made my own pittsburg bending tool

[speff]

I am starting out in HVAC, didn`t want to spend $2000 on pittsburg machine so I made one that functions much differently works like a die or vice and is only 45 lbs makes perfect joints also fast was told there was a market for this not looking to sell just need input THANKS

[t527ed]

this one needs pictures.

[speff]

may have pictures in a couple weeks, tool right now is at a school being tried out

[amickracing]

Humm, interesting. I've bent pitts before with a break, not real hard, but it's a pain compared to running it through a machine.. I'm anxious to see this tool.

[greenm&m]

If you are looking to sell your invention here is some advise

Don't call a 1-800- Inventor service

You can use this site to help you out with a patent
http://www.brighterideas.com/

Keep your drawings safe and date all of them

A big company will not buy your invention without a patent

Another thing don't go telling everybody what you invented. Keep your ideas to yourself.

A patent only gives you the right to sue a thief.

Here is another site you may find useful
http://www.uspto.gov/

[speff]

thanks greatly for tips. just starting out with this idea. I use it and love it (made 2 of them)have made pittburg on machine and have toyed on sheet metel brake and thought maybe I can make something affordable compact light weight and very easy too operate. Worked in a machine shop for 30 years, machining this thing was easy for me but getting it too work perfectly took a dozen or so tries. when my wife used it with a couple minutes of instrutions and succesfully made a pittsburg joint first try the designing part was done. Here is a little more about it. It has a capacity to make a none locking pittsburg joint (no 1/4 tab to bend over) 21 1/2" long 26 gauge metel. also made 2 folding bars, both 21 1/2 cap. one of them on one side will bend 1" to prep sheet metel for above tool, and other side will bend 1/4" for mating sheet metel to fit in pittsburg. other folding bar bends up a 1/2" foot for bottom of transition in 3 easy steps. both folding bars can slide into a simple fixture if needed to help assist in bending. also made sheet metel hand brake (no moving parts)to bend 4 corners, is there a market for this stuff?

[amickracing]

I would have to say there's a market for it.

Although I agree with not really sharing your ideas until you can get a deal set up, man I'm dying to see this creation! lol.

I'm thinking this would be perfect for the crews who do change outs, but not enough to justify a big van (or trailer) with a break and pitts machine. With your tool, some scrap, a ruler, and a few other things you'd have a pretty nice portable SM shop.

[dhvac]

it sounds like something i would buy

[Timber]

i'm interested, want to start making my own plenums. I have zero sheet metal experience but want to learn.

I would buy one.

[speff]

when some of you read this you may think Iam making a big mistake. I knew several months ago that I wont get a patent for now, by talking to a lawyer my accountant and a marketing expert I will go ahead and make a few of these myself. If someone copies it good luck trying to beat my price, and I don't think the volume will ever be very high for lets say china to copy it. Can't talk price on this sight but if I saw this thing and was starting out in HVAC I would by it over and import pittsgurg machine 1/8th the cost and 1/8th the wieght. Next step is maybe get a web sight with demo. video in next couple months or if you live in south east wisconsin I may show people in person.

[amickracing]

Ok, enough with the teasing! lol

Could ya post some pictures, or send me some and I could post them for ya. I'm dying to see this thing.

[speff]

pictures will be sent soon, about a week or or so,just got tool back from a HVAC school. I am new to all this computer stuff my nephew is helping me get set up so this all takes time thanks for tips and interest.

[mckcd]

I'll take one.

While you are at it could you also invent an oval hole cutter. You know like Malco's circle cutter only it cuts oval holes for top take offs. I'd buy one of them too! :)

[dhvac]

also i could be wrong but i think we can talk prices in the pro forums
just not in the public areas

[speff]

oval hole sounds like an interesting project,are ovals always same size?

[mckcd]

No, but I mostly use just 3 sizes 6" 7" and 8" top take offs. I'd have to measure the oval size though. This one has racked my brain for a long time.

[speff]

is this for making a 90 degree "T", like taking a 6"round duct and tapping into a larger round duct with many combanations of diameters? how are you cutting oval now?

[mckcd]

These are top takeoffs for round runs on rectangular duct. Many just use elbows instead of take offs. They are much more restrictive though. I cut them with snips.

[speff]

lets see if I know what you want to do cut an oval hole on top of a rec. duct in between floor and floor joists, sounds like fun with snips. I also have malco circle cutter have not used it yet. also have right angle cordless drill, I think with those 2 combined with a type of oval templete secured somehow with a pilot bearing might work. Woodworkers do this with routers, I made thousands of craft items this way on a pin router years back.

[mckcd]

Sounds good to me. How long before you bring it to market? :)

[speff]

I will tinker around with it,maybe in a few weeks I should know how tooling I can get cuts sheet metel. How do I get intouch with you in lets say a month or two from now, you can try something out for free to see how it holds up out in the field. a kit like this if it works like I think it should would be very inexpensive 3 templetes, end mill, and a bearing. I take it that the 3 take offs 6,7,8" are the same no matter where you by them. What rpm does malco bit like to run at and how does it hold up?

[mckcd]

I'll check the brand on my take offs. The malco bit works best on a high speed corded drill but it works fine on cordless too. I think that the bit holds up better on the corded drill just because you don't have to force it as much.

[Timber]

speff, how bout that pittsburg/ brake thingy. Waiting for pics and price....

[speff]

hopfully 10-26-06 pm my wife and I are total idiots with this modern electronics, we are just starting out. will only send picture of pitts. tool and metel it bent, other 2 tools are not presentable for pictures yet. hopefully something will be sent tommorow night.

[speff]

<<<edited by OP request>>>


http://www.linkupcity.com/jeffimages/tools1.jpg



http://www.linkupcity.com/jeffimages/tools2.jpg


[Edited by Lusker on 11-02-2006 at 08:31 AM]

[speff]

pitures should be in tommorrow

[speff]

mckcd oval tool works great let me know if int. thanks.

[mckcd]

got any pics speff?

[speff]

sure, give me a couple days. I used my dewalt right angle cordless drill at 1200 rpm worked fine, a little more rpm will work even better.

[speff]

http://linkupcity.com/jeffimages/tool3.jpg

mckcd here is what I came up with, upper left is template, it gets sheet metel screwed to duct, cutter is to left of cordless drill works excellent! This oval is just made up, can't find oval take offs in this town! You can have this set up for free it needs to be tried out in field.

[neophytes serendipity]

Sooooo....

Just how is that any faster or easier than using -gasp- a plain old pair of snips?

[mckcd]

Cutting in runs on the top of existing rectangular duct between small joists.

[mckcd]

Hey Speff I'll have to send you some take offs so we can get the size right.

Is there PM on this site?

[speff]

mckcd you can get my email under profile below this sentence