Gallery, Projects and General > The Design Shop
Sheet metal folder
John Rudd:
Yup,I've already got the plans for that one thanks.... :thumbup:
PTsideshow:
The following are some photo's of a easy to do shop bender out of angle iron, a wood block and mallet, possibly some C clamps for longer bends.
It works for the thinner gauge sheet goods.
The other photo's are of Heating and Vent duct work tools and for flashing and siding work. That can come in handy for other uses.
I have a Diarco finger brake that was the school shop standard for 50 years here in the states, along with a bar folder or seamer and 10' 6" Windy brand flashing brake. I still use the wack-a-doodle and the other more than the finger brake (have individual fingers in assorted sizes) so you can adjust them to bend pans or boxes of assorted widths. Mine are from ½" to 6" in width.
The biggest problem with the import brakes and the 3 in 1 machines is they aren't stiff enough or heavy enough. Also people tend to try to fudge the next thickest size up from their rated capacity.
I know people that have weld extra scrap iron on to them and use them for their rated capacity.
Truthfully if you are only doing a couple of bends the wack-a-doodle will work or if you don't have the angle iron. It would be cheaper to take a clear drawing labeled with the dimensions. To you local tin knocker,sheetmetal place and get it done for a lot smaller fee.
ieezitin:
John.
I do not own a folder. I want one. Making one is not that difficult as you know. Bracing up the fingers is all about structure geometry if you have access to a welding facility its easy to brace up the fingers.
I think if I owned one I would use it about 4 times a year, but not having one makes me roll round hoops to overcome the fact I do not have one.
I think it’s a worth while build and I have one in mind later this year. Irony is for about $30.00 I can build one that will fold ¼”.
If you do not have access to welding facilities then I see problems in manufacture, not impossible but just time consuming.
All the best. Anthony.
Jasonb:
Could you not just knock up something like this, as its for a mini lathe I assume the folds don't need to be that long.
http://www.warco.co.uk/Vice-brake-5--wide-79E8C90E77.aspx
Jason
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