Press Brake Suggestions?

Today I bought a combination press brake, roll bender, and shear from Harbor Freight that was suppose to handle up to 18ga. It may handle 20 ga. or lighter, but definetly not 18ga. Im in the process of building my interior for my 1928 Hupmobile that orginally was framed out with wood. The wood is rotted and in need of replacing, and I would much rather frame it with steel. The rear doors are very heavy and have to be supported with the framing along with the window frames, and crank assembly. I could use a lighter guage steel, but I would rather use 18ga if possible. The body panels as best I can tell are 18ga. So, does anyone have any suggestions for cutting, bending 18ga, and what have some of you done with replacing the wood. I have access to a press brake and shear at work but I would rather be able to frame it at home.

Yep, that is the problem with the lower cost brakes, they simply bend themselves and don't give you a clean bend. The wider the piece, the worse it gets, too.

You are spoiled by the commercial quality one you use at work, and are finding out what all of us have realized at one time or another.............good tools cost more money, but really get the job done better and faster.

We looked at the Harbor Freight one, but ended up buying a Grizzly 48 inch unit. It cost more, but we just bent up quite a few pieces of 18 gauge that were 46 inches long, and the bends are crisp and sharp.

My Son actually built one out of some pretty heavy stock, but it was marginal as the bending lip distorts under pressure, and lets the piece distort too. It is sitting in the corner and will probably be cut up for parts. He reinforced it a lot, but it still bends.

Maybe you can use the one at work for the bigger pieces and use the HF unit for smaller ones?


Don