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Finger brake radius question

Cole2534

Diamond
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
I recently picked up a small finger brake to make some aluminum boxes and what I'm wondering is how to properly determine the bend radius for specific thicknesses of sheet metal. Right now it's all 14 or 16 gauge aluminum.

Does anyone have other rules of thumb they'd like to share?

Thanks, Cole
 
a small finger brake

It will be surprising how the act of bending will simply move the stock - without a back up to prevent that happening

Thumbnail is one I made for my Pexto before I sold it
 

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Brake doesn't currently have a back gauge but one is on my list to fabricate.

I'd not mind some pics of shop made arrangements if anyone has some handy.
 
An apron brake won't give a smooth radius like a press brake. If that's important, you have the wrong tool.

Standard is to set the top leaf back two times your material thickness.
 
An apron brake won't give a smooth radius like a press brake. If that's important, you have the wrong tool.

Standard is to set the top leaf back two times your material thickness.
Perfect.

No need for perfect radius here, just building some small boxes and sheet metal panels to replace some that have been damaged over the years.

It seems that if the brake is good for 16ga mild, that about 20ga stainless is its limit. That a fair estimate?
 








 
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