Looking for a good bending brake

[crowebar]

I've been bending my skid fins with some welding vice grips and a vice but the welding vice grips will only grab a couple inches. I need something that will grab 6 to 8 inches so that I can bend the top 1/4 inch of the fin at about 45 degrees for stiffening. Anyone know where I should look for a small brake or something else that would do the trick?

Thanks,

Dick

 

[TRUCKPULL]

Dick

You should look at Harbor Freight Tools.

http://harborfreight.com/

Larry

 

[Patrick M]

Yeah, Dick, check Harbor Freight, Enco, Grizzly Industrial, Homier, etc.. They all have inexpensive brakes that are good for relatvely soft alloys. Most can be easily modified to allow a small radius for the harder stuff.

 

[crowebar]

Think this one will bend 7075 .070 at a 45 degree angle. It would need to be a pretty sharp bend as I'm just trying to stiffen the turn fin up by bending the top 1/4 inch.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=39103

Thanks,

Dick

 

[JimClark]

Dick

check www.micro-mark.com and click the Vises, Anvils, Punches, Benders link.

Jim Clark

 

[TRUCKPULL]

Think this one will bend 7075 .070 at a 45 degree angle. It would need to be a pretty sharp bend as I'm just trying to stiffen the turn fin up by bending the top 1/4 inch.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=39103

Thanks,

Dick

88388[/snapback]

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Dick

You get free shipping on a $50.00+ order.

They have lots of other stuff you need.

Larry

 

[Patrick M]

Think this one will bend 7075 .070 at a 45 degree angle. It would need to be a pretty sharp bend as I'm just trying to stiffen the turn fin up by bending the top 1/4 inch.
Thanks,

Dick

88388[/snapback]

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Should work OK, 16 gauge steel is almost .060". If the 7075 is "0" condition (hardness) it will work fine, if it's T6 you may have problems, particularly if your part is already trimmed to length. 7075 has a "grain", it's marginally easier to bend with the grain, rather than against it, but it can also fracture when bent in the grain direction. Trying to bend just 1/4" can be tough, if the part is long, the leverage provided by the excess material will be a help.

 

[Paul Pachmayer]

Hi Dick,

You know, I got a custom built brake from a friend of Dougs. (drobie on rr) Very heavy duty piece for doing small hobby type stuff like your talking about. The 50 beans it cost me was well worth it for the quality.

Paul.

 

[crowebar]

Thanks Pat,

It's T-6

I didn't know about the grain. Interesting!

I've cracked more then a few efforts and feel like I've developed a decent feel on how far I can go!

Paul, I may see if you can hook me up with your friend. I was thinking about building my own as well. If mine doesn't work......

Thanks again!

Dick

 

[Jim Caldwell]

Thanks Pat,It's T-6

I didn't know about the grain. Interesting!

I've cracked more then a few efforts and feel like I've developed a decent feel on how far I can go!

Paul, I may see if you can hook me up with your friend. I was thinking about building my own as well. If mine doesn't work......

Thanks again!

Dick

88528[/snapback]

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Dick,

That 18" brake for 16 guage mild steel is not going to do what you want.

You need 14 min and 12ga. is much better and no bigger that a 12" for 7075 t6.

What boat is flexing 7075-T6?

 

[crowebar]

Thanks Pat,It's T-6

I didn't know about the grain. Interesting!

I've cracked more then a few efforts and feel like I've developed a decent feel on how far I can go!

Paul, I may see if you can hook me up with your friend. I was thinking about building my own as well. If mine doesn't work......

Thanks again!

Dick

88528[/snapback]

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Dick,

That 18" brake for 16 guage mild steel is not going to do what you want.

You need 14 min and 12ga. is much better and no bigger that a 12" for 7075 t6.

What boat is flexing 7075-T6?

88561[/snapback]

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Thanks Jim,

In final anaysis.....I'm sending a bunch of fins to Larry Larson who can fix me up.

I'd still like to get a nice brake that won't take up all the space in my garrage and be able to do the things I need it to do.

The flex is happening on the arm portion of the fin. I wanted to keep things simple and have the fin and bracket all in one to keep things light on my 6 cell rigger. This is something I saw Doug Twaits Jr. do on one of my fins that he uses on his boat. He told me he did it on his brake. He must have a nice one.

Here's a picture of my 18 cell fin with the stiffening bend to give you an idea of what I want to do.

Thanks!

Dick