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Sheetmetal bending without a brake

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by DanStew, Nov 27, 2005.

  1. Nov 27, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    I am making the rear portions for the trailer, and would like to know the easiest way to bend a lip on a piece of sheetmetal about 14-16 guage. I was either going to use a set of sheetmetal vise grips to bend, but one of the lips need to be 11 inchs and those vise grips only grip about 4 inches. I also thoguht bout putting it in a vise and hammering it over. I need to make a 1/2 inch lip. So what would your recomendations be to bend metal?
     
    DanStew, Nov 27, 2005
    #1
  2. Nov 27, 2005
    jd7

    jd7 Sponsor

    Nacogdoches,Texas
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    Mar 30, 2004
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    1,745
    Dan I've had good luck clamping two pieces of channel and/or angle iron clamped together at a marked line. then muscle it over then work it down by working it with a BFH I do place a 2 x 4 on the metal and strike it to keep from "pocking" the metal up. Have several pieces on hand cause they don't last long. Have used this method on gauges heavier than 14 guage but it gets pretty hard to work and hold steady.
     
    jd7, Nov 27, 2005
    #2
  3. Nov 27, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    Thanks David!!

    I pretty much di it like that. i went adn cut the metal and bent it and it didnt come out that bad, i took my time and tappd it over. And it doent fit that bad. So next is to think about bending this steel over a piece of steel tubing, just like the original military way.I think i may have to heat and tap this one.
     
    DanStew, Nov 27, 2005
    #3
  4. Nov 27, 2005
    Old Bill

    Old Bill Aggressively passive....

    Really Southern...
    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2004
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    822
    Dan, you can clamp a piece of sheet metal between angle and the tubing, and just slowly work it over. Similar to how you've already done. Took me a couple of grabs to get it all the way over, but worked out.
     
    Old Bill, Nov 27, 2005
    #4
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