Metal brake 48"

[toastie]

Has anybody tryed this meatal brake.............thanks

48 Inch Sheet Metal Bending Brake Bender 36 - 30 New - eBay (item 300196492033 end time Feb-14-08 12:57:42 PST)

[PhiDor]

I spent my life either working in the sheet metal business and/or teaching it. I never saw a brake like that one. Looks somewhat homemade. I don't think it would satisfactorily bend anything heavier than 20 ga steel (.036) and that may be pushing it.

If a good brake for that capacity goes for over $1000.00, what can this be?

Phidor

[Aerowood]

I'd steer away from that. It's not near heavy enough to bend anything heavier then about 24 ga. mild steel. If you are planning on using it to bend 2024-T4 you will also need radius bending dies

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

I'd steer away from that. It's not near heavy enough to bend anything heavier then about 24 ga. mild steel. If you are planning on using it to bend 2024-T4 you will also need radius bending dies

Rebuilding my door, just need to bend no more than 30 degs.

[Aerowood]

what thickness, alloy, and how long?

[toastie]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

what thickness, alloy, and how long?

For the door 0.032 2024T3 and the trim around the inside windows 2024-0
the longest would be about 44"

[jamesardis]

Yes- its like the first one I bought.

works only for very thin metals-

the main draw back is that its weak in the middle section-the bends ten to round out there more than the edges

where its stronger--also if you ever want to bend more than two sides, like all four- then you will ned a brake that has removeable sections on the upper fingers--

I'd not recommend it toastie---jim

[markdoane]

I think 48" is too long for a unit like that. I have one that's 30" and it's at the outer limit for bending .032" 2024-T3. For the trim around the window, if you use fairly fresh 2024-T0 it would work.

Don't try to reuse any old aluminum. After 40 years the hardness of 2024 goes up to about T8. Hard to bend without cracking unless you use radius dies as Aerowood says.

These brakes do tend to bow in the middle, especially if the hinge points are 48" apart.

Are you sure the window trim pieces need to be .032"? I think you might be able to get by with thinner material if it's just for the mullions.

On the other hand, the price is good, and you'll find a ton of uses for it. I got mine at Harbor Freight.

[Aerowood]

Originally Posted by toastie

For the door 0.032 2024T3 and the trim around the inside windows 2024-0
the longest would be about 44"

As stated above that brake would bow in the middle causing the outside of the piece to have a greater angle then the middle on the T3. the O material will be OK. If you take it to a S/M shop to have it bent and they don't have an 1/8" radius die have them move the top die back away from the brake line about an 1/8" and you should be able to bend 30 degrees without problems on the T3.

[uwe]

I use a 30in brake from Harbor Freight. It is a nice tool for small jobs on Airstream aluminum, but nothing else. It, too, will bow in the middle if the material is too stiff.
But it does a great job for small item braking, like window frames, c-channel, etc.
For bigger jobs, I go to a metal shop with prepared material...it comes out much better for very little cash. Sometimes just a 6-pack.

[toastie]

Originally Posted by markdoane

I think 48" is too long for a unit like that. I have one that's 30" and it's at the outer limit for bending .032" 2024-T3. For the trim around the window, if you use fairly fresh 2024-T0 it would work.

Don't try to reuse any old aluminum. After 40 years the hardness of 2024 goes up to about T8. Hard to bend without cracking unless you use radius dies as Aerowood says.

These brakes do tend to bow in the middle, especially if the hinge points are 48" apart.

Are you sure the window trim pieces need to be .032"? I think you might be able to get by with thinner material if it's just for the mullions.

On the other hand, the price is good, and you'll find a ton of uses for it. I got mine at Harbor Freight.

Do you think this one will do the job..........thanks

MALCO MB48A MINI BRAKE Metal Bender Aluminum Steel Trim - eBay (item 120233218998 end time Apr-12-08 13:59:10 PDT)

[markdoane]

I think it might work ok for .025 aluminum if it's dead soft. Nothing harder though.

The stiffener across the top might improve a little, but now this one has lots of cap screws holding it together, which would make keeping it tight and in adjustment a continuous headache. And it's pretty expensive for what you get.

I would stick with a smaller and cheaper one, with less tendency to bow, and take the larger work to the local tinsmith.

So instead of "bend it like Beckham", you can "do it like Uwe".