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Magnetic bending brakes

EdT

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Sep 21, 2010
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North Georgia
I am looking into getting a magnetic brake since it looks like It would come in handy for the kind of light fab work I do. I'm sure someone on this forum has some experience (good or bad) that might help me see through the haze of tool rapture and maybe I can make a rational choice.
Thanks,
ET
 
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EdT

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Sep 21, 2010
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Slopdog,
I think that was the post that got me thinking that this might be a good idea. Thanks for the input.
ET
 

kazlx

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Oct 30, 2012
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Tustin, CA
They are awesome. I have a Roper Whitney I bought on CL. It's a sweet little tool. Haven't used it one anything super complicated yet, but works great. I also like that it is way more compact that a regular brake. Easy to store. Mine is on casters.
 

SM Racing

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May 3, 2006
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856
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Huntsville, AL
I am looking hard at one of these, they should do everything I need to do with a finger brake. My big issue is deciding what thickness I realistically need to bend in a finger brake. I have a press brake that does plate (and obviously sheet metal as well), so if I could tame my requirements for bending 14ga with a magnabend, I would seriously consider one.

The ability to do boxes, tight radius stuff, etc makes these really appealing.
 
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EdT

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Sep 21, 2010
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North Georgia
There is a lot of info available on the magnabend website about how to build one, so this is also in the mix. I did some research and I think I can build one for < half the cost of new one. Of course, that attaches no value to my time and some of the details like the angle setting device and the rather elaborate hinges make it a pretty large time sink. For me, I'd guess it would take every bit of two weeks (so four actually) to build one if I had all the material/ parts on hand at the start. I have only seen one on CL around here and, in hindsight, I probably should have jumped on it, but I didn't. Like so many things, it looks like they all come from China now and are rebranded for various end sellers. Not sure if the RW ones are domestic or not. They were the original sellers of the technology in this market and, now that the patents have run out, there are lots of people in the game,but most of the offerings look like the same thing with different stickers. Doesn't mean they are bad, just that the price and warranty become the dominant drivers since the products are all the same (it looks like). Thanks to all for the feedback; keep it coming.
 

bullnerd

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Sep 17, 2012
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Location
Jersey
Couple of good threads on offroad fab network on these. Including talk of building one. Plus Baliegh is there, and has his own thread with lots of pics and comments.

Sorry no links, but easy to find.
 
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Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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MP&C

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Oct 21, 2009
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Leonardtown, MD
So the Baileigh does 16 gauge at 48". Has anyone tried using it for 12 gauge in smaller widths?

Is there anything better than the 4816m for similar specs?


Mike, I was working on some frame plates tonight and had some scraps left over so I went back out to the shop to see how well the Mag brake did. Here's the brake...


Picture%203716.jpg



This is a bit proud for 12 ga so likely it is a thin version of some 11.


Picture%203711.jpg



The section bent was about 6" across...


Picture%203712.jpg



Picture%203713.jpg



Where it wasn't a perfectly tight bend, I was rather impressed that the inside radius was only about 1/16"


Picture%203715.jpg



Picture%203717.jpg



Keep in mind whenever you get to the upper limits on a mag brake, additional "anvils", or whatever they're called, will help to give the magnet more to pull against so the work piece is less likely to pull upwards when bending..


Picture%203718.jpg



So if that width and inside radius is OK with you, then the 4816 should work for you.
 

Whiskeymike

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Oct 31, 2013
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775
Location
Austin, TX
MP&C, thanks for spending the time to do this! That looks great. I wonder if Baileigh will have a Black Friday sale? &#55357;&#56836;

Has anyone seen a better deal than the 2.2-2.3k?
 

tarbellb

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Apr 17, 2011
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Location
Oregon
And..... mind blown. Didnt even know these existed!

Another $2k tool I want, thanks guys.
 

Richard D

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Jan 19, 2007
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Location
Texas City, between Houston and Galveston
I'd scoop up that brake, the clamps would be easy to replace, just 1/2" flatbar with a bevel down the end. They also come with clamp bars of various lengths you can pin together, as well as a bar with notches to do quickly do various widths shallow pans, nice luxuries but not necessities. You could make all kinds of clamp bars for way less than buying a new brake.
 
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