Bench-top Box/Pan Sheet Metal Brake
by J. Hartnell
Project Description
This bench-top box/pan brake can bend sheet metal into various shapes. It mounts to a workbench. It can accept up to four foot wide stock and bend 135 degrees. With the various width teeth, they can be adjusted to fit the width of the bend needed within minutes with one wrench. The clamping thickness can be adjusted from 0 to about 0.25 inches, but I would be extremely lucky to bend something that thick. The throat can open to over four inches.
This brake was built from scrap I received for free. It was more for fun rather than saving money, and I could not buy exactly what I wanted. I modeled it in CAD, cut parts and welded it together. The main part was made from 4x4x0.25 inch steel angle stock. Levers and links were made from the scrap left after cutting the main angle stock. End plates are 0.5 inch stock. Teeth are 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 6 inch wide by 0.5 thick bar stock. I only paid for welding wire and gas.
Materials and Tools
Circular Saw w/ Metal Cutter, Air Die Grinder, Bench-top Belt Sander, Bench-top Drill Press, M10X1.5 Tap, 110V MIG Welder, Various Hand Tools
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Add Your Comment
Nice work. Do you have plans that you can share?
Gene Cejero • Tuesday, May 1, 2012 @ 1:00 PMyour break is awesome. can you send me the plans it would be greatly appreciated. my email is mretch2@hotmail.com
dan etchison • Sunday, April 1, 2012 @ 5:03 PMjust like everyone else, i would like to build one of these brakes for some of my up coming projects. what's chances of getting some plans?
ralph reeder • Sunday, April 1, 2012 @ 4:25 PMthat is sweet! please send drawings would be great thanks anthony.cacciola@yahoo.com
anthony • Sunday, March 25, 2012 @ 10:24 PMDoes anyone have the prints for this bender? contact me at jeremy_burdette@yahoo.com
jb • Monday, February 13, 2012 @ 11:35 AMvery nice! please send prints- would be a great addition to my shop. thanks
jeremy • Thursday, February 9, 2012 @ 7:43 PMNice job of improvising! How is this attached to benchtop? Can you send link for plans? Thanks
Ted Mifflin • Thursday, November 3, 2011 @ 7:46 PMNice design. Looks Stout! This looks like the exact brake i need for several projects im considering. If possible could i get those cad plans
Sterling Decker • Wednesday, September 28, 2011 @ 2:57 PMI would love to have a set of plans for the brake you designed. Looks awesome. John
john • Thursday, August 25, 2011 @ 7:33 PMgood can i have plans?,thanks
luisito • Monday, August 8, 2011 @ 3:47 AMcan you send me the plans for this untalented one, needed to bend a stainless pan
dogdog • Thursday, July 28, 2011 @ 4:29 PMI really like this very nice job if you have the plans I would like to get them
Jeffrey Bossingham • Thursday, July 14, 2011 @ 1:46 AMcould you please send me pictures of just the teeth. I got everything figured out except how you made the teeth. Thanks
Nate • Sunday, June 5, 2011 @ 7:12 AMI meant to ask in my last comment for a blue print. I don't have CAD so I wasn't sure if you could still e-mail something. I have a good idea how to make it just not sure of the angle and bolt patterns you used. Thanks
Nate • Monday, May 30, 2011 @ 6:17 AMThis is great! I'm going to start one for myself. Was there a certain angle that you had to set for the channel iron that holds the teeth?
Nate • Sunday, May 29, 2011 @ 4:37 PMThat is a great design, looks very good. That for sharing; would you be interested in selling me the necessary information to build one for myself? Thanks
Kineyc • Wednesday, May 25, 2011 @ 1:14 AMThat is a nice design i would let to get more pics and or plans. I would love to make one for myself in my shop. Let me know thanks, mike
Mike • Sunday, May 8, 2011 @ 7:22 PMthis is something I could really use...my son and I are starting a small welding shop and have a very limited budget...do you have plans for this, if so, could I get a set...thanks
Glen • Wednesday, April 20, 2011 @ 2:44 PMI love this, great job. Would it be possibleto get your cad drawings? Thanks, Terry
Terry • Wednesday, April 20, 2011 @ 2:42 PMSimple, strong, useable, and I have the scrap material to make one . Do you have the plans available? Great idea for my small shop projects. Thanks
Dennis McIntire • Thursday, March 31, 2011 @ 10:46 PMLooks fairly heavy duty. Will it brake 10 ga stainless? Either way I'd like a set of plans, too. Thanks
Dave • Thursday, March 24, 2011 @ 4:28 PMIf there are drawings for this tool I would like a copy very hand tool Great work. John
John Wozniak • Wednesday, March 23, 2011 @ 11:36 PMCan I get a copy of plans for this? afriendtln@aol.com Great work! Thanks Terry
Terry • Thursday, February 3, 2011 @ 1:55 PMI would also like a copy of the plans. Great job Thanks
Roy D. • Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 7:46 PMIf their are any plans or drawings for this I would like to get a copy of that nice tool
delong • Saturday, January 15, 2011 @ 5:25 AMi have cad is there anyway u could email me the cad plans. It looks awesome.
Chithambarram • Monday, December 6, 2010 @ 8:56 AMgreat job....i would love to get a copy of the plans....
Matthew • Thursday, November 18, 2010 @ 3:16 PMVery very nice! I would sure like to get plans for that brake, if you have planes. My e-mail is kffain@yahoo.com Thanks, Kyle
Kyle Fain • Friday, November 5, 2010 @ 3:20 PMi have cad is there anyway u could email me the cad plans. It looks awesome.
Ron • Thursday, November 4, 2010 @ 8:16 AMas everyone prior tome has stated, it is a very nice looking piece of equipment, can I also get the plans???
Kiles • Wednesday, October 27, 2010 @ 3:58 PMThat looks very nice. I would be very grateful if you would send me a set of plans. My email address is snowluck2345@gmail.com
Dimitri • Sunday, October 3, 2010 @ 11:58 AMGreat Job!! If possible could you send me a copy of the plans. Like tobuild one for myself. Thanks Eddie
Eddie • Sunday, September 26, 2010 @ 3:52 AMNice Design.Would Like Plans For This Metal Brake. Thank You Darrell
Darrell Morgan • Tuesday, September 21, 2010 @ 11:51 AMExactly what I've been looking for, would love to get some plans if available. What is the max depth of a box
Ken Carter • Sunday, August 29, 2010 @ 9:23 AMLooks good can I get a copy of the plans if possible
Doc Holliday • Tuesday, August 24, 2010 @ 11:28 PMVery impresive looks great please send a copy of the plans if possible wdcd@charter.net
Fuzzy D. • Wednesday, July 28, 2010 @ 5:43 PMLooks great, please send me a set of plans if possible - yngndrw@gmail.com
Andrew • Saturday, July 3, 2010 @ 4:21 PMNIcely done. My compliments.
SgtMac-67 • Monday, June 7, 2010 @ 12:56 PMThis is a great project what a nice job. Would also like a set of plans.Thanks Chuck
Chuck • Saturday, June 5, 2010 @ 5:10 PMThis is a tool I'd like to add to my workshop. If you have plans, I'd be glad to pay for a set. Thanks.
Dean • Thursday, June 3, 2010 @ 3:54 PMI love it. Could you please send me the plans if you still have them. Its exactly what I was looking for .
Dazza • Friday, May 28, 2010 @ 10:40 PMNice Work....i will like to built one, do you have any drawing that you can send ??? thank a lot!! your press look beter than whats on the market !!
Marc • Saturday, May 8, 2010 @ 12:06 PMNice design. I would appreciate a copy of your plans. BTW-Which CAD program do you use?
Rich • Tuesday, April 27, 2010 @ 11:31 PMGREAT JOB,I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD ONE, ÁNY CHANCE OF GETTING THE PLANS? THANKS. REGARDS JIM.
JIM DEMPSEY • Wednesday, April 21, 2010 @ 6:18 PMthat is one very impressive piece of equipment. as so many others asked, do you have any plans you may be willing to share? would really appreciate it. thank you.
Roger • Saturday, April 10, 2010 @ 9:05 PMGreat looking Brake.... Do you have any plans or other pics. I'd love to have one of these at home. Thanks and great job.
Scott • Monday, March 22, 2010 @ 9:00 AMCOULD YOU PLEASE SEND PLANS THIS PROJECT ? THANKS
DAVID GUZMAN • Saturday, March 20, 2010 @ 4:31 PMWow! This is fantastic. I sure would like to build this. If plans are available, please let me know. Thanks
Larry • Saturday, March 13, 2010 @ 1:17 AMThat is impressive. Do you have plans? I would love to build my own.
Deelow • Tuesday, March 2, 2010 @ 8:00 AMI've never seen a home built pan/box brake. I would like plans if possible. Very Nice
George • Tuesday, February 23, 2010 @ 5:06 PMI would love to get plans for this if at all possible. Looks great.
Will • Sunday, February 21, 2010 @ 6:39 PMdo you have any plans for this would really like to build one for myself
Doug Page • Friday, February 19, 2010 @ 5:29 PMLooks just like what I need. Any chance of getting plans. Thanks
Donnie • Sunday, February 14, 2010 @ 4:44 PMLooks like a well built break. Im interested in plans for the sheet metal break.. THANKS
mark • Wednesday, February 3, 2010 @ 8:56 PMlooks great do you have any plans or other pics.
Dobey • Friday, December 25, 2009 @ 7:51 PM