How to Build Low Budget Sheet Metal Hand Brakes

Metalworkers use a sheet metal brake to bend sheet metal into a desired shape. Commercial metal shops use hydraulic sheet metal brakes, but home users typically use sheet metal brakes operated by hand. This type of sheet metal brake requires materials commonly available at a hardware store.

Items Needed:

• Angle iron


• 7/16-inch nuts


• 1-inch bolts


• 3-inch bolts


• 1/4-inch steel rod


• 1/8-inch pipe nipples

1. Obtain an angle iron from a hardware store that measures 2 inches on a side with a thickness of one-fourth inch. Cut three lengths of the angle iron to a length of 30 inches.


2. Mark a location on one of the lengths of angle iron that is along the midline of one side, and three-fourths inch from one end. Drill a hole at this location with a diameter of half an inch. Repeat this step to drill a similar hole at the other end of the same side of the angle iron. Drill similar holes on a second piece of angle iron.


3. Weld a threaded 7/16-inch nut under a hole in one of the pieces of angle iron. Hold the nut in place with a 1-inch bolt. Weld a nut under the other hole in the same piece of angle iron. Repeat this step with the other piece of angle iron with holes in it.


4. Place a series of 1/8-inch pipe nipples onto a steel rod with a diameter of one-fourth inch. This rod will be the hinge for the sheet metal brake.


5. Place an angle iron with holes alongside the angle iron without holes. Weld a pipe nipple to one angle iron, and then weld the next pipe nipple to the other angle iron. Continue welding the other pipe nipples in an alternating fashion, ensuring you do not weld adjacent pipe nipples to each other.


6. Cut a 6-inch length of pipe with a diameter of half an inch. Weld this pipe to the middle of the undrilled angle iron to serve as a handle.


7. Attach the two lengths of drilled angle iron with 3-inch bolts. The second drilled piece will serve as the clamp for the sheet metal.