Looking to buy a metal brake combo tool

Raidmagic

Raidmagic

Active Member
Not wanting to break the bank here but I've found a 30" Metal brake/shear/roller combo at Harbor Freight. Anyone use one of these? Are they worth the $400? Not looking to spend more than that, heck I wasn't even looking ot spend that as I was just looking for a break but a shear and a roller would be really useful.
Any info you can offer would be great! Thanks.

http://www.harborfreight.com/garage...nch-shear-press-brake-and-slip-roll-5907.html

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I don,t know anyone who has one but its a fairly simple tool, and strength is not a huge issue provided the metal you intend to be working with is no more than about 16 ga
 
I have the 40" brake from Harbor Freight. I used it when I built an aluminum interior for the race car. It works well as long as you don't try to use it on material that is too heavy. I used .030, .040 and .050 thick aluminum and it would shear and bend those OK.

I never tried to use it with steel but it would probably work OK but take some brute strength to shear. A couple of times I would have to get help to shear .050 aluminum if it was very wide.

I played with the roller but never did master that very well. From what I could figure out you would just have to do a trial run, readjust the rollers and try again until you got what you wanted.

The thing is pretty heavy and is bulletproof.

I loaned mine to a friend in Thonotosassa when he was building a kit car. He would have taken a lot longer finishing the car if he hadn't had that machine. He's finished the car now and would really like for me to come get the thing. It sells at Harbor Freight for $799. I'd sell you my used one for the $400 they want for the smaller one if you'd come pick it up.
 
LEJ ZO6 said:
I have the 40" brake from Harbor Freight. I used it when I built an aluminum interior for the race car. It works well as long as you don't try to use it on material that is too heavy. I used .030, .040 and .050 thick aluminum and it would shear and bend those OK.

I never tried to use it with steel but it would probably work OK but take some brute strength to shear. A couple of times I would have to get help to shear .050 aluminum if it was very wide.

I played with the roller but never did master that very well. From what I could figure out you would just have to do a trial run, readjust the rollers and try again until you got what you wanted.

The thing is pretty heavy and is bulletproof.

I loaned mine to a friend in Thonotosassa when he was building a kit car. He would have taken a lot longer finishing the car if he hadn't had that machine. He's finished the car now and would really like for me to come get the thing. It sells at Harbor Freight for $799. I'd sell you my used one for the $400 they want for the smaller one if you'd come pick it up.
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I posted before I saw your response, I'm not real good at conversions. How does .50 relate to 20 gauge? I'm going to be using it mostly on sheetmetal for body work. How used is yours? Is the blade on the shear still in good shape?
 
20 Gauge steel is 0.0359 inch.

I routinely cut .050 aluminum with the shear so I don't think 20 Ga. steel would stress it in any way.

The shear is still in good shape. My friend and I only used it on aluminum so that wouldn't wear on it like steel might. I really only used it for the interior on my race car and my friend only used it to make some small parts for his kit car. It has really been used very little.

I forgot to mention that my 40" shear/break/roll is bolted to a metal base and can be rolled around. The base can go with it.

If you are interested just let me know and I can take you over to my friend's garage in Thonotosassa and you can look at it before you buy it. Personally, I'd rather have the 40" on a stand before spending the same money for the 30" and having to buy or build a stand.
 
Yes I'm really interested. I pmed you my phone number, let me know when you are available so we can go check it out and I can bring in home.


LEJ ZO6 said:
20 Gauge steel is 0.0359 inch.

I routinely cut .050 aluminum with the shear so I don't think 20 Ga. steel would stress it in any way.

The shear is still in good shape. My friend and I only used it on aluminum so that wouldn't wear on it like steel might. I really only used it for the interior on my race car and my friend only used it to make some small parts for his kit car. It has really been used very little.

I forgot to mention that my 40" shear/break/roll is bolted to a metal base and can be rolled around. The base can go with it.

If you are interested just let me know and I can take you over to my friend's garage in Thonotosassa and you can look at it before you buy it. Personally, I'd rather have the 40" on a stand before spending the same money for the 30" and having to buy or build a stand.
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Raidmagic said:
Yes I'm really interested. I pmed you my phone number, let me know when you are available so we can go check it out and I can bring in home.
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Steve,

It was nice meeting you this afternoon! I hope the shear meets your expectations and helps you get your project completed.

Thanks !

Lloyd
 
Hey Lloyd,
Great meeting you and gang too! I've got it home and all set up I'm excited to use it.
I like meeting people from the fourms if you ever get the chance to meet up with him go for it,
Lloyd and his buddy are great guys really make you feel welcome, that car is insane too!
Thanks again, Steve
 
glad to see everything's working out,
Please, post some pictures of the tool and your project as it progresses
 
Here it is in it's new home. I need to clean out the area to the right of it and that is where it will live. I've been under the weather for a week now so no energy to do anything out there. I'll update on my projects too.


brake.jpg


brake1.jpg
 
It was probably getting bored at the last location. It looks very happy to be where it will useful again ! :cool:

I always like to look in the background of pictures posted, I just think it's interesting how others go about equipping their shops and see what's laying around. Is that a Buick transmission on the floor to the left of the new brake ??? I've been reading about rebuilding a TH350 and I'm testing my recall from the book.
 
Indycars said:
It was probably getting bored at the last location. It looks very happy to be where it will useful again ! :cool:

I always like to look in the background of pictures posted, I just think it's interesting how others go about equipping their shops and see what's laying around. Is that a Buick transmission on the floor to the left of the new brake ??? I've been reading about rebuilding a TH350 and I'm testing my recall from the book.
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Yep it's a 200r4 from a grand national. I was going to put it in another project but am thinking about selling it...can't make up my mind.


Love the T-bucket, I'm building one myself.
 
Raidmagic said:
Indycars said:
It was probably getting bored at the last location. It looks very happy to be where it will useful again ! :cool:

I always like to look in the background of pictures posted, I just think it's interesting how others go about equipping their shops and see what's laying around. Is that a Buick transmission on the floor to the left of the new brake ??? I've been reading about rebuilding a TH350 and I'm testing my recall from the book.
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Yep it's a 200r4 from a grand national. I was going to put it in another project but am thinking about selling it...can't make up my mind.
Excellent ! That means that I'm keeping the Alzheimer's disease at bay ! I have thought about the 200r4, because it's the same length as my TH350. But it will have to wait for now, the new engine comes first. Check it out here: viewtopic.php?f=69&t=3814

Love the T-bucket, I'm building one myself.
Thanks ! Great, I saw your post in the LOUNGE and noticed you had one ! If you're not using the 200r4, then what will you be putting in the TBucket ? How far along are you ? For sure you need to post some pictures !
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I'm going with a turbo 350, I was saving the 200r4 for another project. I'll go make a thread about the T in the Muscle car section.
 
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