GOOD DIY SHEET METAL BRAKE

Let's take a closer look at my homemade 48" sheet metal bending brake. I explain how it was built, what materials I used and also discuss important design requirements. Of course we also make some bends to see how it works! I have used it for quite some time now without any problems. I built it with scrap I found in a junkyard and off cuts that I had in the shop - it cost very little money!
#bendingbrake #
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[@dirtyburd71]

Just to let you know, I have been a sheet metal fabricator at a small HVAC shop for 22 years (I just retired) and you have built one of the best looking and functioning "home built" brakes I have seen. Very nice! Simple and effective. 😀

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks man! Coming from someone with your experience, that is a big compliment! Enjoy the retirement.

[@davehammond8940]

I've been a,skilled tin basher for 40 years, I've really enjoyed watching your film. I will fab one to your design. Superb work and explanation thanks for sharing your design 👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks, glad you found some value😊

[@stanleylosh1899]

To bend a sharper radius, simply slip a length of angle iron under the anvil and loosen the two rear bolts accordingly. Bend over the heel of the angle.

[@danielbuckner2167]

I'm reminded of tools I have used in granite countertop fabrication. These days CNC machines do much of it but guys who don't have 90,000 dollars used grinders with a jig or short of guard bolted onto the grinder to maintain a perfect position or offset of the grinder to the stone edge. Luckily that top piece of angle iron has a nice clean sharp back corner that can be used as a reference surface for the driver to run against to grind that edge straight and flat to make a nice sharp edge on that brake.

[@charlesgraham9954]

75% of my garage is DYI, its not that im cheap, i got into metal for a reason, i like working with it. so i enjoy building my own tools and gadgets. nice brake bro, thanks for showing

[@andywright2606]

Excellent design and very well explained mate. If you don't mind suggestions, there is one design modification you could add. If you welded (or bolted, so it's removable) an extension (long enough to clear your tensioning winder) to one end of the rotating angle. Then add a 90° bend that extended straight up you could then attach an appropriately sized counterweight. That way when you pulled the handle forward the weight would lean back and do a lot of the heavy lifting/bending for you. You could add extra weights for bending thick materials and remove weights for thinner materials. Much easier on the back for old codgers like me/us 😉. Cheers Andy 👍

[@joaquintrash3450]

I think it's the only one design that takes in mind the thickness of the material. Thank You!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad you like it!

[@CrusaderSports250]

Agreed it was something I had not thought about😊.

[@wade7920]

Nice! You are a good teacher. Appreciate you walking us thru it!

[@kmatikzofficial]

I’ve watched quite a few videos of DIY sheet metal breaks and this is by far the best! Straight forward and thoroughly explained. Thank you for your help; I will definitely start my build now.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad it's helping! Good luck with your build

[@sergey.l]

The rare talent of making and explaining complicated things simple! Sir!😊

[@nowthenad3286]

Fantastic video. Brilliant to see so much intelligence on display. Folks think they are smart because they go to work in a suit. They wouldn't stand a chance at designing one of these. Your diagrams were really excellent, even down to the detail on that nut.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you very much!

[@521farmer]

!!!wow ya got this mighty fine Sir thanks for sharing your project with us keep them coming ya got my vote man ya make it easy to understand and how you can do this Don,t take a rocket Sciencest to make this happen so l,m going to try to make this work so from Canada 🇨🇦 SK thks for showing us 😊

[@johnwerner7194]

I think it's absolutely perfect I really would like to see that truck in the background to the right. Thank you very much for the video

[@ratrodsafrica]

Check out my other videos if you wanna see more of the REO Gold Comet truck

[@LikeWatchingPaintDry]

Dill mounting holes in the sloping front of the brake, then make plates that bolt to the front that mimic the edge you want to reproduce with the brake. Then you can switch the separate plates out as needed.

[@dadge2500]

Just a suggestion on the front side you can takeoff your quarter inch of material to make it flatter instead of a rounder and on the backside you can leave it around. It looks like there’s enough play in your top piece of angle iron to do that and it looks like if you want it, you can reverse the back to front And front to back you can have two different types of radius bends. One flat, and one a little more rounded..

[@Us-two]

good stuff as usual Diff, I especially like the left-hand thread on the tensioner diagram.

[@raebushman2739]

You sir, are a genius. I've watched dozens of videos looking for the best way to make a trim break and you nailed it! I love the drawings and the break down of the process you went through to build this. You are the only one to make a video that solved the problem I was having with keeping enough pressure and force on the center of the top piece of angle that clamps everything down. (I'm building a 10' brake to bend aluminum trim.) Truly fantastic video, and really amazing piece of equipment you built there.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you very much Rae! If my video helped to solve your problem, I am one happy dude😅. Not a genius though, just 40 years of practicing common sense ( the first 20 years of my life don't count, very little common sense then 😂)

[@raebushman2739]

You certainly helped me fix the problems I was having. Sometimes it's the thinking too much that holds me back LOL

[@gerhardkoekemoer9331]

1.3m bender, wow. This is one of the strongest and best bender i have seen on KZbin.

[@Nas_Atlas]

Fantastic. I didnt know anything about sheet metal brakes before i saw this and now I feel like an expert

[@ratrodsafrica]

Real happy that it helped!

[@crazywickedcustoms7272]

What cool part about pipe anvil is no moving parts, but yet such a amazing tool

[@brentbrown8393]

I sent my angle iron adjustable bending edge through my mill to get rid of the rounded edge. It now sits flat on the bender's frame . Diff, you need to find an old mill for your shop, they really come in handy and are fun to use.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Would love to have a mill in my shop!

[@michaelyoung1901]

ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!! IT ONLY TOOK ME 62 YEATS YEARS TO REALIZE I LOVE WORKING WITH METAL , FABRICATING STUFF FOR MY CUSTOM CARS. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL!!! NOW I'M GOING TO MAKE MYSELF A BRAKE AND A PLANISHING HAMMER. ILL BE WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL A LOT IN THE FUTURE! A REALLY BIG THANKS FOR YOUR SHARING HOW TO BUILD THESE THINGS SINCE TO BUY THESE THEY CAN BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND THIS WAY YOU CAN INCORPORATE THINGS YOU LIKE AND LEAVE OUT OR ALTER THINGS TO YOUR OWN LIKING! I LOVE IT!!!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks man. I'm also 62, never too old to learn new things. Yeah, build some stuff!

[@rustloversgarage]

I was about to buy a break but could not find the length I wanted for the price I was willing to pay. After seeing what you did, I will build my own. Thanks for the insight!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Pleasure man. Good luck with the build!

[@martinw9425]

Great design, and very well explained. Thank you sir, for your time and knowledge. From Canada

[@homesteadfromscratch]

For milling that angle down to a tighter radius, check out about 24:43 mark #42 Sawmill Build for Our Off Grid Building, DIY, Homemade for a novel method.

[@camperman101]

weld a 1/4" piece of square stock along both edges of the clamp to get a sharper bend

[@dwaynehope1689]

you have given an exceptional explanation of the workings of the brake

[@guy4922]

Je suis un ancien chaudronnier soudeur et je conseil cette excellente vidéo qui est la seule que j'ai trouvé qui prend en compte l'épaisseur de la tôle pour le pliage .Si j'ai une remarque à faire je conseillerais de faire le tablier de pliage mobile et non la pièce de serrage .Vous mettez deux petit morceaux de tôle entre le bâti et le tablier pour faire le réglage vous serrez retirez les deux morceaux et votre arrondi sera en parfaite correspondance avec votre pliage de la tôle de même épaisseur que vous aurez à faire .

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you!

[@walterbargersr3402]

You are the best fabrication jobs I've ever seen. for a sheet metal break the Leading Edge to make a 90° Bend in your sheet metal. you have to take it to a machine shop. and have them machine that so you have a Sharper Edge on the sheet metal brake then you will get your true 90° Bend. God bless brother

[@davidhandyman7571]

Thanks for sharing. Blessings from Australia.

[@ratrodsafrica]

You are welcome!

[@DiazTheDuke00]

MY MAN! i do not know how you came to my feed but i am grateful. your work is great, your explanations were great and that illustration you made finally made the idea about centering the hinge pin along the folding axis make sense in my brain. Again, I'm grateful, thank you!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad I could help!

[@benbeck8985]

Great build. I especially like the hinge detail! I needed to build one, and im glad i found your video first. Im currently building a brake very similar to your design, out of scrap metal that i had laying around. Thanks for sharing!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad I could help!

[@alanwhitehead3025]

a very good video, well explained and the little diagrams make all the difference. I'm inspired, like the design and will be building one soon. Many thanks. AL (UK)

[@ratrodsafrica]

Cool man. Welcome to contact me if you have questions

[@rickerb7196]

Best description of how to build a brake I've ever seen!! Excellent work sir!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks very much!

[@flatworm00]

Very simple, and super functional...Best home made metal brake I have ever seen. Great job.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Wow, thanks!

[@zvonibab]

I like your design and on my next build I will do it same as you did only difference will be sharp bending edge. Wish I have seen it before my build!

[@GIRAF92]

Im a hvac installer goin on ten years and have been wanting a diy brake i could lug around on the job to fab on the go. This is it right here. Simple yet extremely effective for what would be needed on the daily. And the slots to mimic a finger brake are genius. Thank you for the inspiration, if/when i make this, all design credit will always go to you. I also really enjoyed the video. Being fully transparent on the build and quality, and giving clear examples both on the brake and in drawing form. Well done sir 👏🏼

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you! I will be honored if you decide to build it🙂

[@tubemcg]

Excellent video. Cheers from the Mississippi Delta

[@ratrodsafrica]

Many thanks!

[@patpdx1]

Thank You. I wish we were neighbors.. .

[@colinabell3672]

Great video bud a lot of people dont understand the importance of the centre line and material thickness clearance

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Yes, agree! 🙂

[@oldmanrock7542]

That is heavy duty for homemade. Very nice.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks

[@jeffmiller2682]

You sir are genius just simple geometry, measurements , angles and simplicity are genius on all your fabrication and explanations will help me to finish and build my own cars and projects genius sir thank you

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you

[@lethargicmotorsport2025]

Very cool , I still say you would have an awesome shop teacher.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks ☺

[@westrulsen]

Very well made, great adjustments.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks

[@zimbabwesteve4620]

Wow! I am really thankful you made this video. I've been looking at sheet metal brakes for a long time for some personal projects and this could so easily be made with scrap metal that would cost me far less than purchasing one. Fantastic video sir and incredible work on the design.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you man! Yes, build it!

[@billlovelace6482]

liked the box brake cut outs - good one! i put counter weights on mine to bend 48" of 16ga for a truck gas tank

[@t.e.1189]

Great build! And I love your comments at the end about using ones time. Thank you for posting this.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you!

[@peglegtoo]

Great project, video and thorough description. Your drawings along the way really helped to understand what was going on. Thanks.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bladder1010]

Very smart and minimalist design. Nicely done, sir! 👍

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you Maximus!

[@adriekramer5042]

Thanks for this very good basic design. You explained it very clearly+ dwg.

[@521farmer]

😅howdie wondering ya make it so easy that a backyard fabricator can do this got it time anything can be done ya got this l thank you for sharing your project with us so we can try to it from Canada 🇨🇦 Sk keep these ideas coming Hats off Sir😊

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks 👍

[@sammaimas155]

A good explanation of the individual parts. One of the best explained bending brake tutorials I have seen. Good Work

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you!

[@rustycrustymakesstuff6528]

I’ve seen a lot of these on here. You have done the best job I’ve seen on explaining how these work and why it has to be this way. Most just show you “how to build” one. You really break it down and make it simple to understand. Nice job on the build too! Looks amazing!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Glad it was helpful!

[@MichaelJeffers75]

16:58 IMO, the best way would be a surface grinder or a 2x72 knife grinder.

[@nguessanflorent1029]

SIMPLE MAIS EFFICACE !!! JE NE COMPRENDS L'ANGLAIS MAIS LA VIDEO EST TRÈS EXPLICATIVE. MERCI

[@donfilippo2052]

nice home brake, and good video.

[@lane0madeit]

Fabricator from NZ here this is awesome! To find one that is size appropriate and inexpensive is a struggle but I’ve plenty of scrap to knock one out. Thanks! For your 90degree radius if you want to make it tighter I have a trick I use to bevel my edges of angle anything really. Diablo make a great yet somewhat costly-ish steel cut off blade. I usually raise my cut height on my circular saw and then clamp a straight edge onto piece I’m wanting to cut to use as a guide. I find if you do it in small incremental passes the blades last a lot longer. Poor man’s cold saw??? PPE and the hot chips won’t phase ya. Been working for me for weld prep for years and I haven’t found anything else other then thee ole grinder. Hope that helps. 🤙

[@ratrodsafrica]

Yeah build one mate, works great. Been thinking about that table saw idea, need to find the right blade. And the guts to do it😅

[@donyboy73]

Wow that's well built! Greetings from Canada.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@hugomorales3854]

Excelente maquina y excelente explicacion

[@scoobster3005]

man you are amazing and so creative, thank you for teaching your work

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks man. It's a pleasure!

[@jerryrevellame50]

Simple but very effective.thankz guy

[@alphamechlyer8259]

Excellent piece of enginnering

[@weshodges4147]

Great craftsmanship!!!

[@laurensmith1828]

I just bought a 36 inch break at an auction. If id seen this i definately would of made my own and i still might try it. Great video . Thanks!

[@WhatDadIsUpTo]

Wow! I see a future project unfolding. Thanks

[@ratrodsafrica]

Build it! 🙂

[@alanblyde8502]

Nice work mate, very well explained it’s a must have for my projects hi from downunder 🇦🇺👌

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it

[@Toro-Tor]

Great demonstration, great explanation ! Thanks for your time and effort.

[@Cabral507]

Sou brasileiro e não entendo seu idioma, sou serralheiro e quero fazer uma dessa,sua explicação foi a melhor que vi no KZbin, entendi tudo pelos desenhos, melhor vídeo de todos

[@ratrodsafrica]

Muito obrigado!

[@kirbyn2010]

I really admire the keep it simple school of thought. I wish I had a need for one of these, great work!

[@butterflydrama2260]

Sir, you by just presented the greatest idea i need to copy you are very helpful Im from the philippines thank you very much

[@ratrodsafrica]

Pleasure. Build one!

[@jeremyrock9305]

Very nice work!

[@montepatton9040]

This is an awesome way to do this. You have thought about about every possible solution to the normal problems with diy metal breaks. Thank you very much for sharing. This is the best diy metal brake I’ve seen. I’m going to use yours as a plan to build me one.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks. Please do, I'll be honored 🙂

[@techinnovations822]

Thank you so much for the information.

[@ishsiriram8286]

@Stashwax and Div, I have seen other guys grind the end on the inverted clamping angle with great results to reduce if not remove the radius bend. Div, since you a master grinder (LOL), this could be an option if you needed a more crisp corner. Another option would be to grind one side and leave the other so you will be able to flip it around, allowing radius or crisp bends. I like the slit in the clamping beam the make the corners meet...very innovative. I was trying to figure out how to best make segmented beam. I suppose one could make the slots as and when required.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Segmented beams are a mission, just cutting slots as required is much simpler. They will weakent the beam though, the bigger that angle bar, the better. An option is to just weld them up again down the line... or have more than one beam. That grinding business will not be easy. You need to keep a straight edge over a a distance of more than 1.2 m.... Suppose you could do your best, then "lap" it on a large flat surface with long piece of sanding belt... Lot of work... Or just have someone stick it in a milling machine to do one edge. Sounds much easier.😂

[@chuckvoss9344]

Very good job of show and tell. An excellent tool to have. Tks for showing.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thanks!

[@ThisIsToolman]

Excellent design. Excellent discussion. I note that the handle also serves as a minimal strong-back and could easily be modified to complement the strong-back you suggest that could go on the backside. I believe that modifying the edge of the hold-down angle is easier than you think. Remove the hold-down. Choose a keen 4-foot length of angle and carefully clamp this angle along the line you wish to cut. Use your grinder and a course sanding disc to work the edge of your hold-down back to your fixtured reference. One final note concerning bend radius. For mild steel the width of a V-die like is used in a press brake should be eight times the material thickness. For a pan brake like yours I think the setback adjustment on the hold-down probably should be five times the material thickness. This of course assumes that you have achieved that nice sharp corner on the hold-down. The net result should be an inside bend radius equal to the material thickness.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Excellent feedback! Thank you

[@dantheman4168]

Thank you for sharing your tool build

[@deankay4434]

Well done on the sheet metal brake and wished I still lived on a farm, to dig for scrap. You never throw anything away on a farm and junk yards, wow! The things some throw away are simply criminal, but to a handyman, it's gold! It is mostly stepping thru, moving things, then there it is. Yippee comes to mind and when yelled out loud, others unloading are confused as "Did he find money over there, or was he snake bit?" I think the same rush of addrenalin would be equal!! Cheers & great job explaining & drawing. I love to draw an idea, keep it, modify it, or start over if you see flaws. I would call myself a barn-yard engineer! Just simply, well done and the right price. Like you, my TV is 13" on the angle, so the money I might spent for a 2 meter TV, could be spent on equipment materials or tools. That makes me happy. Besides, you can't fold sheet metal with an oversized TV! Well, maybe once but it won't be pretty!😢 Thanks Duff, inspiring! DK, Omaha.

[@ratrodsafrica]

DK, you are funny dude! I enjoy your little quirks. Thanks brother.

[@graciemiller9596]

Great job.

[@Georgiaguntraining]

Excellent. Love the design. Thank you.

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you and pleasure 🙂

[@benomranemohamedsalah8022]

very good expanation instead of waisting time in welding. very nice and especially simple to do

[@ratrodsafrica]

Glad you liked it

[@luishenriquedoespiritosant7591]

Parabéns muito bom o projeto

[@joemccoy412]

Great engineering! Thank you

[@das250250]

Instead of removing is to add a section ,a strip ..or add a series of pieces that bolt onto the angle bar that meet the surface flush. That way you can also unbolt some of the pieces and fold at 90 degrees

[@ratrodsafrica]

Yes, been thinking about that. Just need to find some stock that's wide enough

[@sosmahiva]

Great work bro, you have waken my brain brother.❤

[@crazywickedcustoms7272]

Cool, I been wanting to build one. But I not well , lol trying to get. Out of this depression. To have drive , you show is starting to help me my brother .

[@ratrodsafrica]

If my stuff can help to inspire a little bit, I will be a very happy man. Its the main reason why I do the videos. Wishing you lots of positive energy bro!

[@crazywickedcustoms7272]

@@ratrodsafrica Thank you my brother, I been fighting Cancars I have 3 at stag 4. But I am beating them, so far. I whet out today and tried work on my rat rods. Thank for the positive vids, lol

[@thebeardedstork432]

Great Job! Thanks

[@luishenriquedoespiritosant7591]

Foi o melhor projeto de dobradeira aqui no KZbin!

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you very much!

[@peterrorke2760]

Brilliant mechanical engineering. Ottawa guy

[@ratrodsafrica]

Thank you!

[@LeslieSmith1970]

It looks cool will be big help

[@mpr150]

Simple and elegant ❤❤

[@keghamstepanian]

Hello, it would be very interesting if you can can show us the build, and list of materials. Perhaps on a smaller scale..thank you.

[@donniehodge2548]

Great job 👍

[@rasheedck7473]

Very good detailed explanation..... Thankyou

[@richardedkins8856]

Great video. Something that a handyman can make. Well done on a simple but highly effective design for a bending brake.

[@richardwalters1803]

Magnificent build

[@anderslawncare5111]

Great video and thanks for sharing.

[@gannibootis]

Really nice build and those were some excellent drawings man.

[@shamypiper]

I’ve enjoyed this so much, thank you for sharing.

[@williamherring5441]

Sir: Perhaps after you find that long piece of stock in the junkyard to improve your bend radius, you could drill it, bevel a 45 on the edge, and then cut it in to different width fingers. v/r wh

[@markhoward6641]

That is the best I have ever seen. You seem to have thought of everything that others have missed. Got a car to do and I'm making one of these this week. Brilliant, thank you for your time.