ideas for making a brake to bend small pcs of copper?
I need to make some flashing pcs to go over teh extended portion of my rake roof brackets or corels. I think I can make them out of 6″ by 9″ pcs of copper. I just need to make a few 90 degree bends and no length of bend more than 6 inches. I would like them to be neat. Would it work to claim the copper between two pcs of wood and then use another pcs of wood to fold the copper over?
Yes, I could try this myself , but if I am likely to fail then I do not wish to have bought the copper if I am going to a fabricator anyway.
Ideas for home made brakes?
Replies
Hand seamers
Have you considered using hand seamers? I have a pair with 10in. long jaws. The jaws aren't very deep, though. Otherwise, you can use two pieces of wood and a clamp, but it's tough to get a full 90 degree bend. Or you can rent a brake. HD has them, as would any decent rental yard. Or you could buy a small brake at Harbor Freight for $100 or so.
Harbor Freight $40
Harbor freight sells two very basic brakes, for $40 and $60, respectively. Check these out:
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-bending-brake-39103.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-bending-brake-67240.html
There is also a $9 'hand folding tool' that you might be able to make work. IMO, you really should have a brake.
I've jury-rigged brakes, from wood, angle iron, and even extrusions- and none work as well, or as easily, as a real brake. The HF ones also require you to use two pairs of vise-grips, and you'll need to bolt them to something.
Close a door on it. The door stop will be like a break.
Or the door will break...
You can't afford copper thick enough to hurt a door.
You haven't seen my doors.
This fourm needs a "like" button.
Yeah, I've got some doors like that too.
You must not have teenage daughters.
The real test of a door is "you never let me do anything", footsteps down the hall and BAM!
30ga or even 26ga copper is no match for that.
True that. I had teenage sons. They were more into direct confrontation.