any body ever built a Mini break

[bennytec]

I bought some angle Iron and other steel. I gonna make a 3 ft mini break to make transitions and other on site metal.

Any suggestions ?

I made a tremporary on yesterday by nailing to 2x4's together the bottom 2x4 was 4 inches longer. I nailed the 2 togeter then pryed the one side apart and slipped my metal in and bent it on the table. Didn't make a clean 90 degree crease. But thats what gave me the Idea.

Wish me Luck

[m kilgore]

I tried making one with angle iron once. Never could get it to bend a clean 90. I think Johnstone has a mini break fo ra couple hundred dollars. If I was in need thats what I would do.

Good luck with your project. Let us know how it comes out.

[dhvac]

i bought a cheap break from harbor freigh tools wouldnt bend a 90 till i hit it with a grinder. not bad now and it was under $50 if i remember correctly

[markwolf]

I just gave one to a 13 year old kid I know that wants to learn aircraft metal.He wanted to get an english wheel but I told him to start off making boxes,etc.The one I made was pretty nice & makes great bends but the top was adapted & cut out of an old aluminum brake that had been accidentally driven over buy the kid of a guy I know.

[grasshopper]

You can get a nice cheap light-weight 4 ft break made by Malco tools. Throw it in and out of the truck with great ease and it can come with a leg kit if you want. Too much dinking around to try and make a good one your self when they sell those.

[markwolf]

Originally posted by grasshopper
You can get a nice cheap light-weight 4 ft break made by Malco tools. Throw it in and out of the truck with great ease and it can come with a leg kit if you want. Too much dinking around to try and make a good one your self when they sell those. Some of us like "dinking around"lol!-----I just got done making a 250 gallon upright compressor for myself.It probably cost me more to make than I could have bought a cheapo for but it's a quality compressor that will be with me forever.I guess you could say it's a pride in oneself thing that drives my crazy behavior.

[Ron]

I've got the Malco Mini-Brake. It works pretty good. I don't usually haul it around but if I need to it's easy enough to do alone.

[spotts]

called a Tailgate Break. Works fine when needed.

[bennytec]

Got all the pieces Cut tonight just waiting for my buddy to fix his welder. I hope it works i think it will weigh less than 5lbs. If it don't work i had fun trying.

I'm using 2x2 angle iron for most of it. I saved some 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 angle from a demolition job we did a few months back. Recycle it. save Money reduce loss if it fails. I saved all my measurements i'll post the blueprints if it works. I got less than 50 bucks invested.

[sline-dawg]

a cheap 50 dollar break might save your butt one day. hand-tongs work, but not quite the look we want.

[midhvac]

It better be some really heavy gauge angle or it's going to buckle.
I bought a book online about how to build your own sheet metal brake. Looks *REAL* heavy duty, but haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

[muskie770]

Here's one we built

http://www.heaterman.com/break1.JPG

http://www.heaterman.com/break2.JPG

It worked well for a lot of years. only good for 4' stuff so I got smart and bought this

http://www.heaterman.com/realbreak.JPG

[bennytec]

Got it all welded up it works ok. but the hinges i got were cheep they are gonna stretch soon.

Started a new job with a guy that has a break and pittsburg machine in a 2002 Gmc Cab over Box truck. Don't need it anymore.

[midhvac]

Muskie, that home made one ain't too shabby! There's a guy on the internet selling books about how to make a home made brake. I bought the book, but yours puts his to shame. Maybe you oughta make a book?

Do you happen to remember what gauge steel that thing's made out of?

[condenseddave]

Muskie, did Dice take that top pic???:p

[muskie770]

my pic skills suck. Hey , I'm just a hack. I got no real skill.:)

[muskie770]

Originally posted by condenseddave
Muskie, did Dice take that top pic???:p

I had the great privlige to meet Dice once, One of a kind. Better listen up when he tells you something. But I think the real brains on this forum is selfemployed.

[simpleman]

Originally posted by midhvac
Muskie, that home made one ain't too shabby! There's a guy on the internet selling books about how to make a home made brake. I bought the book, but yours puts his to shame. Maybe you oughta make a book?

Do you happen to remember what gauge steel that thing's made out of?


For sure!I was looking at that break thinking dam that break looks better then the one I paid big money for.

A true craftsman.