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Sheet metal brake - must or just nice to have?

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Is this a must-have tool or just nice to have when doing body work?

36bendbrake.jpg
 
Depends on what body work you will be doing. If you're cutting out rusted sections and putting in repair panels, or making repair sections, a brake probably isn't necessary.

When I did the repair work on the TR3, I borrowed someones shrinker, stretcher tools and found those very useful. I didn't run into any situations where I needed a brake.

Of course, and English Wheel might be a nice item to play with. :smile:
 
I have a small 20" 16 ga. benchtop brake that I use frequently. Sometimes for body work making repair patches, other times for projects around the house. Very useful. Once in a while I could use a wider one.

Another tool that I use infrequently but nice to have when I need it is a HF throatless shear https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38413 .

Shrinker, stretcher would be nice but would collect dust most of the time around here.
 
I agree with Art- it is one of many tools for body work. If you are serious enough for a brake, then you should the shrinking and stretching tools first. Unless you plan on making some real nice bench tops.
 
I have a 14' 250 ton brake, but I don't bring it home with me.
 
I have that same brake, and it does make things much easier. Just finished making lower door skins, door caps, and rocker panels for the BMW race car with it. Bending sheet metal before was accomplished by clamping it to the side of my trailer and a rubber mallet. I want to get one of those ones that roll curves into the metal. I use an assortment of cast iron soil pipe and clamps for that effect now.
 
I have never had one, so I guess I can't comment on thier usefullness, but making a straight bend in sheet metal is one of the easier fabricating tasks, the end of the workbench, slow work back and forth on a vise,

There are many times I wish I had a shrinking and stretching tools to make curved bends in metal, harder to do without the specialty tools.
 
I was awestruck the first time I saw one of those beasts shear a sheet of 1/4". Shook the whole building. What's the capacity of the 250 ton brake?
 
PeterK said:
I was awestruck the first time I saw one of those beasts shear a sheet of 1/4". Shook the whole building. What's the capacity of the 250 ton brake?
Click to expand...

250 tons. Only bends the sheet. Does not shear it. For that, you need a~shear.

I, luckly, have access to both plus 8' hand brake, 4' break, throatless shear, and all that stuff.
 
bgbassplyr said:
250 tons. Only bends the sheet. Does not shear it.
Click to expand...
So how thick & wide a sheet of mild steel can it bend?
 
It will break 1/4 plate 90 degrees 10' long no sweat. Just don't get your hand (or any other body part ) in the way. I have a full sheet metal shop at my disposal. Going to start making the stainless steel battery boxes pretty soon.
IMG_2150.jpg
 
I'll take one Dan when you get spun up.

Thanks for all the responses guys, I've got a search on for a stretcher/shrinker.
 
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