Thanks, Charlie! I needed to fabricate a hood vent for my kiln which was priced for $1,600 online. I got a bid from a local guy for $900. Using your brake design, which I modified to make a 40" bend, I was able to build the hood for less than $400, and I got a hand-built brake and a drill press from Harbor Freight as a bonus.
I worked in the metals industry for 35 years as a quality and engineering manager. I can tell you for a fact that bed frame rails were (and are) made from the cheapest available scrap steel materials. Back in the day, the fully integrated mills (Bethlehem, and others) made their steel primarily from scratch with very little remelt if at all. This is how they controlled the chemistry so well. Later, as no more fully integrated mills were built and the price of steel continued to rise, most new plants changed to what we called mini-mills, who primarily melted scrap. Chemistry (then) was not as tightly controlled, or rather, controllable due to the introduction of chrome, vanadium, molybdenum, and other constituents in the scrap materials. Regardless, there aren’t enough “scrap” rail tracks in America to keep a primary or secondary melter in operation for a week, much less than that required to make miles of structural angle for bed frames. I also don’t know of any rolling mills that are shutting their lines down, adjusting furnace temperatures, and resetting rolling lines to turn a railroad track into a tiny master coil that still has to go to a slitter operation. No, the rails are simply added to the master melt, then the metallurgist adjusts chemistry as required to meet whatever dirt-cheap specification as appropriate. Likely something along the lines as A36. Once it’s rolled into a master coil then slit, the coils are sold to whoever is roll forming the angle. All of this cold working lends to the performance characteristics. Likewise, the steel is probably riddled with hard spots and inclusions which will give cutting tools the blues. You’ll notice that bed frame holes are punched and riveted. One because of the aforementioned drilling issues, and two because a punch and rivets is 100x faster with no soft spots caused by welding.
The pure fact he drilled a hole in Bed Frame Steel is Hilarious I would of paid cash on the spot to see that video footage! lol automatically gets a like! How many bits did that take? Cut off saw eats it up easy is funny part. Diamond glass bits work well. but normal Drill bits LOL Even carbide bits turn to dust in that stuff fast lol We always use to give the new guy a section of it and ask them to drill few holes in it just to bust there stones on the first day LOL For anyone that does not know: They use recycled railroad track sections to make bed frame rails. The railroad tracks are made from 6 types of steel in layers then heat treated on one side other mounting side is left made of a softer steel. When they melt down the steel from them and make bed frames you get a steel that gets a spring like tension to it. It also gets harder and harder as it heats up over very low temperature changes. drilling it is a nightmare. As it starts heating up as you drill a hole making it as hard as carbide by time you smoke the bit lol Seen many people having panic attacks as the blew out 5 bits on first day trying drill one hole as everyone is trying not to bust out laughing LOL
Wow. Very cool project (& train) my friend. I wish I had the tools to build this. I just rescued an old Honda ATV to help this old man make snow go away. It's kind of unsafe as it has no floor boards & if your foot comes off it goes right under the rear wheel.
Is this able to to cope with different thicknesses of material, or would oval holes be better on the top piece (that you secure the workpiece down with) so that it can slide a little forward and back. Looks so easy to make. Think I’d use beefier hinges for longevity but great otherwise
Not sure if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me during the covid times then you can stream pretty much all the new movies and series on instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my girlfriend for the last few weeks :)
Looking at your vid as a possible solution to bend some 1/4" 5052 Aluminum, widest piece is about 18.125" IF I had an oxy acetylene torch I'd hit the line with sooty flame to anneal it before bending.
I was able to bend an O grade 1/16 thick 24 inch wide piece of aluminum tread plate just fine. I have not tried anything thicker. .090 aluminum will probably work but will need to be O grade and most likely less than 24 inches wide to reduce the bending force needed.
Depending on structural needs of the corner, thicker material can be cut on the inside along the bend line to make bending easier, and the corner radius tighter. I've done this with plastics, but the same principals apply for malleable metals.
Thanks, Charlie! I needed to fabricate a hood vent for my kiln which was priced for $1,600 online. I got a bid from a local guy for $900. Using your brake design, which I modified to make a 40" bend, I was able to build the hood for less than $400, and I got a hand-built brake and a drill press from Harbor Freight as a bonus.
Fantastic! Really happy my video helped with your project.
I worked in the metals industry for 35 years as a quality and engineering manager. I can tell you for a fact that bed frame rails were (and are) made from the cheapest available scrap steel materials. Back in the day, the fully integrated mills (Bethlehem, and others) made their steel primarily from scratch with very little remelt if at all. This is how they controlled the chemistry so well.
Later, as no more fully integrated mills were built and the price of steel continued to rise, most new plants changed to what we called mini-mills, who primarily melted scrap. Chemistry (then) was not as tightly controlled, or rather, controllable due to the introduction of chrome, vanadium, molybdenum, and other constituents in the scrap materials.
Regardless, there aren’t enough “scrap” rail tracks in America to keep a primary or secondary melter in operation for a week, much less than that required to make miles of structural angle for bed frames. I also don’t know of any rolling mills that are shutting their lines down, adjusting furnace temperatures, and resetting rolling lines to turn a railroad track into a tiny master coil that still has to go to a slitter operation.
No, the rails are simply added to the master melt, then the metallurgist adjusts chemistry as required to meet whatever dirt-cheap specification as appropriate. Likely something along the lines as A36. Once it’s rolled into a master coil then slit, the coils are sold to whoever is roll forming the angle.
All of this cold working lends to the performance characteristics. Likewise, the steel is probably riddled with hard spots and inclusions which will give cutting tools the blues. You’ll notice that bed frame holes are punched and riveted. One because of the aforementioned drilling issues, and two because a punch and rivets is 100x faster with no soft spots caused by welding.
This is what I need out of a brake right now - simple and inexpensive to bend aluminum flashing. Thanks!
Brilliant end result and well paced, well made video.
Brilliant! Just what I was looking for!
Wow that works great. Thanks for the help. Id like to put one of these together to do some sheet metal work on my boat.
Great simple solution. I'll definitely make one and it will be put to good use. Thank you!
This project now cost $3000 to build at todays prices.
Who knew saving all this wood would one day be to my advantage they thought I was a hoarder. lol
$15,000 now that the democrats printed twice as much money and biden screwed stuff up.
Thank you. It was 14 gauge stainless steel and it bent very well. It did required some good clamping.
Good stuff! Enjoyed your personality too! Thanks for doing this for us!
Thanks! I had a lot of fun putting this one together.
Thank you! Interesting to see how effective a wood and hinges design can be, and some good lessons learned in tge make.
Great project idea! Thanks
The pure fact he drilled a hole in Bed Frame Steel is Hilarious I would of paid cash on the spot to see that video footage! lol automatically gets a like! How many bits did that take? Cut off saw eats it up easy is funny part. Diamond glass bits work well. but normal Drill bits LOL Even carbide bits turn to dust in that stuff fast lol We always use to give the new guy a section of it and ask them to drill few holes in it just to bust there stones on the first day LOL For anyone that does not know: They use recycled railroad track sections to make bed frame rails. The railroad tracks are made from 6 types of steel in layers then heat treated on one side other mounting side is left made of a softer steel. When they melt down the steel from them and make bed frames you get a steel that gets a spring like tension to it. It also gets harder and harder as it heats up over very low temperature changes. drilling it is a nightmare. As it starts heating up as you drill a hole making it as hard as carbide by time you smoke the bit lol Seen many people having panic attacks as the blew out 5 bits on first day trying drill one hole as everyone is trying not to bust out laughing LOL
This is perfect. Ty.
Nothing beats simplicity in the end. simple geneous Chris Schmidt
Thanks! Simple is always the best!
A few gotchas along the way - but noted AHEAD of me trying it :)
Nicely done
Outstanding.
Awesome ideas, I subscribed as well!
That was great.. Thanks for sharing.. 🍻🍻
Very nice, thank you!
Wow! Really cool!
Thanks! Glad you like it.
Great punchline. Home railroad. Of course!
Wow. Very cool project (& train) my friend.
I wish I had the tools to build this. I just rescued an old Honda ATV to help this old man make snow go away. It's kind of unsafe as it has no floor boards & if your foot comes off it goes right under the rear wheel.
Nice job.
This guy's got a serious sense of humour
😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
Ohhhhh...EXCELENTE
AQUI TENGO UNA GRAN IDEA GRACIAS A TU VIDEO...
muchas gracias Carlitos,por compartirla ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Is this able to to cope with different thicknesses of material, or would oval holes be better on the top piece (that you secure the workpiece down with) so that it can slide a little forward and back.
Looks so easy to make. Think I’d use beefier hinges for longevity but great otherwise
Great project, I enjoyed watching the video. Thanks.
Wow that worked well
It does indeed!
Very good and clear video. You got to the point and your demonstration was clear and help understand the process. Successful and effective thanks 🙏
Great idea! Would this work with 4X4 material? (Already have some)
Nice ! Thanks......
Love this. Great austerity stuff. Don't suppose your wife has noticed yet about the missing bed support? 😃
Keep it up!
was looking for 2 million euro panel bending center solutions, ended up there XD
really impressive tho
Love the ending
Thanks!
Not sure if anyone cares but if you're stoned like me during the covid times then you can stream pretty much all the new movies and series on instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my girlfriend for the last few weeks :)
@Krew Nixon yea, have been watching on InstaFlixxer for years myself :)
wow. you are really different from the metal brakes. great.
Thanks!
This is nice. I need one to bend a piece of 1/8 aluminum 18 inches wide and 30 inches wide. Would this work?
is it possible to cut finger slots in the back bar in order to bend pans and boxes? will it work
Good!
The price just for the 4x6 is up to 5 bitcoin now.
Looking at your vid as a possible solution to bend some 1/4" 5052 Aluminum, widest piece is about 18.125" IF I had an oxy acetylene torch I'd hit the line with sooty flame to anneal it before bending.
There's a fortune in timber there for a start.
I need to bend 2 mm steel plate . Any idea If this would do the job?
Would use impact with deep well socket to tighten clamping bolts on top Speed up the process
Wow, that is a very different world you are living in..
gauge and length limits do you think? :)
This is a great inexpensive option. I am looking to bend 0.75micron PETG (plastic) but there's not many easy solutions out there. 🤪
Have you made any modifications since this? I need to make a box with a lid so i'll need to bend the sheet on all 4 sides and don't know how/ Thanks.
You just need to make "fingers " for the brake so you can use it as a "box and pan brake"
Great video, but is the music really necessary?
Slick 👍😁
Only issue I see is portability and weight. A 48" brake like I need would be so heavy!
👍👍
Wow
How thick of aluminum can be bent? I am wanting to bend .090 aluminum.
I was able to bend an O grade 1/16 thick 24 inch wide piece of aluminum tread plate just fine.
I have not tried anything thicker.
.090 aluminum will probably work but will need to be O grade and most likely less than 24 inches wide to reduce the bending force needed.
Depending on structural needs of the corner, thicker material can be cut on the inside along the bend line to make bending easier, and the corner radius tighter. I've done this with plastics, but the same principals apply for malleable metals.
3:00 He's saying plumbers have a potty mouth.
Yes , that rotten MF'r thinks we're all the same , F !
Great job, but don't drink and drive! ha, ha, ha...
Big boys toys
Frugal👍
*...+1 for "project with twobyfour* (I'm metric ;)
Americans will use anything but a robertson
You might be a redneck if you store your project steel in your bedroom.
The foreground music is distracting, and drowns your voice. So it's another video ruined by placating the addicted. 👎
Thanks for the feedback!