Ghetto sheetmetal brake

[Damn True]

Any ideas for a home-made brake?

[CAMAROBOY69]

I used a 5lb hammer and my girlfriend 67 mustang sub frame last night.
One of these days I will at least buy a vise.

[baz67]

"The Racer's Guide to Fabicating Shop Equiment" by John Block. I have a copy, it has plans that you will need. JP built his brake from them. It works well enough.

[wendell]

JP turned me on that book a while ago. Very cool read. The day before I was going to start building a brake, some one gave me a 56 inch National. That was a good day.

[parsonsj]

Yeah, that brake is definitely ghetto. But it'll bend 48" of 16g steel. I made my floor, my fuel tanks, and my inner fenderwells with it. If you can get a good professional brake, get it. If you want to spend the money elsewhere, that one is definitely servicable.

jp

[Damn True]

Yeah, that brake is definitely ghetto. But it'll bend 48" of 16g steel. I made my floor, my fuel tanks, and my inner fenderwells with it. If you can get a good professional brake, get it. If you want to spend the money elsewhere, that one is definitely servicable.

jp

Would you happen to have a photo of that rig?


Saving money for some $800 diamond encrusted lug nuts. (billet hood hinge joke)

[parsonsj]

True,
I think I do at home. I'll look around later.

jp

[CAMAROBOY69]

I would also appreciate a picture of this rig. A sheetmetal brake would be like my best friend. Even if it was a ghetto one. Gotta be better than a 5# hammer on a Mustang frame.

[Damn True]

I can think of worse things to do to a Mustang.

[parsonsj]

Here's a pic of the brake, behind the hand tools and shrinker/stretcher.

jp

[BB69]

I know it's not homemade, but I have the combination shear, brake, roller machine from Harbor Freight. I got the 30" model first, and it broke. When I say broke, the cast iron split in half. This MAY have been caused by us trying to bend something a little too thick. I say MAY seriously, because the material wasn't very long. I think the casting may have also had some problems. Anyway, they replaced it, and at the same time I upgraded to the 40" model. It works very well for shearing, bending, and rolling sheetmetal (to 18 gauge). I have only made a few things, and I can't believe how much easier fabrication is with this. The 40" model can be had for $400 when it's on sale. Just another option to consider.

Ken

[CAMAROBOY69]

Here's a pic of the brake, behind the hand tools and shrinker/stretcher.

jp

Thanks for sharing the pic JP. The Shrinker/stretcher would even be a great investment. I really need to start buying some of these goodies. It would save me soo much time and make life a lot easier.
Even those little $60.00 press machines would be a good investment. They just use a jack but they could press U joints and with some creativity they coudl bend metal too.
I like that pic of the brake.
Ken,
$400 doesnt seem bad at all for the 40" to sheer bend and roll metal. I would need a bigger garage.

[Norwoodx55]

Here's a pic of the brake, behind the hand tools and shrinker/stretcher.

jp

I see your barrel grip Bosch jig saw in there too. Sweet tool.
Brett

[BB69]

Thanks for sharing the pic JP. The Shrinker/stretcher would even be a great investment. I really need to start buying some of these goodies. It would save me soo much time and make life a lot easier.
Even those little $60.00 press machines would be a good investment. They just use a jack but they could press U joints and with some creativity they coudl bend metal too.
I like that pic of the brake.
Ken,
$400 doesnt seem bad at all for the 40" to sheer bend and roll metal. I would need a bigger garage.

I can't wait for the day when I don't need a bigger garage. Of course, that will probably mean I'm dead.

The price for the machine really isn't too bad, especially when you realize it weighs 400 pounds. That's only a $1 a pound. To be able to make nice straight cuts and bends is so nice. If you play with the rollers, you can make cones as well. I don't use it much, but when I do it's worth the space it takes up.

Ken

[stealth71]

John - Can you scan the brake plans and post them or email them to me? I can't find a copy of the book to buy.

What kind of bead roller is that? Does it get the job done?

Thanks,
Mike

[parsonsj]

Hi Mike,

I'll see if the book is easily scanned. But have you tried Amazon? I think the cost was less than $15.

The bead roller is a $90 Harbor Freight cheapie. It works fine for what I need: floor and other hidden panels that need strengthening. If you want the best, check out Mittler Brothers. They make amazing stuff.

jp

[Camaro Zach]

I bought that cheap harbor frieght unit as well but was not impressed so i *modified it* https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=12364

I have a sheetmetal brake, its 36" wide i think and is rated at 16ga. but i would only do about half that with 16, 18 ga is a walk in the park though. If you want i can make some detailed drawings and get alot of pics of it. you can kind of see it in the attached photo

[stealth71]

I looked for the book on amazon, but it says that there is possibly a 3-5 week wait for it. I just ordered about every suspension book they have. Any help would be appreciated. I would like to build a brake to keep cost down. My budget isn't very large and I have a synchrowave 200 in mind. I think if I get a TIG, sheet metal brake, tubing bender, and bead roller I should be able to do my rear suspension. Well I also need to read a lot. I am fairly new at suspension design.

[BADVELLE]

I bought that cheap harbor frieght unit as well but was not impressed so i *modified it* https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=12364

I have a sheetmetal brake, its 36" wide i think and is rated at 16ga. but i would only do about half that with 16, 18 ga is a walk in the park though. If you want i can make some detailed drawings and get alot of pics of it. you can kind of see it in the attached photo

Holy poop Batman and I thought I had no room!

[Camaro Zach]

Holy poop Batman and I thought I had no room!

you should see it now.. 2 mig welders, plasma, 80 gal. compressor, Tig Welder, torch and much much more