the middle. that is the solution on most professional brakes for the issue of crisp bend throughout the entire length of a brake on larger pieces
sisseeboy 2 weeks ago
I'd cut part of that c clamp and the just weld it to the table so you could just throw the metal under it and clamp it a lot faster!
rangaman86 7 months ago
Doug, Excellent tutorial! What was the cost of materials for your brake? Nice touch of coating the brake for rust protection. Did you use shellac or some other clear coating? I like the setup and the addition of the casters for mobility since you have limited floor space in your shop.
1foxtrot70 8 months ago
@1foxtrot70 Thanks. A got the 1/2" plate for the table from a scrap yard for $65. The rest was new steel at about 65 cents a pound. The UHMW will cost about $10. Wheels I think were $10 each So, I'd guess about $200 for the whole thing.
submarineboat 8 months ago
Great tutorial, I've learned more watching folks like you than what I'll ever learn from any school
Metalunique 9 months ago 3
Great and simple, i build one today after watching yours and gordsgarage brake, thanks
mrsyafi 10 months ago
I like your brake. I've looked at the cost of heavy duty weld-on hinges and they're expensive. Can you list exactly what you used for yours? The specs and/or parts numbers if possible. Pipe, nylon bushing and bolt. Thanks
lantzn 10 months ago
@lantzn The bolt is just being used as a pin. The shank is 1/2" and smooth. I cut most of the threads off. You could easily use a piece of solid rod too. The bushing is UHMD plastic that is drilled to the size of the pin and turned in a lathe to fit inside the outer pipe, that I think is 1", but the sizes can vary depending on what you have laying around. If you dont have a lathe then buy a piece of UHMD rod the diameter you need, and epoxy it into the pipe. Best of luck.
submarineboat 10 months ago
Great video you just taught me a few tricks. Thanks!
tulius01 11 months ago
Nice job on the brake! good video also.
richprint29 11 months ago
If you used a magnetic hold down in the center it would help.
diyengineer 11 months ago
Thank you for posting this, very helpful
PRDMRE 1 year ago
if you take that top angle iron piece and run a grinder along the underside edge you bend over and sharpen it to a 45 degree edge you can get crisp folds!!
NewJura 1 year ago
@NewJura I agree, that was what I thought as well. Also, if you want a straighter bend, attach another handle on the other side and join the 2 handles with a bar, that way the angle iron won't flex as much when you bend. If it is still flexing, you can put a third handle in the middle.
Good job on the whole thing I may have to copy this.
Trooperuss 9 months ago
nicer than my setup
apintonut 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing.
wtam69 1 year ago
good video. thanks
jessehart05 1 year ago
As simple as pie. I've got to built me one of those.
EmperorAst 1 year ago
I like how you incorporated it into your table. Nice job.
jdh239 1 year ago
The angle iron is just hinged onto the edge of the table. You don't have to have a table. A 4 inch wide piece of C channel would work too, but the table is well over 500 pounds so it provides a really sturdy base and the angle on the edge of it does not get in the way of using the table.
submarineboat 1 year ago
@submarineboat
I have a similar table (4.5 ' x 2.5 ' with a 1/2" top). I know what you mean, that thing is a heavy beast, but it is nice to have a table like that to work on as you said in your video.
jdh239 1 year ago
Right on! Especially because a big hammer is my favorite tool. :)
submarineboat 1 year ago
What is the thickest gauge of sheet metal that you can or have bent on your table?
2r1f 1 year ago
That pan I'm bending in the video is 20 gauge and 5 ft on the longest side and that is the thickest metal I have bent so far. I think the limit is a function of the length, thickness, and radius of the bend. If I clamped the top bar further back from the edge it would increase the radius and I think it would bend 2" x 3/16" flat bar as long as I clamped it down close to the hinge nearest the handle. ...but that's ju
submarineboat 1 year ago
... just a guess. :)
submarineboat 1 year ago