In building my home brew road racer I have come to the point where I need a sheet metal brake to make up to 90* bends in 18ga or thinner sheet metal with a max length of 28" for floor pan and firewall fabrication. Looking at my options The least expensive one I could buy new was about $400.00 and used ones were either very used, very large or both and very expensive to ship. So after looking at all of these on the web and in catalogs decided I could make one. Please note that before this I have never used a brake or studied one up close.

For the base I used the 1/2" thick steel plate on the welding table I made(see page 4 on home brew road racer for pics of table). The tricky part is to make a strong hinge that centers on the parting line between the bench top and the movable bottom plate. The hinges are made from some scrap 1/4 plate and short pieces of 1 5/8 roll bar tubing. work length is 29". I left a 1/2" gap on each side of the top clamp as I realized I could use it as a pan brake and bend 3 sides of a box. The whole thing bolts to the work bench with just 4 bolts.

I'll let the pics show the rest, any questions please feel free to ask.



Four major pieces



end view


Bending 18ga into 3 sided box







finished upper seat mount




Seat mount installed in car


Total cost of steel was $45.00. The top clamp is made from 4" x 1/4 angle and 1 1/2 channel. Clamping force is supplied by two 1/2" bolts. Clamp is lifted off table by double stacked valve springs from old engine.

I made the same seat bracket a few weeks ago by hand, bending it over the edge of the bench top. I can't tell you how much easier it was to make using the brake. It is my new best friend.

 

I have not done much metal work myself but have made a few tools to help me out now and then. A friend I use to work with has set up a metal shop at home for auto restoration and I am familiar with the tools. Your brake looks like it is doing a good job for you and just wanted to thank you for posting pictures. Love looking at pictures.

 

Thanks, I posted the picks thinking someone else could build same or improve on my design. I think many of us have built different tools rather than spend the big bucks for manufactured part.

Maybe we could get a sticky if there was enough interest and have members post pics of the tools, jigs etc. that they have used to fab up a special part. Many of us are doing the same, or similar mods so a tool that helps one of us could probably help many more.

 

Yes that would be interesting. I took an old pair of vise grips that I buggered up using them for a welding clamp. Welded on a 6" piece of angle iron on each jaw and am able to make some nice little bends with that.