Metal Brakes

[corn]

What is a good brand name when buying metal brakes? Who usually has the best prices for them?


Thanks

[Bob Kraemer]

It depends on what type you are looking for. If you are looking for a sheet metal brake I would say Tennsmith is the best. I bought a cheap 48in model & sent it back because the quality was junk & bought a Tennsmith.

[fun4now]

some one mad a realy nice one a wile back , if you have the time it might be werth a serch for the plans it dose seem like any thing that bends over 20 gage is prity pricy

[aametalmaster]

I bought a 36" clarke at the local farm store for a little over 200 bucks. Sure its china made but for the few pcs i will be bending a year it will do just fine. One other thing to remember is don't bend more than you should or you will spring them and also nick the dies that will forever leave marks in the steel. I also agree with the Tennsmith line i have their slip rolls....Bob

[fun4now]

I also agree with the Tennsmith line i have their slip rolls....Bob

now thats a fun toy right there.
seems like the list never ends.

[Bob Kraemer]

Here is a link to Williams Low Buck tools. The sell small plate brakes & larger sheet metal brakes.

http://www.lowbucktools.com/prod.html

[aametalmaster]

I also agree with the Tennsmith line i have their slip rolls....Bob

now thats a fun toy right there.
seems like the list never ends.

I even motorized it, felt like i was having a heart attack cranking 70" long parts thru it 3 or 4 times The motorized version is a lot better...Bob

[FusionKing]

I bought a Grizzly finger type a few years back and have mixed feelings.
It's fine on the thin stuff (16ga. and less) but I never make anything thin so I don't use it much. But the price was certainly ok bang for the buck-wise.

[bretsk2500]

how heavy/big are you looking to bend? we've got 2 10' brakes at work (can't remember the brand), they work great for the AL trim wrap they were bought for, but they work ok for up to 26ga steel too. I'd love for them to buy a 10' press brake for my fab projects, but that's never going to happen. Northern tool seems to have some serviceable brakes in their catalog.

[rmack898]

I spent the last 6 months searching for a box/pan brake and looked at jsut about every import out there. After looking at everything and talking to everyone, I bought a Tennsmith on e-pay, while I really wish I could have found a Chicago in my price range within a few hundred miles, I can honestly say that the Tennsmith is a really nice machine. Just keep one thing i mind, if the machine is rated for say 16ga X 48" and you need to bend 48" of 16ga, look for a larger capacity machine, say a 12ga x 48. Things will be much easier on both you and the brake. If you have the time to wait, there are some good deals to be had on e-bay, you just have to be patient. Good luck in your search.

[imported_hotrodwillys]

I also bought a Grizzly 16 gauge finger brake and it is way over rated, if you try to do a piece of 16 gauge steel the ends come out nice and square and the middle more rounded but for $450.00 its not bad.

I think that National is a very good brand, right up there with Tennsmith.
http://www.national-1.com/HDBox_Pan_Brakes.htm
If I had to do it again I find an old nice Pexto.

[joebass]

Finger brake or regular apron? I have an old 5 foot Whitney-Jenson rated for 16 ga. I have bent 2 foot lengths of 1/8 3003, 3 foot lengths of 16 ga ss, and 5 foot legths of 16 ga MS. All produce a nice even bend. I paid 500.00. It paid for it self after a couple jobs. I would not buy a new one and hold out for a used Pexto, Chicago D&K, or Whitney. Much more money for what you get. The guy I got mine from replaced it with an 8 foot 12 ga pexto. He paid a grand.

[burninbriar]

I got a 12 guage National and am really pleased with it. They are made in Tennissee and are of the same quality with Tennsmith. One thing to remember though, the extra quality costs extra and you will pay a good bit more for the Tennsmith, National, Chicago or any of the good ones.