HF metal brake ?

[gregtwojeeps]

Just bought this for some light duty bending at work. Does anyone know if it will bend 18 gauge SS ? The price tag label on the display unit in the store stated it would bend 16 SS metal. When I opened the box at work I noticed the label on the machine does not list 16 gauge as a metal it will bend, only lighter. Hmmmm..

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_15314.jpg

 

[PCO6]

I haven't tried SS with mine but I've bent 16 gauge sheet metal and haven't had any problems. If you go on line you can find various ways to strengthen this unit. I haven't modified mine ... yet.

https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&...0....0...1ac.1.42.img..13.33.1935.ZpuobEXw5og

 

[beakie]

curious about this myself
our version up here goes on sale now n then, and I would like to know what it's capable of.

I wonder if it could be "beefed" up in anyway to improve it.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

I haven't tried SS with mine but I've bent 16 gauge sheet metal and haven't had any problems. If you go on line you can find various ways to strengthen this unit. I haven't modified mine ... yet.

https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&...0....0...1ac.1.42.img..13.33.1935.ZpuobEXw5og

Good tip on the pics, thanks

I have not assembled and used it yet, so I don't know what it's weak points will be. I have some 18 ga. SS to bend so I am sure I will find the machines weak points soon enough though. $250 does not buy much of a brake so I am sure it will need beefed up. ....

Not being a seasoned metal bender myself, I do have a another question. Why doesn't the control handles not have a tie bar locking them together ? It seems to me pushing down one bar would give even pressure on the bender blade making a smoother bend. ...

I know pulling two handles down would require less downward pushing force on the operator's behalf, but if the operator cannot get the same pressure applied to both lever handles, does the two handles allow the bend to start and "flow" from one side to the other without leaving "waves" in the metal ? thanks

 

[Kevin54]

Throw a piece of stainless in there, and bend away. If it bows the material or bust the brake, take it back for a refund.

As far as the handles, by all rights you are supposed to use both, and they assume that you will use them evenly. Besides that, a cross bar has the potential to get in the way at times depending on what you are bending. If you can bend your sheetmetal, and it does a good job, then make a cross bar that is removable. Just drill a hole through both handles, then get a piece of steel bar and drill and thread both ends and fasten it to both handles.

Now, as far as your brake, your weak point will be the center. That is why you have the adjustment screw to keep the tension correct across the length of the bending area. You may have to play with that some so you get the same bend in the middle as you do both ends.

Aside from all of that, be sure to let us know how it works. If it works good, I may just have to pick one up myself as I need a small brake.

 

[Kevin54]

I had to look at this again, and again. Am I missing something, or is this thing backwards? THe reason I ask is that the clamping handles are the ones at the top. You pull them down, and it cams around to clamp your part. THe bending side, is the side you are looking at in the picture, BUT the handles to bring the bar up to bend the metal is on the backside, so you would have to walk around the brake to use the handles, right? It just doesn't look right for some reason.

 

[Kevin54]

Like in this picture, the locking handles will come forward, then the lower handles will come up to bend. Everything is from the operator side of the brake.

 

[Responder]

I haven't tried SS with mine but I've bent 16 gauge sheet metal and haven't had any problems. If you go on line you can find various ways to strengthen this unit. I haven't modified mine ... yet.

https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&...0....0...1ac.1.42.img..13.33.1935.ZpuobEXw5og

I have this unit as well, and I may have to modify it. Thanks for the information.

 

[MP&C]

Before wasting a piece of SS to test and see if it will bend, I'd try some CRS first. Yes, the SS will be more challenging, but if it doesn't work at all for CRS you aren't out as much. I'd venture that it will bend narrow sections, but may not be as crisp as if the machine were rated for that gauge metal. That appears to be about a 20 or 22 gauge machine at best, so it likely won't do full width in 16 gauge, you don't have enough leverage in those two handles.

 

[PCO6]

I had to look at this again, and again. Am I missing something, or is this thing backwards? THe reason I ask is that the clamping handles are the ones at the top. You pull them down, and it cams around to clamp your part. THe bending side, is the side you are looking at in the picture, BUT the handles to bring the bar up to bend the metal is on the backside, so you would have to walk around the brake to use the handles, right? It just doesn't look right for some reason.

Kevin - You have it right except that you pull the bottom handles up from the front. The top handles cam /clamp the top bar down on the sheet metal and the bottom handles are pulled up to make the bend.

BTW - One thing I added to mine is a set of casters. It was pre-drilled for them.

 

[PCO6]

Before wasting a piece of SS to test and see if it will bend, I'd try some CRS first. Yes, the SS will be more challenging, but if it doesn't work at all for CRS you aren't out as much. I'd venture that it will bend narrow sections, but may not be as crisp as if the machine were rated for that gauge metal. That appears to be about a 20 or 22 gauge machine at best, so it likely won't do full width in 16 gauge, you don't have enough leverage in those two handles.

You're right that the 2 wimpy handles don't provide a lot of leverage. I haven't tried full width with 16 gauge but I have gone up to about 22" to 24". The radius isn't perfectly crisp but it's not bad. These pictures of some stands I made show bends on 16 gauge. They aren't the best angles to view the bends at but you can see that they turned out OK.

View media item 35004
View media item 38445

 

[Kevin54]

Kevin - You have it right except that you pull the bottom handles up from the front. The top handles cam /clamp the top bar down on the sheet metal and the bottom handles are pulled up to make the bend.

BTW - One thing I added to mine is a set of casters. It was pre-drilled for them.

I know how a brake works, and after looking at this pic again, i thought the black handles were on the backside of the brake, but I see they are on the backside of the front portion. I'll be alright, just a little slow at times:tard:

 

[BD1]

Kevin, make sure you use a 25% coupon. I bought one a few years ago used from a guy that bought it but it just sat there. Got it for $75.00. Money well spent.
Would have like a finger brake but for the money couldn't beat it.

 

[Kevin54]

Kevin, make sure you use a 25% coupon. I bought one a few years ago used from a guy that bought it but it just sat there. Got it for $75.00. Money well spent.
Would have like a finger brake but for the money couldn't beat it.

That's what I've been keeping an eye out for, but no luck so far. I know there is one out there that will pop up sometime.....I just hope I'm the one to catch the break when it does.

 

[srmofo]

That's what I've been keeping an eye out for, but no luck so far. I know there is one out there that will pop up sometime.....I just hope I'm the one to catch the break when it does.

I just picked up the swag heavy duty finger brake last week for $300. I hope to assemble it later today. Good unit for the money

 

[shawnspeed]

That's what I've been keeping an eye out for, but no luck so far. I know there is one out there that will pop up sometime.....I just hope I'm the one to catch the break when it does.

I waited 10 plus years until a diacro/pexto 24" box and pan ended up in my barn for a 100 bucks ...didn't realize how good I did until I went on ebay... never would have bought one for this money...http://www.ebay.com/itm/DI-ACRO-24-...t=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33888faa5e:wtf:

 

[sloppy]

Kevin - You have it right except that you pull the bottom handles up from the front. The top handles cam /clamp the top bar down on the sheet metal and the bottom handles are pulled up to make the bend.

BTW - One thing I added to mine is a set of casters. It was pre-drilled for them.

First thing I added to..

Keep a eye out on CL list for these. I picked mine up for 50 or 75 bucks cant remember which and it was a sign shop guy so I dont think it has really worked real hard..

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Just bought this for some light duty bending at work. Does anyone know if it will bend 18 gauge SS ? The price tag label on the display unit in the store stated it would bend 16 SS metal. When I opened the box at work I noticed the label on the machine does not list 16 gauge as a metal it will bend, only lighter. Hmmmm..

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_15314.jpg

Update: You guys were right. I started my SS project and it will not bend 18 ga. SS sheets. I had to score the SS at the bend with my 4 in. side grinder using a 1/8 in metal cut off disc, just to be able to to break it over to a 90 degree bend. The relief scores won't show so they won't matter. The SS bending did show all the HF brake weak points though, but again it IS a $250.00 DIY brake for light duty projects which I see it working great for.