Bending Sheet Metal at Home?

[paramud]

What do you guys do to bend sheet metal at home? I am mainly looking at making pans and misc brackets.

Option One
Harbor Freight 20 Ton Press with Swag off Road finger press
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html $150
http://www.swagoffroad.com/20-TON-Finger-Brake-Heavy-Duty-DIY-Builder-Kit_p_86.html $300 (heavy duty version)

Total Cost: 450

Capabilities
19.25 in Wide Limit
19" = Full bending width of the bottom die on anything 3/16" or thinner.
15" in 1/4"
13" in 5/16"
11" in 3/8"
6" in 1/2"
3" in 5/8"

I will never see myself bending 3/16 full bending width currently, just want that capability.

Downfall.
19.25 Bending width. I can see myself bending a pan that is longer than that.

I am planning on making a toolbox, so I need something that can bend at least 50in wide at 16-18 ga Mild Steel.

Should I just get the harbor freight kit and then weld the flanges that are to long to bend? I can also use the press for bearings.


Another option is a dedicated Pan break, but they seem large and take up a lot of room for one purpose. Any suggestions?

 

[nine4gmc]

Most pan breaks are 30", 48" 120" etc. With your 50" plans, you will be stepping in to HIGH dollar pan breaks by a couple inches...

Have you seen the guys clamp heavy angle iron on a bench, sandwiching the sheet metal between and manually bending it? It's not as accurate but this sounds like a hobby and not a paying job where you could recoup the money spent. Of course, that won't work with thicker sheets but like you said, you probably won't need full width with those.

 

[Whiskeymike]

I just got the Swag HD finger kit. I haven't welded it yet, but it is stout!

For larger pieces of thin stuff, I'm going to make a worktop brake like 94 mentioned. On those pieces, I don't think the fingers will be important. There are some good plans on the net.

 

[paramud]

Ok thanks guys. Ill do what whiskey said. So swag kit, then stout welding table, then I guess I design a table top finger brake kit.

Thanks guys!

 

[gorilla]

In real world press brake work the dies and punch's are determined by material thickness. A punch and dies set that will bend 3/16" material most likely will not give you a bend radius suitable for a toolbox in 18 gauge. Just something to think about.

 

[sz0k30]

I just got the SWAG non-HD finger brake a couple of days ago. I went with the lighter duty one cause I'm just a guy who plays in his garage and I don't ever see myself bending more than 1/4". Second I only have a Lincoln 140C welder and the HD version seemed way thicker than that welder could handle. I was even worried about welding the std version.

Well, I have most of it welded up and my 140C with .025 wire handled it with no problem. Its a pretty slick & easy to set up & weld kit.

I bought the gray HF #60603 press earlier this year.

 

[paramud]

This is all really helpful information guys. Thanks! I forgot about the difference bend radius's I need and will look into the swag radius info.

As far as welding, I am getting the new Lincoln 210, just waiting for them to ship it and I need to wire 210 into the garage.

 

[machine_punk]

I went this route...the Baileigh 5216 SBR (Shear, Brake & Roll)

View media item 20569
52" wide with a capacity for 16 gauge cold rolled.

Building a set of drawers for a toolbox is exactly one of the things I plan to do with this.

I got mine at a significant discount (had some cosmetic shipping damage). I've seen the HF SBR's and this is MUCH heavier.

If I had the room, I would prefer a used, heavy-duty, American-made finger brake. As it is, this gives me 3 sheet metal tools in one compact space...which is what I need right now, based on the size of my shop.

Kev

 

[kazlx]

If you don't plan on going over 16g, this can't be beat. One of the best tools I have bought so far.