24 replies to this topic

[UCANG]

I have been spending a little bit of time on a side project (for my Toranas of course), I have always wanted a panbrake, but paying $1200 for one that I would only use a handful of times doesn't attract me. That and having it only bend 1.5mm mild steel or something.


So I decided to make my own.


This only cost me about $50 in materials and I had a few things lying around, as did my dad.


This is basically as it sits without the top clamping piece. It's two lengths of 10mm (i think) angle iron, they have been notched out for clearances (where the hinges are) and two hinges made (using a pin and a sleeve). 1 half of the hinge is welded to one bit, and the other to the other bit of angle.


This is a closer look at the hinges. You would also notice the long threaded bolt with the spring. The top bit of angle that clamps onto the sheet metal is drilled out so it can slide up and down the threaded bolt. The spring is there to help you lift it back up once you undo the wingnuts.


As you can see, the part that isn't bolted onto the edge of the table can easily be lifted up and can bend over 90 degrees.


Another look at the hinge. The holes are just a lubricating access point or something haha


This is where a pole can slide into the sleeve so you can get as much leverage as you like (the longer the pole the better leverage obviously)


This is the top clamping piece of the brake. The top edge was grinded flat so a hole can be drilled so the threaded bolt can go through.


The edge on the left was grounded flat for more crisper bends


You can see where a little bit of steel was welded in there for the spring to sit straight


There is basically the whole unit. Spring holds it up, slide sheet metal in...


This is me pushing the clamping section down, screw the wingnuts down for a nice clamping effect. (much better than using g clamps)


Trial bend with some galv



and this is after I bent some 2.5 mm steel



Look for how much it cost, and the time it took to make, it does what I want for a smidgen of the price. only 99% complete, I just have to bolt it to my bench give it a lick of paint or something.

Thanks for letting me share

[rodomo]

Love it!

[UCANG]

I gave Nero my shitty welding helmet. Stopped auto darkening. He loves his toys.

[UCANG]

mate that has come up perfect and for 50 clams you cant go wrong as saves bending sh*t in the vice and breaking it ( like i did ) in the pic where you have bent the 2.5 it looks like it has gone past the 90 degree point or is it just the angle the pic was taken? not that i would be complaining. very handy to have it in the shed

Thanks for the feedback nial8r, yeah it did bend past 90 degrees but I didnt use a square or anything. Just trialled a thick bend to see if it'll work!

and it did!

[Steve TPF]

That's really inspiring. I wouldn't have thought it would work so well. How long a piece have you tried bending? When you bend long lengths, the clamp section may distort, giving you an uneven fold. The upper blade/clamp on factory folders is extremely large for this reason.

This is something many of us could probably use: a cheap folder for those occasional jobs. It would be great to know its limits.

BTW, what sized bend radius did you get? If you wanted to get fancy, you could have an adjustable folding blade to suit different thickness sheets, or to vary the radius.

Edited by Steve TPF, 07 May 2011 - 07:55 PM.

[76lxhatch]

I've got one of the el cheapo Chinese ones that is basically the same size and design (possibly slightly lighter duty) and its surprising how well it works for all those small sheet metal jobs, good stuff

[UCANG]

That's really inspiring. I wouldn't have thought it would work so well. How long a piece have you tried bending? When you bend long lengths, the clamp section may distort, giving you an uneven fold. The upper blade/clamp on factory folders is extremely large for this reason.

This is something many of us could probably use: a cheap folder for those occasional jobs. It would be great to know its limits.

BTW, what sized bend radius did you get? If you wanted to get fancy, you could have an adjustable folding blade to suit different thickness sheets, or to vary the radius.

Hey Steve, i've only bent about 400mm. I made the unit around 700mm, I didn't want it too long as I would have to bend past 90 degrees so the middle would bend properly (then bend the edges out) - I didn't want that.

Originally I made it so the top piece angle iron actually sat upside down which allowed it to be moved back or closer to the bending edge. But you'd had to clamp it down using G clamps. But that way you can make a few different sizes for whatever you needed to bend.

Cheers

[UCANG]

Yeah thats a good idea Bomber. Definately room for improvement, my final version is actually version 1.3 as we did change it a couple of times.
But for $50 worth of material and a bit of scrap lying around, you can build as many as you want!

[rodomo]

That's pretty sweet, like you I've had the idea floating around in my head for quite some time to build one of these. After seeing this I might just do that... Awesome work

Me too. I've got a pair of those hinges I've been looking at for this. I might unbolt them off the old gate and the side off the shed....................one day.

[Steve TPF]

I would also have suggested the "A-Frame" support. Mounted on a 45-degree angle would help both center clamping and the problem of the blade being forced backward. But if you only bend small lengths it probably won't matter. I'm sure in time you will find its limitations, perhaps modify it some more, but as it stands, it's a good, cheap bender.

Seems you've given a few of us ideas!

[dattoman]

Good job
I would have personally put handles on each end... but thats just me
And either way works

I just got my new 3mm benchtop finally... and have abit of spare room on the frame... might make one myself
The engineering company that bent it up (2400 wide) heated it to make the bends

Now I want to see you make an English wheel

[UCANG]

Good job
I would have personally put handles on each end... but thats just me
And either way works

I just got my new 3mm benchtop finally... and have abit of spare room on the frame... might make one myself
The engineering company that bent it up (2400 wide) heated it to make the bends

Now I want to see you make an English wheel

Yeah definitely some good arguments there guys. It's not too late for me to put handles on it - the A frame, to be honest I never thought of it. Great idea though.

I was going to incorporate a way so the top clamping piece could slide forward or backwards but I had to stop myself too much extra work and design that I didn't want to do, and honestly I won't be bending anything thicker than 1.6mm. I could of made the whole unit bigger also, but 700 mm was probably more than enough - better than using a hammer and the edge of a bench haha!

This does suit what I need, and as for the English wheel - hmm I had that idea. Although I'm not a sheet metal extraordinaire and wouldn't know how to use one anyone - not like i'm building hot rods!

Dad could help me though, compliments of GMH haha

[UCANG]

Um, 75 x 75 x 10mm (off the top of my head)

cheers