Looking for feedback on Harbor Freight's brake and/or stretcher/shrinker

[SouthernIllinois]

Anyone have any firsthand feedback on HF's brake and/or stretcher/shrinker?
Looking to buy for use in hobby bodywork.

 

[stinkity stoink]

I have the Shrinker stretcher and it has worked well for me. I have used some that are much better ,but it was probably 10x the cost At least

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I have the Shrinker stretcher and it has worked well for me. I have used some that are much better ,but it was probably 10x the cost At least

Thanks

How did you mount yours?
I see eastwood sells a base that fits in a vice for their shrinker/stretcher which look to be identical to HF's.

 

[stinkity stoink]

Thanks

How did you mount yours?
I see eastwood sells a base that fits in a vice for their shrinker/stretcher which look to be identical to HF's.

Harbor freight used to sell a stand also that is similar to this. https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Shrink...Restoring/dp/B0DR1D7LQW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Harbor freight used to sell a stand also that is similar to this. https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Shrink...Restoring/dp/B0DR1D7LQW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks - that looks nice for the price I just wish there were some reviews of it.

 

[finn]

I bought a couple of genuine Lancaster shrinker stretchers. The first one came from a shop that sold tools and parts for race car fab shops, north of Rockford, Illinois.

I liked it, and heard bad things about the common Chinese knockoffs, so I bought another Lancaster online.

The genuine Lancaster units weren’t all that much more expensive than the knockoffs, and are excellent quality. Don’t know about current pricing, though.


Edit. I bought the twin head stand from HF and adapted it to the Lancaster.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have the HF shrinker stretcher set. They work fine. I clamp them in the vise. No fancy pedals.

I can't speak to the brake. Mine is the shear-brake-roll. It's great for my purposes. It has the fingers for box work. The shear is good for coil stock and modern fender metal. The roll is the same deal.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I have the Lancaster Shrinker/stretcher set and mounted them to the Eastwood Base. I pondered the HF set but decided to buck up for the better ones.

I have no experience with the brake but am interested in hearing about it as well.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i have the brake. it bends metal and works fine for what i need, but i'm no metal fab guy. lots on youtube about modding them.

 

[Rockable]

If you're planning to break 18 ga, you will be limited to about half the width of the brake. Just be sure you know what your needs are. The HF shrinker/stretcher set I had had some pretty rough "teeth" and marked up the panels pretty badly. I sold them and bought a pair of Lancasters. My Lancasters do a much better job.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I have the Lancaster Shrinker/stretcher set and mounted them to the Eastwood Base. I pondered the HF set but decided to buck up for the better ones.

I have no experience with the brake but am interested in hearing about it as well.

Just ordered the Lancaster shrinker/stretcher from Eastwood. The one that comes with interchangeable jaws.

Which base did you buy? That will be the next thing I am shopping for.

Thanks - I appreciate the help.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I appreciate everyone’s input.
Based on that I just ordered a Lancaster stretcher / shrinker combo. One device with interchangeable jaws.

Next I will need a stand for it.
Does anyone have a recommendation?

I don’t have a welder yet so making one is kind of out of the question and I’m sure a welding shop would charge more than I can buy a prefab’ed one for.

Thanks in advance.

This is what I ordered.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I got the Eastwood plate.

Eastwood Shrinker Stretcher Base Plate

Base Plate Holds a Shrinker AND Stretcher in a Vise for Easy Metal Forming

www.eastwood.com