Homemade Chunky Sheet Metal Folder (a bender / brake for weldmesh and other flat things)

A home made bender for full-width sheets of metal - and weldmesh
These are called folders - but they can't fold anything more than 90 degrees or a bit more, so really perhaps they ought to be called benders..
I wonder what thickness this one could bend? I hope I get the opportunity to find out. But in the meantime, it should be useful for the development of the chicken tractor design..
Ok, here are some important website links. Please check them out..
here's our online store where you can see some of the craft things we make and sell..
www.wayoutwestemporium.com/
If you would like to help and encourage us then please do! It's easy and means such a lot..
One-off donation - www.paypal.me/wayoutwestblowi...
and here's our Patreon page where you can see more of our plans and dreams. (Remember even 5 dollars would make a BIG difference to us and we'd be very grateful.)
www.patreon.com/user?u=276131...
Here's Sandra's Horse Therapy website.. www.hairyhenry.com/
and here's Tim's amazing guitar machine.. www.chordelia.com
and finally our FaceBook page / way.outwest.524 (Not quite sure what to do with this but we put photos and extra comments when we get around to it..)
Thank you!
Sandra & Tim
[e-mail]
Don't forget to hit the 'BELL' button!
Copyright WayOutWest. All rights reserved. Please share if you like, but don’t copy or use without permission. Just get in touch via email blowinblog @ gmail.com
Don’t steal our stuff!

[@johnfreiler6017]

Been working my way through your entire blog having come on over from your "workshop stuff" channel. Always an enjoyable run when a new machine comes online.

[@igswen5970]

When I see you together, in any ways, I always feel glad! Thank you, dears! 💕

[@arjenhillenius1917]

Well, I tried to bent the same kind of fencing in another way a few years ago. And I can tell you Sandra: you won't get it like Tim made it now! Perfect machine.

[@mikaelasims9180]

I work at a sheet metal fabrication shop and this saves alot of work OMG. I love this!

[@AdventureswithGeneral]

Yes Tim. Its VERY exciting. And very necessary. Every man needs a sheet metal brake. I'm actually jealous right now

[@lukelaughlin52]

I love your wife’s comments about your need for machines. I laughed very much over that whole exchange. My wife also says the same thing about me. Sometimes it’s the building of the thing that’s the most important.

[@richardriddell6077]

That will be handy for many future projects!

[@Theorimlig]

Simple, sturdy and easy to use. That's a winning concept!

[@samvalentine3206]

It's so great to see the rail system used again! In recent videos, it looked so neglected... good job all they way round! I loved Sandra's teasing at the end... and Tim's response. Well done, both of you!

[@WayOutWestx2]

That's the beauty of the rails - they just sit there, neglected, until they're needed again

[@TOM-C.]

I worked in a sheet metal fabrication factory when I was young; your diy machine brought back some good memories. We vinyl sheathed, and bent large, up to 12x4 sheets of metal for various companies like HP, and other manufacturers. Luckily, if a sheet had even the slightest of blemishes, it was tossed into the recycle pile. These were sometimes fairly thick sheets with a durable thick coating of vinyl. I managed to get one just by asking for it, and used it on my homemade 8' x 3.5' workbench. The sheet I used was destined for Hewlett Packard medical equipment, and made the perfect top, and front for my bench. I used the companies pneumatic sheet bender to form the 8x4 sheet so it had a 6" lip for the front of the bench. I wonder where that bench is now? lol

[@springwoodcottage4248]

Fabulous job! I built a bender (brake in US speak) several years ago for bending relatively thin gauge steel like car body steel & I have often found it to be just what I need to make 90 degree bends for all manner of projects. It was thrown together from some scrap angle,, 2 inch by 1/4 (50x6 mm), using 3 pieces about 6ft long. Two pieces hinged with light weight door hinges, bolted in place in case the idea didn't work, the top clamp angle held by G clamps, no stand, just a bit of metal that fits into a vice to hold the thing. My business partners husband helped me & described the whole thing as a complete waste of time made worse as he got his fingers trapped at one point, but no serious damage. Then I did my first bend & it was glorious, square, sharp corner & none of the buckle & stretch that I used to get using a hammer to bend over something square. It lives in the wood shed, no paint just a patina of rust & then when I ask it to help me it wakes up, does what is needed & then returns to its happy rusting, dreaming of its next contribution. One of the most satisfying tools I have made. Thanks for sharing!

[@brianmulligan6239]

You are always thinking Tim. Good work!!!

[@lukeduwve6968]

You know what they say, "a grinder and paint make you the welder you ain't!" Keep it up and you'll be great in no time!

[@quadsman11]

Nice job gentlemen ! Filed the video away, planning on finally building my own !

[@balateera]

nice to see how much fun you have with your new welder ; ) and sandras reaction is just the best part of this vid for me

[@theobolt250]

Neat! A well executed job. And the apparatus functions as expected! Nice. 😁👍👌

[@leslieaustin151]

Despite Sandra’s teasing, that is brilliant and will do much more than you dreamed of, and do it quickly and well. I made a “mini” version some time ago, and when I need something bent up its there waiting to be used and ready to do a good job. Bent bits for boats for a friend, and stuff for me. Wonderful! Les in UK

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks, Les. Yes, it's already been really handy..

[@crazycoyote1738]

Great project, and beautiful job guys!!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thank you!

[@richardhallett7195]

Great job Tim. Having spend many years in shipbuilding it was good to see proper sized steel being used!! The welding comments that have been here made are very good and are important. It is important that the weld penetrates properly into the parts being joined and doesn't just stick on the surface. Taking time at the edges,as AtlasWalkedAway says, is the key. The thicker the pieces being joined the more important this is. The chooks will be very pleased! When I showed this video to my wife she was in complete solidarity with Sandra. :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

You're right - I have a lot to learn still, but I don't think this will fall apart either. (Now then - a steel boat? Hmmm....!)

[@richardhallett7195]

@@WayOutWestx2 Might be worth having a word with Sandra before that project goes too far!! lol

[@SeattlePioneer]

[@kkooloo5781]

Nice Job Nothing like a Farm Made machine. With a life time guarantie

[@thewunder-lusters9644]

Efficient and effective! Well done. :)

[@jasonmushersee]

your going to like it. made one about that size been using it all the time. i still need to fab a square tubing bender for a future telescope observatory build

[@matthewrossi86]

You definitely don’t need a good excuse for a beautiful well worked out tool that makes life so much easier….. I’d like to build one and your design is pretty awesome nicely done Tim

[@tonyo6408]

very honest and interesting dialogue from the misus

[@What..a..shambles]

Great job 👍🏻

[@mekugi_7729]

Great work Tim! Bending weldmesh by hand is a real hassle and is quite difficult! You'll be able to bend sheet metal with that too so it should be nice and useful for future projects :D

[@WayOutWestx2]

That's the plan!

[@rs2143]

Nice job building the metal brake. That will get used many times I'm sure .

[@mlb6d9]

"Couldn't you have just done it a less complicated way?" LOL - but then we wouldn't have this cool video for inspiration to build our own. Seriously though, I enjoyed watching this, and thank you for posting!

[@tomhickey1266]

Super job

[@sergioavalos9343]

Excelente trabajo saludos desde Argentina

[@marttimattila9561]

Sparks and straws really match. Making ten footer for aircraft building for my self.

[@Marandal]

I am tempted to make one too!

[@MatthewTinker-au-pont-blanc]

Great idea, I meant to build one for years, finally, I found one for free. Might I suggest you look at the width of the moving jaw. When you have a brake you will find you can use it for lots of things. You will find that you are limiting the size of the "Z" fold you can make. My bending brake, which has 50mm moving jaw, which in practice is limiting, I can't fold a "Z" shape of less than 50mm on the diagonal direction. I hope this helps!

[@captainboing]

Very good.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

Well done! Job's a good 'un.

[@AtlasReburdened]

Getting things to stick with a mig welder is easy, and for these types of structural demands it's almost certainly good and we'll enough, but you'll want to look into technique if you're going to be doing any of the type of structural welding on which one's safety will rely. My biggest advice would be to slow down your zig zags by spending more time at the edges. That little lip that your nail would catch on if you were moving your finger from the weld outward is called gouging, and is a result of not depositing enough filler metal after the arc has carved away metal and converted it to oxides. Don't worry so much about filling the center, it will be fine, just move slow enough to keep consistent arc behavior. The gouged region is the weak point in the whole weld because it's exposed, molten metal without much shielding from the flux gasses or slag covering. All best practices can be deduced by a discerning eye making sure that the molten pool is more circular than oval-shaped and fills the gouged region. And for the strongest welds, leave the slag until it's cool or falls off on its own accord because you're just on that level of skill. The metal of the weld is still reacting surprisingly much with the atmosphere around it until it gets well under metal working temperatures, and odd reactions involving the hot catalytic splitting of water from humidity can cause hydrogen absorption, weakening the weld.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks for this AW. I've said it before but it's true - I learn far more from this channel than I could ever teach : - ) I'm changing from figures of eight to overlapping circles, at Will's suggestion. I'll keep practising and I'll try cutting a weld open to see what's happening too.

[@cmichaelhoover8432]

Tim, So-So. Sandra, Great. Dog, Superb!

[@burtreynolds3143]

Sandra was the best part of the video, although, she seemed underwhelmed.

[@coaxialgyro]

keep your weld beads as cool as you can , no more under cut edges👃

[@jerryglen986]

Who down votes these wonderful people? 🙄

[@tonygrimes13]

JEALOUSY????

[@TheNuclearGarage]

One can never have too many machines around.

[@johnbarker6703]

Hints of sarcasm from Sandra at the end. Good job though, does exactly as it's supposed to.

[@mannyangel6709]

Lol that's the wifey for you,... great job guys nicely done

[@tinchapeltextiles]

Very clever indeed ! I want one of those welders now ! Lol

[@WayOutWestx2]

It's just like a hot glue gun - except you need a mask..

[@tinchapeltextiles]

I'm thinking it would be great for garden sculptures ? I'm experimenting with sheets of copper and brass at the moment and debating the best way to join them together ?

[@yeagerxp]

Excellent work👍👍👍. Thanks for sharing.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thank you 👍

[@jameskniskern2261]

I think Sandra was teasing you, Tim. 😁

[@jenhofmann]

I've got a cattle panel like that leaning against the fence that could use a 90* bend in it!

[@tropifiori]

Cool.

[@thomasortlieb2146]

You watch ! That machine is going to be used and used. With a Tim and a plasma cutter around, you NEED a bending machine. Great job!

[@HostileButHonourable]

Tim, take some solace from the fact that a genius is never appreciated in their own home.

[@theobolt250]

Let her do it the way she proposed. She'll come around in notime! 😁

[@joshsundiwa]

good one thx

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

I have always wanted one of these.. now you have me thinking.. hmmm can I make one of these similar to yours.. hmmmmmmm.......I don't think Sandra is that impressed with it from what I saw at the end.

[@kylevantassel7259]

She didnt seem impressed enough. I would like to see a retake on that from her.... 😎 But that could be the biggest compliment ever in that she isnt surprised anymore by you building nice stuff....

[@makingitthrough190]

Sandra, looks like a giant ironing machine to me! 🤔

[@paddrivers]

SANDRA ! How very dare you mock Tim's bending machine .😯😁😉

[@samuelthomas8777]

This one ups Colin Furzes sheet metal bender. These machines are so useful, you'll find many projects that this come in handy for. I wonder if there's a clever quick release solution to the clamp, as tightening and losening that off will be the bottle neck in your operation. If you can do it quickly I reckon you'll use the machine even more often for all sorts of jobs big and small

[@WayOutWestx2]

I agree, Samuel - and I have a plan...!

[@samvalentine3206]

@@WayOutWestx2 - When Tim has a plan, WATCH OUT! 😄

[@goldmagnet9013]

Fantastic job Tim, I love your making machines videos. Looks better than my shop bought unit, I also like looking at bits of metal in the farm shop and working out what part they can play in my cottage engineering. It bent that Cork metal easily, but will it bend Kerry metal ?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Ha! Bring it on!

[@1anzetko]

I love the lady :)

[@paulsmith2960]

Hi Tim. Very nice metal folder. Could you tell me please what is the thickest sheet metal it will bend?

[@joachimschreiber7835]

Nice and sturdy. Only i would use Threads from clamps and big wingnuts rather than such normal allthread or bolts... It would take ages to Clamp stuff down everytime

[@Mrdubomb]

Your wife may not be impressed but I sure am, well done

[@davekimbler2308]

Don’t let her discourage you ! If it were something she needed well that’s a different story ! My wife is the same way ! Lol. After 36 years I got it figured out , I think ! Lol

[@gasoesnduren3769]

Josss apek bro

[@mikereid2865]

Great machine that will last many lifetimes. Shame about the negativity at the end - ah well ........

[@hendrilasjaya]

Top

[@unclejack123]

my Mother would have said "Ah Lovely - Another Spider Condominium." ........ nice piece of work though ......... ;-p

[@michaelclark2840]

"But do you need a machine to do it" .... hmmm , you can leave my now shed please.🤤

[@grahamyoudell4105]

Sandra... a man can never have too many machines that do simole things...its a boys thing....😊

[@astranger448]

It's like a woman and shoes (/hides ;-)

[@contemporiser]

be careful. MIG has one nasty trap. Your welds always look brilliant and than one day ... some just separate from the material. Make sure that you get it hot enough, otherwise they can just sit on the top of material looking great.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks for the tip

[@damo83frank39]

Could it be made with lighter material like say 2inch angle iron. Love the idea

[@WayOutWestx2]

Yes, but it would only be able to bend very thin sheet

[@Careful3890]

😂🤣 Agree with Sandra.

[@davidquirk8097]

Careful with MIG: it's really easy to produce a weld which looks great but you need to remember to dial in some penetration if you want strength as well as beauty in your welds. You're probably actually MAG welding (Metal Active Gas), the gas is usually a blend of Argon, CO2 and Oxygen. The Oxygen (typically 2-3%) is there to act as a wetting agent by causing a fine layer of oxide at the surface of the weld. This produces a smoother looking weld. The CO2 (typically 5 -20% depending on the particular blend) reacts in the arc and puts heat into the weld. Higher CO2 gives deeper, narrower welds. We use 5% CO2 blends for thin sheet work (auto body type thickness using 0.6mm wire) and 20% CO2 blends for thicker section, 6mm and above with 0.8mm wire. I'm just starting to learn about the flux cored, 'gasless' wires at the moment, mainly because I'm repairing some welding sets but don't have any gas cylinders where I'm currently working and don't want to start up a new contract for cylinder rental with business being quiet at present. I need to test the repaired welding sets before sending them back to the customer. My friend, when he was teaching me to use MIG, referred to it as a 'Hot Melt Glue Gun for Metal'

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks, David - very interesting.

[@raraavis7782]

Lol @ Sandra's comment. But hey, the machine does, what it's supposed to do and it does it well. And as someone, who has recently struggled big time, to design and built a simple chest with drawers...I applaud you 👏👏👏. Also: thats like the biggest chicken wire, I've ever seen. Or never seen, rather. Is it called something else (in German, if possible), when the squares are that size? It might come in handy in future diy projects for me...🙂

[@WayOutWestx2]

Schweißnetz? Does that sound right?

[@raraavis7782]

@@WayOutWestx2 Thanks! Turns out, it's 'Schweißgitter', but you set me on the right path there. This particular size is sold as fencing, which is why I never came upon it before.

[@eckosters]

I’m with Sandra - and I’ll be embarrassed for it!

[@peterwooldridge7285]

Grand....Now, is the TIG welding really easy?

[@WayOutWestx2]

I hear it's the trickiest way

[@dwegmull]

A MIG welder is just like a hot glue gun, except the glue is really hot!

[@kennethplunkett5476]

I hope the hay on the floor is fire proof!

[@ronmckee8132]

Do I see straw on the floor???

[@michaelhogan9053]

In the US these are called 'breaks', really should be benders.

[@rd-ch1on]

We call them " brakes" in Canada. Sometimes I take a break from using my brake.

[@samuelthomas8777]

@@rd-ch1on have you ever broken anything with it?

[@HisnameisRich]

Salty Sandra 😂

[@user-tu4qm3xu1x]

Пожарная безопасность где? ( солома)

[@akagibasara6541]

7.20 I'am impress really but do you relly need a machine to do this XD XD XD XD

[@MrTackleberry79]

Is this the guy that narrates for Thomas the Tank Engine kiddie show?

[@johndunn9819]

To answer her question, NO, you cannot make as neat, straight and as crisp of a bend as this without this machine. Go inside and make some hot coffee and some strudel...

[@toms4123]

Is the low video quality (480) just at my end? I feel I miss a lot ...

[@samvalentine3206]

Yes, I see that here as well.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Really? It all goes out as the same quality from this end

[@samvalentine3206]

@@WayOutWestx2 - at 480? I looked at it in multiple browsers as well, Firefox and Chrome. Both came through as 480 resolution. At which resolution did you upload it? Blame it on KZbin! Our heroes can never be wrong! (well, not much, anyway!)

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

You said elf, whats wrong with swelf, lol.😂 iance, swye ,dry.

[@KayiFarmJaHoneyBees]

Hey do you still do Beekeeping?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Of course!

[@KayiFarmJaHoneyBees]

@@WayOutWestx2 I would love to see some videos of your inspections sometimes! 🙏🇯🇲

[@jeremynance2]

Do you really need the machine for this lol 😁 yes yes I did

[@hopethisworks1212]

Oh to have that much money for a mig set up complete with gas etc rather than the cheap mickey mouse flux cored wire type. I will just keep on with my old stick welder until that day. The CNC plasma cutter I would have to mortgage my house for.

[@WayOutWestx2]

We already have our house mortgaged - so you're doing better than us! CNC machines are getting cheaper all the time - or you might get lucky like I did and get one at a discount price. And did you not realise I was given that welder? (I gave away my older stick welder.)

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Dear Way out west blog couple. 👍👌👏 Hehe, LOL 😁 it's a worldwide well known fact that women are simply not able to understand, will never and maybe even don't want to understand a mans affinity for heavy metal things to work respectively play with. 😂😁 Very well done! This bending tool works really well and very accurate. Now what to bend next? 😁 Thanks a lot for making teaching recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all of you. Postscriptum: Maybe you could/should invent some more comfortable handles so that you don't have to bend your back to operate the bender.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I really hope you are kidding. I am a woman, yet I love machines and understand them very easily.

[@WayOutWestx2]

It's not a gender thing - I'm sure there are plenty of men who have no idea why I went to all that trouble either!

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Dear @@kirstenwhitworth8079 👍👌👏 That's really great! I have always loved and adored women like you (definitely a rare species)! So you proof the old saying: Exceptions prove the rule!😂😁 Oh, and of course I'm kind of kidding! What would the world be without humour!! And without this very special women logic (no man is able to go against it and should better surrender instantly). 😂😁 That's at least my experience. But how wonderful if/when a woman and a man complement each other very well, share nearly everything and have fun together (like great couple Sandra and Tim). Not much better in this world if any. Isn't it? Best regards, luck, health and wisdom. 👋

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Dear @@WayOutWestx2 Tim. Thanks for replying. You are right, Sir... at least kind of right. 😁 Of course there are also a lot of men who aren't even able to hammer a nail into a wall. Nevertheless: Out of my life long experience it is mainly a gender thing. 2) What trouble? I think it was fun! Additionally: If something like this bender is finished, one can definitely be proud of. Sincerely yours.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

@@Chr.U.Cas2216 I have almost always been the creator/inventor/fix-it person in my personal relationships since my husband died. My mates were not mechanically-minded, so it did balance out. Then again, I _am_ an engineer - but a software engineer. I am sorry to hear that you have not had the opportunity to meet more strong women in your life. We are a varied lot once we break free of the limitations and expectations placed upon us by our families and society. I had the rare luck to be raised by a single father in the 1960s who liked to experiment. He was a doctor of psychology, and liked to push me and my brother outside the norms.

[@RegNarnoc21]

Don’t think Sandra was impressed.

[@BlackDreaded]

women ... sometimes they just don't understand the joy of such things :)

[@RussianSpaceman]

mig welding is EASY, rofl, says the farmer welding gates, ever try to weld a car panel my man?

[@WayOutWestx2]

Yes, thanks. With a stick welder. That's why I like my mig so much : - )

[@DanWoodTomwoodson]

I watched until I learned the cages were for elves. I think that its barbaric to force those little elves to live in cages, they should be free range.

[@gusm5128]

What’s with robot voice ?

[@MorseB]

Goodness, watch out for fire. Welding over dry straw is... Well... Frankly... It's a terrible idea. Don't want to burn down that nice barn.

[@user-ur6zg1gx7k]

хто ж у сіні варить?

[@myconight]

LMAO, Such a Woman Question, Do you need a machine to do this. The Answer is Always Yes, Yes we do... I just remind my wife about the Pots, and Pans she has collected.... I swear she has Pans she hasn't used but Once.