sheet metal brake stand

[mikegt4]

I have a Grizzly 48" sheet metal brake that has been sitting in the basement for some time and I finally decided to make a stand for it. Having been retired for 8 years I no longer have access to any brakes to get a feel for a height that feels comfortable. Any ideas for a good working height from the floor to the platen/hinge for someone of average height?

 

[mbatarga]

I'd suggest elbow height when your forearms are out at 90 in front of you would be a good start.

 

[danski0224]

Same height as the workbench or a little higher.... counter top height 36".

 

[txvwnut]

I have a 3 in 1 brake, roll and shear setup and I set the shearing table height at forty inches.

 

[rsanter]

I used two of those cheap/shorter homeowner grade toolboxes bolted side by side.
Worked great

 

[Craftfab]

I use one of the Roper Whitney factory stands for my finger brake and the stand is 26" high. Set up is just like in photo linked below. Comfortable working height.

https://www.roperwhitney.com/our-products/u-416-light-gauge-finger-bending-brake/

 

[Jim Stabe]

I made a stand with locking casters so I could move it around the shop. The bar in front swings down so you can stand on it and keep the stand from tipping over or moving around when you pull up on the handles to bend metal.

 

[toolchaser]

Jim, fair warning, I'm stealing the stabilizer bar idea,that's awesome!

 

[Dumber than lumber]

You might get an old Black & Decker Workmate. Bolt your brake to a base made of 2 by lumber. Then clamp the base in the workmate.

 

[cvairwerks]

You might get an old Black & Decker Workmate. Bolt your brake to a base made of 2 by lumber. Then clamp the base in the workmate.

A 48” brake weighs somewhere between 350 and 1300 lbs......

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you started on it Mike ?


I have a 36" Black Bull brake from TSC. I can go out and take a measurement and tell you what height it is.

 

[Highland]

I would want the actual work surface (in the case of a brake the top of the folding leaf) to be between belt buckle and elbow height. Adjust the stand as necessary.

 

[Jim Stabe]

Jim, fair warning, I'm stealing the stabilizer bar idea,that's awesome!

You're welcome to it. The idea was born when I almost tipped the machine over making my first bend - that would not have been a pretty sight.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

the top of the folding leaf on my brake is at 38" from the floor.

 

[lis2323]

Mine vary from 34-40 inches.







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[sberry]

That is some nice stuff there, nice scale. Nice for custom and repair. I worked in a place had 2 shop beside each other. Both had shear brakes. I really liked the older slower so much better for 1 off and repairs, manual can be good, gives a guy a little time to think and blink. Especially for big sheet longer bends where it can really fly.
The mag is interesting, looks like a guy could express some imagination, nice for pans, could even finger some on another machine and finish off with it?

 

[lis2323]

The mag is interesting, looks like a guy could express some imagination, nice for pans, could even finger some on another machine and finish off with it?

Exactly! The brake has WAY more capabilities than I can even begin to imagine.


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[mikegt4]

I decided on 38" which felt right to me. Actually it is going to be a low cabinet that will hold my meager supply of sheet metal while serving as the mount for the brake. The cabinet is 22" front to back with the brake at the front edge. The project has been on hold while some friends are in town from California, he almost had an ****** while filling up with $1.59/gal. gas.

Back in the 1970's I made an open front bench that held a roll of fiberglass mat that dispensed out the front like aluminum foil or plastic food wrap. It kept the mat front getting contaminated with leaves and dirt (37' sailboat project) and let me roll out as much as I needed. Still have it today and I am just making a lower version.