Sheet metal brake

[andyvh1959]

I have a fab project coming up with a need to bend sheet metal flanges. Thinking a 24" max length will meet my needs, maybe up to 14ga. I'm making a sheet metal motorcycle fairing bracket to fit around the headstock on the frame. Flange width maybe 1.5". Harbor Frieght has a 30" bench mount brake, has anyone used it to report on effectiveness? I do have a hydraulic vertical press for which HF has a press brake attachement, might go that route as then I can bend a lot more than just light sheet metal:

12 in. Shop Press Brake Attachment

Amazing deals on this 12In Shop Press Brake Attachment at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Otherwise I may buy one locally on Craigslist or FBM if I can find one.

 

[txvwnut]

If it’s the $75 one it ain‘t gonna do what you want. You’d be better off with the 36” brake or the 3 in 1.

 

[imagineer]

Not sure what's in your budget, but one of these might suffice.

VEVOR Box and Pan Brake, 24-Inch, 0-130 Degrees Sheet Metal Bending Brake, Portable Metal Bender with 20 Gauge Low Carbon Steel 14 Gauge Aluminum Capacity, 5 Adjustable Fingers for Metal Bending | VEVOR US

VEVOR metal bender 24-inch bends 20-gauge steel and 14-gauge aluminum with 5 adjustable fingers, 0-135° flexibility, and heavy-duty steel construction.

www.vevor.com

We have the Eastwood version at my plant and I've used it to bend 14ga mild steel. I'm fairly certain the Eastwood and Vevor pan brakes are the same, just different color and more $$ for the Eastwood. The parts I was forming were 4.5" wide and it took some effort

 

[cvairwerks]

Trying to bend 14 ga steel in a brake that's only designed for 20 ga is going to wreck it in a hurry.

 

[PCustoms]

I have a fab project coming up with a need to bend sheet metal flanges. Thinking a 24" max length will meet my needs, maybe up to 14ga. I'm making a sheet metal motorcycle fairing bracket to fit around the headstock on the frame. Flange width maybe 1.5". Harbor Frieght has a 30" bench mount brake, has anyone used it to report on effectiveness? I do have a hydraulic vertical press for which HF has a press brake attachement, might go that route as then I can bend a lot more than just light sheet metal:

12 in. Shop Press Brake Attachment

Amazing deals on this 12In Shop Press Brake Attachment at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Otherwise I may buy one locally on Craigslist or FBM if I can find one.

I'm having a hard time visualizing your part, do you have a sketch?

Would a small shop press and press brake be better?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Trying to bend 14 ga steel in a brake that's only designed for 20 ga is going to wreck it in a hurry.

I don't think that 30" bench brake will even bend it all, yeah, going to destroy the brake.

I have one of these from TSC, Black Bull version, probably built in the same factory. I would attempt 14

https://www.harborfreight.com/36-in-bending-brake-with-stand-62518.html

If you already have a hydraulic press, want to check out SWAG Offroad.

 

[finn]

Trying to bend 14 ga steel in a brake that's only designed for 20 ga is going to wreck it in a hurry.

Agreed, but only assuming you’re bending full width material.

It should handle shorter lengths of heavier material…..if you’re lucky.

But buy the extended warranty just in case!

I have the 30” HF bench mount brake, but bought the SWAG weld it yourself pan brake for my 20 ton HF hydraulic press to do 14 gauge material. It’s not 30” long, though. From memory, maybe around 20”.

 

[karoc]

14ga is thick, as others saying you need hydraulic press. But if you find finger brake that’s rated for 14ga it be expensive. I would first search around for family or small sheetmetal shop to see if they could fab those for you.
Like you I like doing things myself not outsourcing anything. But again 14ga

 

[karoc]

Thinking out of box here, which I done this before bending 16ga on HF brake.
I scribe line, then put piece in brake but had scribe line hanging out. Then took my torch with brazing tip and heat up where line is. Set piece to line then bend it, so much better easier. But make sure you have brake adjusted for that thickness plus little

 

[cvairwerks]

Agreed, but only assuming you’re bending full width material.

It should handle shorter lengths of heavier material…..if you’re lucky.

OP wants to bend a 24" long flange. That's going to be 80% of the brake width, no where near a "short" length.

 

[finn]

OP wants to bend a 24" long flange. That's going to be 80% of the brake width, no where near a "short" length.

That’s where the SWAG comes in, but even then he’s going to have to modify his design, since it’s a little shorter than 24”.

Sometimes it’s better to design around what you have, rather than putting out thousands of dollars for one time use tools.

Another alternative is to have a local shop that has the proper equipment do the bending. Beats buying something that will be used infrequently, that requires floor space.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I have the Harbor Freight 30" brake, it's good for thin sheet metal, trim, step flashing, etc.

You want a hydraulic press brake for 14ga

 

[andyvh1959]

Thanks for the input, I'm going for the one that fits my vertical hyd press. Then I can form brackets for an upcoming 56 truck project.

 

[KwikFab]

Have it done locally - some places will do bends as little as $20 per if you're providing material.

That’s where the SWAG comes in, but even then he’s going to have to modify his design, since it’s a little shorter than 24”.

If the bend radius has to be tight, then the SWAG kit (even for the +30" version) is a no go.

OP said "flange width" of 1.5" but I think they meant length?

 

[andyvh1959]

Yeah, I'll be forming 1.5" flanges on panels about 8" long, maybe 6" high.

 

[RPH]

Swag offroad finger die setup. Get the extra offset dies for this project.

 

[MVWSR]

something that heavy, maybe worth sending to SendCutSend?

 

[KwikFab]

Swag offroad finger die setup. Get the extra offset dies for this project.

Not for something with a small flange; if you like a large bend radius with an unusually long flange sure