3 in 1 Brake, shear, roller OR Just a box Brake?

Crusty Nut · Jan 30, 2012

I'm in need of a box/pan brake. Does anyone have any experience with a 3 in 1 machine? A shear would be nice, a roller would be handy sometimes.
Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/40-x-20-GAU...ltDomain_0&hash=item43aca93a4f#ht_4725wt_1159
Ideally I would get one about 48" wide and 18 gauge. The ones I'm seeing are either 16 gauge (which is overkill for me) or 20 gauge (and I'll be maxing it most every time) Prices jump accordingly too. Seems the lighter ones are $500 then jump to $1500 or more.

Just a box brake will fill my need, but a shear would be nice.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shop-Fox-M1...ltDomain_0&hash=item5d31ea06d4#ht_2064wt_1060

Thanks for your feedback.

Addrock · Jan 30, 2012

I bought a 3 in one for a shop. $400 for an import. I liked it quite a bit for light gauge, not a great shear or slip roller, but the brake was good. It was tricky to make a box with it because of clearances though. I had a shear and apron break that would do 10 ga. Hope this helped.

Crusty Nut · Jan 30, 2012

Thanks, Most of my work is 20 gauge and it would be good to be in the 40-48 inch range. Seems like a 3 in 1 is like a swiss army knife, does lots of stuff just okay. I guess the main question is if a 3 n 1 is good enough or get a real brake now and real shear later on, although space is a factor.

uhohjim · Jan 30, 2012

I used one of the HF machines like that and it worked failr well was nice as a brake and the shear worked wellas long as you watched how it was adjusted......Jim

Crusty Nut · Jan 30, 2012

Thanks Jim. HF lists 2 different ones. I am more inclined to get something more robust though. Have any experience with Birmingham tools?

JasonTX · Jan 30, 2012

I have one of each. The harbor freight 3-in-1 and a pexto box/pan brake. I have never used the slip roll funtion on the HF unit. I find different uses for the two brakes, depends on what I am making. Some parts simply won't fit in one or the other once I start bending. I do feel that having the pexto without having a shear would be a lot less useful. So the 3-in-1 by itself is more useful if you can only have one.

Crusty Nut · Jan 30, 2012

Great answer Jason, thanks. The more I think about it, the more I think I will miss not having a shear.

Grumpy365 · Jan 31, 2012

Baileigh Industrial makes some nice stuff.

http://www.baileighindustrial.com/shears/sbr-5216.php

uhohjim · Feb 6, 2012

Crusty Nut said:
Thanks Jim. HF lists 2 different ones. I am more inclined to get something more robust though. Have any experience with Birmingham tools?

I don't have any experience with Birmingham Crusty.....my own persoanl stuff in the shop consists of a 4 foot brake I purchased from an old machinist who hand made it and I own a pexto 3 foot roller......The HF combo unit I had experience with was with a former employer.............Like I was saying it worked preetty well as I was fabbing up pieces for a 67 Camaro and a Cobra kit car with it...........never did use the roller function though.......for the money it wasn't a bad piece........... I have noticed alot of sheetmetal equipment for sale on Craigslist....I would definitely be checking them out ....maybe you'll get lucky and get a smokin deal.......Jim

Crusty Nut · Feb 6, 2012

I ended up ordering a Jet 40 inch/20 gauge 3 in 1. I'll let you all know how it works out when it arrives. Btw, the sales guys I talked to said Birmingham was no better than HF or Northern. Baileh is good, but slightly over priced, Jet is good bang for the buck and GMC is top of the line.

The Jet has a 2 year warranty and currently free shipping.

RonRock · Feb 6, 2012

Where did you order the Jet from?

Crusty Nut · Feb 6, 2012

I got it from http://www.southern-tool.com/store/sheet-metal-shear-brake-roll.php

RonRock · Feb 6, 2012

Cool, thanks.

Crusty Nut · Feb 21, 2012

The tool fairy came the other day. Built a stand for it and so far am pleased.

LT4 · Nov 17, 2012

Crusty. Do you have any updates on the performance of the 3 in 1? Any pictures of pieces you've made? I am looking at one of these to help fabricate patch panels.

Crusty Nut · Nov 18, 2012

I like it well enough. It isn't as good as separate machines, but I really wasn't expecting it to be.
The shear and brake work well, but a press brake is just different than a regular brake with an apron. The fingers are nice.
I haven't messed with the slip roll yet.

3 in 1 Brake, shear, roller OR Just a box Brake?

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