- Joined
- Mar 17, 2017
- Messages
- 19
Got a few projects around the house that require sheetmetal work in copper (art, and yes, wife is involved.) I sort of cut my teeth in my dad's A/C sheetmetal shop back in the day building metal air duct so I'm not unfamiliar with the process. (I still hate duct board and itch when I think about it.)
Northern, Harbor Freight, and a few others offer combo machines that have a roller, shear, and press pan break. Aside from the usual issues associated with a combo machine, does anyone have any experience with a press break? From the pictures, it looks like this thing forces the metal into a V shaped die rather breaking it over and edge with a lever. In my mind, this not only lacks versatility but would run a greater risk for scratching the soft copper. I really don't have the room for individual machines. I'm considering getting one and trying it with the understanding that I may have to bite the bullet also get a real pan break. I'm leaning toward either the 24" or 30" (and whatever I get will be too small for the next project). I learned on an 8 ft break and 4 ft foot shear. Dad got the pan break after I left for college... (I think he also hired two more guys)
Northern, Harbor Freight, and a few others offer combo machines that have a roller, shear, and press pan break. Aside from the usual issues associated with a combo machine, does anyone have any experience with a press break? From the pictures, it looks like this thing forces the metal into a V shaped die rather breaking it over and edge with a lever. In my mind, this not only lacks versatility but would run a greater risk for scratching the soft copper. I really don't have the room for individual machines. I'm considering getting one and trying it with the understanding that I may have to bite the bullet also get a real pan break. I'm leaning toward either the 24" or 30" (and whatever I get will be too small for the next project). I learned on an 8 ft break and 4 ft foot shear. Dad got the pan break after I left for college... (I think he also hired two more guys)