Picked up this 24" finger brake off FB marketplace locally.. Looks like it's got most/all of the fingers and missing the handles? The handles are round tube that go into a slot. I've been looking for a make, or model, but all it has are casting numbers on the left, right and front. Anyone have an idea of the make/model of this guy? It's heavy, probably 100-150+lbs.
Help me understand how this bad & pan brake works?
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
Not a finger brake, but a box and pan brake. Pexto, Roper Whitney, or Niagara, all were close in designs.
So I've got my brake all cleaned up, but for the life of me can't understand it's supposed to work? It almost seems like the fingers should drop closer to the bed in order to brake the metal.. but the upper portion only seems to pivot and not lower? If you pivot the finger down to the metal, how are you supposed to lock it in place? Anyone have a 100yr old manual that would help me understand how it's supposed to work? 
LopezBart
Well-known member
Watch this video and things should be more clear.
It looks like you slide your workpiece in the space between the angled fingers and the base. Line up your bend mark with the point of the fingers. You should have two bars in the semi-circular pieces along the front. The bars will be facing down. When you pull up on the bars, the top clamps down on your workpiece and you bend up until the desired angle is reached. There should be some “stops” to bend to 90 degrees. In the first picture the fingers are not all in alignment.