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.

It creates a t shape with the base angle. The most important thing on a sheet metal brake is. Use heavier metal stock for a stronger brake for bending heavier sheet metal or longer widths. This will be used to make the bending plate as well as the hold down clamp.

Weld the stud bolts on the bottom of the brake to make tightening and loosening them a one wrench job. This will be used to form the smooth surface beneath the hold down clamp. Twist a steel wire ø1 2mm around the pivot and place it at the gap on edge of bender. Adjust and do a tack weld at side of pivot and the top corner of angle iron point 1.

The 1 5 angle was cut in half to make two 2 pieces. Mount this machine on pipe stands anchor to the floor or in the ground for long term use. The 2 plate was cut to 2 in length. A third angle has handles and is hinged to the 2x4.

I m sure some bright person out there will probably come up with a more elegant way to do this. To open the brake first loosen the bolts then insert a large screwdriver between the top and bottom plate at either end. An angle is attached to the 2x4 and another angle is bolted on top of that to hold down the metal i ll bend. In this video i show how to build a metal brake with a 72 inch working capacity.

All of the metal and wood bits were first cut to length. The unit as shown is approximately 82 tip to tip has a working surface he.