Building A Sheet Metal Bending Brake

Next insert your sheet metal lining up the bend line with the edge of the top plate.

Building a sheet metal bending brake.

All of the metal and wood bits were first cut to length. It creates a t shape with the base angle. Use heavier metal stock for a stronger brake for bending heavier sheet metal or longer widths. The 1 5 angle was cut in half to make two 2 pieces.

Twist a steel wire ø1 2mm around the pivot and place it at the gap on edge of bender. The unit as shown is approximately 82 tip to tip has a working surface he. A third angle has handles and is hinged to the 2x4. The 2 plate was cut to 2 in length.

To open the brake first loosen the bolts then insert a large screwdriver between the top and bottom plate at either end. Weld the stud bolts on the bottom of the brake to make tightening and loosening them a one wrench job. An angle is attached to the 2x4 and another angle is bolted on top of that to hold down the metal i ll bend. The 2x4 is the base that will be clamped to a workbench when the brake is in use.

Adjust and do a tack weld at side of pivot and the top corner of angle iron point 1. The axis of rotation center of bender to be inline to bending line. In this video i show how to build a metal brake with a 72 inch working capacity. This will be used to make the bending plate as well as the hold down clamp.

I m sure some bright person out there will probably come up with a more elegant way to do this. The most important thing on a sheet metal brake is.