sheet metal bender

[zippy500]

I am looking at sheet metal bender, price is a issue and storage space, I was looking at these on fleebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300611963206? ... 1423.l2649

I like this because Price/thickness it can bend but obviously 18" is quite small.

and this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190599491702? ... 1423.l2649

I do like this,can take thicker steel, but are limited to depth of vice.

anyone had any experience with these, or you reccommend somthing similar.

Thanks

[mogbob]

If you have a "workmate" type bench, 24"/ 50cm wide then two lengths of angle iron will get you by.A little slower in forming the right angle but OK for most purposes.Just don't try bashing the metal over to 90 degrees in one go / hit !! Work your way along bending a little over at a time.
If you are a "purist " you will see the hammer indentations, less so if you employ a wooden mallet for the job.
But in reality you will be rubbing down the metal work... a very light skim of filler, if need be.
I've done a couple of restorations with good old angle iron and my trusty old aluminium workmate bench.

The larger one would be more useful for most sheet metal bending operations, whilst as you say,the smaller one would handle
thicker metal.With small patches, involving thicker metal, it is usually flat metal pieces that you use.You can weld together the more complicated shapes.

Bob

[les]

The second link looks interesting, I might have to give that some thought, thanks.

[M25VAN]

Save yourself a bit of money Les.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ad ... prod20496/

[IaininTenbury]

I like the little 'press brake' conversions on a vice. Look very nicely engineered. Interesting that they're cheaper from the supplier rather than on ebay!
I used to have a vice mounted folder similar to the first link which was quite good. It didn't do a very sharp fold though and there was no means of adjusting it, but it may just have been that make (not the ebay one). I did a lot of work with it though until I succombed to a secondhand floor standing 24" box folder, though I was moving away from DIY use by then and doing it part time. Eventually I got a 6' box and pan folder which weighs well over a ton from a factory clearance but the little 24" one is still good for small work.
If I was still doing work in a garage at home, I'd probably still have a vice mounted folder like the first link, though looking at the simple fabricated construction of them I always toyed with the idea of building a longer version....

[les]

Thanks m25, fair bit cheaper!

[M25VAN]

And they have a branch near Sittingbourne. Give yourself plenty of time if you visit, there is lots to see.