How Do You Bend Sheet Metal Without A Brake?
Working with sheet metal can be a rewarding, albeit sometimes frustrating, experience. Sheet metal is used for car autobodies, building truck beds, and other odds and ends around the house/yard. If you are a part time or “recreational” metal worker, you may not have access to all of the workings of a metal shop. When working with sheet metal one particularly useful piece of equipment is the brake. A brake is a device that allows you to bend a piece of sheet metal at a particular angle. Metal shops have brakes mounted at different angles with automated braking arms, however it is possible to bend sheet metal at home without the use of a brake. Determine the angle at which you want to brake the metal and mark it on the protractor. You will use the protractor to gauge the brake as you bend the metal little by little. Cut the section of metal out or otherwise prepare the metal to be bent by removing any burrs or sharp edges. Slide the angle iron into the jaws of the vise so that it lays fl
