How to Build a Press Brake

Daniel from TheMetalSchool.com showing how to build a press brake with scrap metal and simple shop tools. A press brake is a great tool to have in your shop so that you can bend plate steel. Check out themetalschool.com for other welding & fabricating videos.

[@bif1974]

i wish everyone made videos like you do, no bs talking, fast forward the boring parts.... and below 5 minutes!!! thanks man!

[@Liberty4Ever]

Great instructional video. I just came from a metal brake video where the first six minutes was how to cut 3" squares out of the corners of a piece of sheet metal, and the last three minutes showed how NOT to use a metal brake. Great use of editing and fast motion to convey the info as efficiently as possible. The viewers greatly appreciate you valuing our time. I love how half of the comments love the music and the other half hate it. :-)

[@rogerbrandt6678]

I ran brakes for over 20 years, up to a nc 750 ton 24' bed. Able to bend 1/2" hot roll 24' long 90 degrees, this was cool video.

[@damien220]

Guess I know what Im making tomorrow. Was going to buy a used one for $80 but after watching this I know I can use the scrap metal sitting in the shop. Thx :)

[@Starlight012]

Top of the range workmanship and simply but very effective design. Thanks so much!

[@emoneyblue]

From nothing we make something.... that's the American Way... Great Job!

[@craigthulin2874]

I have used a shop press and homemade dies myself. Like your design and simplicity. Very good video.

[@michaelcrowell3763]

Copied this idea and built one today. Very pleased and works great.

[@BigWesLawns]

I just started thinking about DIY tools and such, and just watched a bunch of video's on how to make, buy kits and this is the best in my opinion. like someone else said concise well edited and I feel like if this was the first vid on this machine I would not need to keep on watching those other ones. you just got my subscription, you rock!

[@992dr]

Awesome job, looks great.

[@adelkl5711]

now this a realy wonderful project...thank you so much!

[@69blackbowtieracing]

Your shows are very detailed and actually show how to do certain things that other videos dont show. Keep up the good work.

[@MrDavid3527]

hey thanks, i have just made this for my shop! works great for what i needed!! great job.

[@manuelkuner8975]

Super boulot, et la musique c'est la cerise sur le gâteau, un grand merci et bonne continuation .

[@hexusziggurat]

nicely done sir! I think I'll make one of these for our blacksmithing shop. We got a few lengths of grader blades sitting around that should work nicely.

[@MrRoyzalis]

Nice video. Thanks for respecting viewers by fast forwarding when appropriate and not wasting time and getting the key info out quickly.

[@wtfayd]

Nice project and Love the music! Looking forward to see what else you do!

[@Jayeeyee]

Whenever you weld, heat makes the part you're welding shrink causing the piece to contract or deviate from the original position. To square things up, you pull it back by welding on the opposite end. It's also a good idea to heat up the work piece so it doesn't deviate as much, especially on aluminum pieces. Additionally, you can trying heating the piece up with a torch to alleviate any stress points. Hope that helped.

[@jimmyronsonet2811]

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[@UVBlue9587]

I wish I had scrap like that lying around!!!

[@johngalt9262]

pretty cool, I already went out, measured my press and drew up some plans in CAD. :)

[@ssskev]

That's really good man, and you're welding is as good, great to see people doing weld correctly.

[@themetalschoolonline]

Thanks for the comment! It's a bench top hydraulic press. It has a 30 ton hydraulic cylinder that is run with an air over hydraulic pump (air pressure powers a pump that pumps the hydraulic fluid). I built it in the shop. Maybe I'll make another one and post a video of it.

[@vinniem4404]

That's awesome! And those stitches looked great

[@1ton4god]

Awesome little project I think I might try to make one.

[@themetalschoolonline]

It's called a Magnetic Base Drill or "mag-drill". It's basically a miniature (but super strong) drill press that holds to the work with an on-off magnet. The one in the video is a Hougan 904. They are great to drill holes from about 1/2" to 2". I think the 904 is only rated to drill 1-7/8" but I've drill 2" holes with it no problem. The bits are not typical "twist bits" but are similar to a hole saw on steroids.

[@juzzlookin]

Good work, & good video....comment from a life long manufacturing engineer.

[@cottonwoodcreekfarm]

Thanks. Awesome fast and informative video (LOVE the music too). Genius!

[@mrandmrsslice]

Good work man. Im going to build one for myself. Thanks for posting this.

[@themetalschoolonline]

@tlsalt Thanks! The angle is 2"x2"x3/8" and the flat bar that supports it is 3/8"x1-1/2"

[@SamvadSoul]

Great video, I appreciate as I work in Sheet Metal industry...

[@MrCentlch]

Hi! Thanks for the great video. I've also enjoyed watching (and learning) from the other Metal School video's as well. I would like to make it but I don't know how I would build the bench press that it would fit into. That makes me another guy who would appreciate your making that video (and I'm sure there are many more who would be as appreciative as I would). Thanks again for what you've done and hopefully for the next one!

[@dwsmith7072]

Very nice welds! Looks good

[@BigGuyReview]

Awesome Job Dude! Nice frigg'n project every welder needs. Thanks -John

[@MatchstalkMan]

Grrr! I am so jealous! I miss doing all this kind of 'if you need it, make it' stuff... I miss my work shop. Bah! Thanks for the vid - nice job!

[@sergiomanutencoes]

Muito bom!!! Valeu a dica!! O Brasil agradece!!

[@nathanallen6029]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for putting more information out there! lots of time and effort for no pay I just cant thank you enough. For others like myself, I need to learn and become familiar with Everything that I can. thank you once again and please keep on making videos! I enjoyed the sped-up video with the music! :)

[@robperry3404]

I think you did a great job , would know off hand the size of the metal you used i sure would like to build one like you . rob

[@microbe2008]

Thats pretty nice. Giving me a push to do one too :) Thanks man!!! Great Job!!!

[@TransAtlanticEV]

I love this! Outstanding! I'm going to check out your other video's and see what other cool projects I can find! Very nice!

[@lesliesterer8273]

I want to use my powerarc and make one of these. Very cool video.

[@johnolin4221]

Nice job!!!...im sure you are completely successful at all you do,, I injured my back and only wish I could do what you did here...AMAZING WORKMANSHIP!!!

[@lesliesterer8273]

I just ordered my Everlast welder on Friday and a press brake will be the second thing I weld together. A welding cart will be the first.

[@pythonBlender7]

That was gorgeous

[@jorgemariogomezholguin5436]

Es una verdadera genialidad la forma en que utiliza las herramientas; deseo hacerlo por mi mismo. Gracias por hacerlo fácil. La música invita, ¡Que energía!.

[@torcan1978]

awesome job thanks for posting... great ideas!

[@joaogomez9894]

great mate you are an artist

[@jamesvc6967]

MUCHAS GRACIAS POR TU VALIOSA IDEA

[@killerchairsmarysvillewa9299]

nice design, I need to build one of those.

[@arcturusbbqsausagemaking2435]

Great job I just bought a 50 ton park Industries Hydrosplit which is a Rock splitter for $50 at a flea market I'm going to convert it into a PRESS brake / bender It weighs 377 lbs ..Nice job

[@WaldysOffRoad]

What is the name of the magnets that you use to fit perfect the 2 tubes? The red ones!!

[@Grizzydan]

That was epic! Thank you.

[@650nj]

Excellent job.. that is amazing machine

[@kkandretti]

What would you charge ($$) to build and ship one of these??

[@sergioflores1931]

Nice job, nice job, nice job.

[@SadekMediouni]

great demo, thanks....

[@deedee5205]

Love you're weave boy, going to have to keep an eye on you.

[@peckiledorf]

nice work

[@puck88stang]

great work.

[@jpintoedp]

cinco estrelas , obrigado por partilhar

[@jorgemercado3020]

Genio muy bueno ..desde Argentina.

[@theultimatewelder]

Thanks for sharing.

[@JunkyardTailgate]

It did the job! Nice.

[@oldmick70]

great job

[@lluwd]

good job on that bro!

[@patrickmc.2011]

Really cool! GOod work good video. TY!

[@Pr3ct]

Great video, editing was key.

[@khemarreid755]

I really like the video i think it's very useful keep posting

[@suyebalam1203]

Great job!!!!!!

[@cleciusdscampos]

Very good, congratulations.

[@BITTYBOY121]

Great video, fantastic press brake! Well Done! - Love the music!! :-)

[@maslocoyque]

YOU THE MAN !!!!!!!! I DIG IT.

[@MitchellDillman]

nice...thanks for sharing!

[@chandrakantnagpal309]

Sir lower fabricating part excellent but upper ptessing system not showen clearly is the uppet half hydrulic pl imfotm.

[@gfontesrey]

Buen día me encantó la máquina muy buena tendrás medidas ya que si me permitís voy a hacerme una

[@phill903]

I 'm going to be making me a press brake like that today,have all the steel to reproduce it to a T :) In fact going to make a smaller one with smaller radius dies first. then larger one with about an 1/8" radius for thicker material.

[@pjmurray3733]

if you set the bottom v block in a channel it tends to strengthen your job some more

[@grungeblight]

awesome vid

[@plasmaguy5]

Awesome got to make me one of those

[@CINCYB0Y]

Can you put up a list of plate you used to make this? Maybe a list of cut lengths to go along with it?

[@bashirtv1164]

very nice

[@bx2200]

I'd love a video about making a bench top air/over hydraulic press!

[@miltongwelch2707]

I need to put my everlast welder to work and make one of these.

[@azeemelbey7292]

We want to make a sheet metal pan with .75" radius corners. But we don't have any big machines; is there a way to accomplish with only a sheet metal brake?

[@walterforsiethe2567]

Perfect project for me to use my new toys, Everlast PowerPlasma and PowerTIG welder. Always looking for an excuse to pull these boxes out and spit out sparks!

[@IntoTheDirtshop]

how do you know when its 90 degrees?

[@MRSchweisser]

very cool!

[@ElationProductions]

Real nice job on this! What's the capacity of your press? Just trying to gauge the power it took to bend that 1/4" steel plate.

[@bjornnjordson2986]

With lighter springs and a square bar welded to the bottom, this would make a good hardie tool

[@artjag1]

very nice...

[@RC-Heli835]

Absolutely awesome man but I need to bend a 6 x 24 x 1/8 inch plate down the long side. I need approximately a 1 inch radius. I need it to repair a dent in the body of my dump truck.

[@rolinrubin921]

Brilliant, what's more I have everything to make it. Thanks for the idea, I have a panbrake which I'm very happy with. But, just sometimes I could really use a pressbrake to get me out of trouble on a fold bending the wrong way if you know what I mean... Cheers :)

[@user-nn7ux5qt1r]

الله ينور بجد

[@kickfreak23]

hot damn!!! thats one dandy tool their! your a beast!

[@leonardojohann1980]

VERY GOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDD! THE METAL SCHOOL!!!!!

[@anthonylawrencesnow]

I know its been 9 years since the build, but could you give a parts list of the metal used?

[@eastsideCHIEF]

First time viewing your channel. Very nice video. Great idea for scrap

[@KitPlumridge]

Nice video Daniel. Please tell me what did you use to mill the holes.

[@stevechang6677]

Nice job mate, what did you use to produce the pressure to bend power?

[@prestonpond]

Nice video! What's the song name?