Press brake thoughts
Added 2024-07-05 12:46:30 +0000 UTCBending metal is not really something I can do in my shop. The closest shop that can do it is about an hour drive.
I've been looking at press brakes in the 48-72 inch width range, maybe 30-60 tons. My budget would probably limit me to an older mechanical brake. I've never used one before. Would it be worth the cost and space it would take up?
Comments
If you DIY it would only cost materials and your time. You can build a foundation and pour a floor one year, next year build the structure to not pay too much per year.
Jeffry Blackmon
2024-08-13 06:59:30 +0000 UTCSwag off-road also makes a bender that fits in a hydraulic press which if fairly cheap and produces acceptable results
sean
2024-07-09 18:23:57 +0000 UTCHow thick are you going to bend. There are auctions all the time in your neck of the woods but if you are talking about bending 1/8 and above I have not seen a mechanical brake for sale like in your picture
sean
2024-07-08 20:16:57 +0000 UTCI've used mechanical and hyd ones the mechanical ones trip with a foot petal and cycle through the complete stroke and return to the open position , so it's critical that fingers are in a safe spot and not be in between where the metal will end up after the bend is complete.. some brakes may be capable of stuttered progression some ar not. Would be a great thing to have, I've seen 6"sections over all shapes of top and bottom die stock that have been cut off of full length dies, different radius and shapes to do anything you could need
drift run
2024-07-07 19:23:17 +0000 UTCNice to have and use if your going to use it enough. My thoughts.
Aaron Windsor
2024-07-07 14:10:01 +0000 UTCThe company that makes your plasma table also make a 25 ton CNC hydraulic press brake for $4k.
BEN GIRARD
2024-07-07 04:16:04 +0000 UTCWe've talked about it. I don't know what that would cost. Probably a lot.
Watch Wes Work
2024-07-06 15:58:50 +0000 UTCSince you’re honing your carpenter skills, I think you need a 20 foot lean-to off each side of the building.
Shun Lagueux
2024-07-06 00:44:08 +0000 UTCGood entertainment, but $10 and I’m out. Times are tough.
Brian Scott
2024-07-05 22:32:15 +0000 UTCI spent some years working in a GM plant with presses all over it. The mechanical punch presses are very fast and that would make bending sheet metal on the brake dangerous. So my only question is how fast is the ram on these brakes?. As John Schwedes says, if you need it, get it. Might not be a case of use once and it is paid for, but if you use it regularly, it is worth it. Only you know if you have enough shop space.
Merritt Derr
2024-07-05 20:26:47 +0000 UTCI'm with Bill and Jay.
thedeafguitarist
2024-07-05 19:00:05 +0000 UTCA while back you were considering doing something other than running a full time auto repair shop. If you are leaning toward doing more metal fabrication then go for it!
Skip Hill
2024-07-05 18:29:59 +0000 UTCIt's definitely worth it if you have the space. I worked in a fabrication shop for fourteen years in 80s and 90s. We had two big Cincinnati power brakes and one smaller one and it was definitely nice to have for smaller jobs. Get as many of the dies as you can if possible, especially the shorter cut down ones they definitely are good for the kind of things you do.
John Schwedes
2024-07-05 17:01:41 +0000 UTCPress brake is complicated. You never know how much "in front" room you need until you present the metal to the brake. Typically, you are a foot short for every quanta of urgency the project has. The rest of the time it will be like the busted exercise machine--an attraction point for clutter, which will need to be cleared away before any use. That being said, there are just dome Marketplace deals that just speak to a person, typically, "Buy Me! Buy Me Now!" And that siren song is hard to un-hear.
CapnMac82
2024-07-05 16:56:39 +0000 UTCWhat you will find out is that brake punch and dies will cost you more than you paid for the brake. Finding used brake tooling is as rare as "Hens Teeth" and usually very costly.
Michael Renner
2024-07-05 16:49:37 +0000 UTCLeave it to the Facebook Marketplace gods! If you see one thats awesome and cheap, thats the answer. Just like your new electronics bench 😁
Chris Jenkins
2024-07-05 16:37:02 +0000 UTCIf you are going to use it more than once a month, then, yes, but, as others said, put outside under a leanto. I've never had one in my shop and never even thought of getting one, I've always been able to use ether a press with a brake attachement or something cobbled together.
Chris M
2024-07-05 16:29:48 +0000 UTCShe's not going to let you keep it in the kitchen! Seriously, you need to make some room in your shop before adding anything else. You could put up a shed to store the logger, motorcycles, pressure washer and other stuff you don't need immediately when fixing / making stuff.
Dr. Internet
2024-07-05 16:22:39 +0000 UTCIt's been a while since I used one but, assuming you've already determined that the space required is acceptable to you, I think that it all comes down to how frequently you want to use it and how big the pieces you want to make are. If a manual brake will do what you need, and the price is right, then it sounds to me like the saving in driving alone would be worth it?
Max Chaplin
2024-07-05 15:51:09 +0000 UTCThey do require a lot of real estate. If you feel there is sufficient use for one, I'd suggest keeping it mobile or else find some space for it outside.
Joey
2024-07-05 15:29:35 +0000 UTCBending metal was surprisingly difficult for me to get my mind around at first. Once I did, I realized just how powerful a tool it can be. That said, not a day goes by that I don’t have a bit of buyer’s remorse. Given how much fabrication you do and your learning capacity, I don’t think you will have either of those issues.
Adam Salerno
2024-07-05 15:05:46 +0000 UTCHi Wes. If you have been thinking about it long enough, this says that you feel that you want one. If this is true, you should follow your instinct and purchase a low cost unit for a start. Don’t confuse the matter with logic. There is an even probability that either the tool is used enough to justify its’ existence, or that it does not and you make a deal with yourself that it will go away in two years if it not used. This solves the analysis paralysis internal debate and makes the decision, right or wrong. The important part is you don’t need to think about it any longer and can prove the use case. Plus blue is nice! Warning: there is an upper limit, usually in the area of loosing the farm, where the thinking needs to remain a dream. Anything else, go for it!
Marshall
2024-07-05 14:40:31 +0000 UTCOnce you have one they are surprisingly useful, I have access to one through work and it's been a god send more than a few times.
Kowyn Hibbert (Warrior of the Rusty Wrench)
2024-07-05 14:05:35 +0000 UTCI’ll be the devil on the shoulder… You do a fair amount of fabrication, as evident from recent projects, I would say yes, if you have a corner to park it in, then yes go for it. Hydraulic would be a boon, but the older mechanical ones will work.. Make sure it isn’t a hot mess of cracks and cruddy welds, especially where the linkages mate to the ram. Tooling is where you can fall down a hole. But even simple tooling can do a lot..
Phil Patrick
2024-07-05 13:58:29 +0000 UTCVice, torch, persuader, and cheap Vevor sheet metal break have held me in good stead. If you think you need one, go bigger (wider) earlier
James Riordan
2024-07-05 13:54:34 +0000 UTCI’d avoid using floor space. Perhaps an overhang of sorts on the exterior of the shop could accommodate less frequently utilized tools and materials? A guy can accumulate quite a bit of metal if a few jobs roll through or a few deals that are too good to pass up come by.
Virtue Streams
2024-07-05 13:54:02 +0000 UTCI'm with Bill.
Jay VanLanduyt
2024-07-05 13:28:23 +0000 UTCPaint the hell out of it. Bolt it to some sleepers and leave it outside.
george savage
2024-07-05 13:24:03 +0000 UTCI have a hydraulic cylinder kicking around and have been thinking of building a press brake using a single cylinder design. It will be very useful for all kinds of work for sure. 🙂👍🏻
Stephen Harris
2024-07-05 13:19:43 +0000 UTCSince you are doing more fabrication, I would invest in a manual one. If in the future you find that an upgrade is cost beneficial, then you can justify it.
Arnold Boyd
2024-07-05 13:04:29 +0000 UTCKinda a rough call, something like a press break is great to have when you need one. They definitely take up space in your shop. A 40' con-ex might be a good solution to store things that you don't use a lot? I'm an iron worker so I would really like to have a press break!
Dave
2024-07-05 13:02:44 +0000 UTCI have a small, Hobo Frate press brake bolted to a workbench. I've used it about three times to bend up some brackets. It's mostly in my way. I think you'll find that'll be the case unless you're going into the fabrication business. Then, maybe, you'll use it and get some return value. One thing about having your own shop...it always fills up with stuff that you "have to have" that mostly end up dust covered and under other stuff. Just FYI...
Doug McCusker
2024-07-05 13:01:40 +0000 UTCUnless you can get an older one for close to free, I don't believe you'd have enough projects to warrant the space. Maybe keep it at your dad's barn perhaps?
Terry Thompson
2024-07-05 13:01:17 +0000 UTCAn electric, hydraulic press with a break tooling may be a better thing. You will use this for bearings, bushings, shafts, and once in a while bending. Look at investing in one similar to Curtis’s at CEE. He has a bending tool for his.
Stephen Meeks
2024-07-05 13:01:14 +0000 UTCI have the Swag Offroad finger brake for my 30 ton press. It works well, but is slow, but that is fine for the minimal need I have. Tooling can be expensive for those mechanical brakes, but there is a lot of used stuff out there.
Lee Ludden
2024-07-05 12:57:09 +0000 UTCYou don’t do that kind of work, usually, so no, I would not spend a lot of money and put a piece of iron in your shop you may only use once a quarter.
Stephen Meeks
2024-07-05 12:54:46 +0000 UTCI’d go to $10.00 on Patron to finance your projects. Best entertainment on YouTube.
Bill Scott
2024-07-05 12:52:08 +0000 UTCIt's probably worth it as you can charge for the service
Jim S.
2024-07-05 12:48:57 +0000 UTC
