Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Hey all,
I am looking for a bending brake and am need any advice you can offer. Is the pan/box type brake usable or what should I be looking for. Thanks, Dana LaBounty

Box and Pan brakes are great for making all sorts of stuff. The thing with a brake is the one you get never seems to be the one you need so think hard about exactly the type of work you will be doing. The rated capability on brakes are for mild steel and really mean "on a good day, if your lucky". for example a 48"-16ga. brake is really an 8ga. brake.

Sheet comes 48" wide so any shorter is just silly, so a 48"x16ga. is good for aircraft use in the .030 2024-T3 range. Get a name brand like Enco, Jet, Drake, Ropper-Whitney, tinnerman. you can find a good used brake on Craigs list or ebay for sure but take your time and look around. If you are buying a used brake inspect it in person. A Sloppy worn apron, dinged up punches, or bowed ways won't do much good.
Also aircraft parts have to have a minimum bend radios so make sure the upper part has an adjustable set back.

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http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

Lou makes some good points . With regard to e-bay the freight can cost as much as the used brake and you may need some way to get it off the truck if it doesn't have a lift gate . I am about 50-50 with regard to freight companies not destroying what I have delivered . I got a decent 48" brake from ENCO new for just over $200 and they were offering free freight at the time .

RB