Plans for a sheet metal bender?

Janderso

Jeff Anderson
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I would really like to build a sheet metal brake/bender. The Chinese 30" products are really poor quality. Simple yes, but not the best quality.
If you have made one or have seen a good set of plans, please share.
Thank you.
Jeff
 
Eastwood has a pretty good design. I like the movable jaws so you can have more bending options.
I wonder if I could buy the materials that cheap? I have a great local scrap source.
Here is a link to what I am thinking about>>>
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-24-inch-box-and-pan-sheet-metal-brake.html
I have that unit. It's not blue, nor does it say Eastwood, but it's the same exact model, I'm sure from the same factory in China. It's not perfect; the clamp lever, where it threads into the cam stripped out and the lever came out on one of my first bends. I drilled out the damaged metric threads and tapped it NPT and replaced the lever with a section of pipe. Never had another problem. I'm sure you could probably make a clone for less than $300 in supplies, but that's not the whole story unless your time is worth absolutely nothing. If I didn't have one and I needed a sheet metal brake (as opposed to needing a project or something to do), and I had to choose between building one from scratch or buying the unit, I would still buy the unit. It's a good value in my opinion and to build one would probably end up costing me thousands in unrealized earning as waste time on it.
 
I'm thinking about making one of these.

https://gingerybookstore.com/SheetMetalBrake.html

The plans are written for a 15" brake but everything was based around a 30" machine so enlarging it is just a matter of lengthening. Over 30" it says you will need to make other adjustments, in particular a heavier gauge of angle iron to prevent flexing.


Some useful ideas and tool plans in the other sheet metal books as well.

https://gingerybookstore.com/WorkingSheetMetal.html

https://gingerybookstore.com/SheetMetalTech.html
 
Strantor and aaron,
Thanks for the input. It's great to hear from an owner opn that eastwood clone. It's funny how one manufacturer sells to retailers that rebrand the product.
Regarding making my own, I think a 30" version of the Eastwood would work great. I have a mill so I should be able to cut the beveled edges fairly easily. Plus, i'll use quality steel and fastners.
The sheet metal references may be a great source. Thanks.
 
I was doing a jobsit visit a while back and some guys were bending some pretty heavy sheet metal with a brake I had not seen before. They told me they could bend 14 guage with it. I took some pictures of the bender because I want to make one. I have one i built 20 years ago but it's kind of cumbersome to use and will only bend 20" wide sheets. I will try to find the pictures and post them in a day or two.
Jay
 
Thanks Jay.
I am thinking of making a jig or way to mount the device to my HF 20 ton press. That way I would have a stable mounting system.Shop floor and bench space is getting scarce.
I just noticed the post time, we are up a bit early this morning.
Best time of the day.
 
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There was a multi-issue pan and box brake build in The Home Shop Machinist a few years back. It was a detailed build with dimensioned drawings.
 
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