Central Machinery/Harbor Freight sheet metal brake: experiences?

I just picked up a brand new Harbor Freight/Central Machinery 36-inch sheet metal brake with stand. Never used, it's on their website for $259, on sale for $199, I got it for $100, no tax (private sale).

Looking it over it needs some adjustments which shouldn't be too difficult. I might upgrade it a little by adding a piece of angle along the full length of the folding portion that makes the bend.

It SEEMS like a pretty sturdy piece. It's not real tall, and only 36-inch work area, but weighs over 100lbs. The welds all look very good, and it seems well constructed.

Anybody have any experience with these? Good points, bad points, did yours break, any adjustments or improvements you've had to make?

-Brad

 

I have one, got mine about 2 years ago onsale (stand and break) for 119.00, I've used it many time without issues...just FYI (with any break), make sure the gap is adjusted properly for the metal being broke.

I've no complaints.

 

glad someone has one of these because im looking to invest in one this fall.

 

I've seen them break into pieces, but I've seen them last for years. Guess it just depends how good the batch was when poured into the casting by the 11 yr old Chinese kid. I think it ought to be fine for light duty service. If you think "this might be too thick", don't even attempt it.

 

I think that 11 year old Chinese kid won a gold medal las week...

 

And she's back in the sweat shop this week!

 

Making the next batch of Harbor Freight tools

 

I have one I bought new 2 years ago, I love it. Only problem was cleaning all the cosmoline (sp) off of it.

 

I agree. The damn thing was COVERED in cosmo. But it works good, got one of the little 30" bench mount brakes for $40 or so and built a gas tank out of it. Worked better than expected. I'd recommend it. $300+ for custom built gas tank at a shop $40 brake + $15 sheet metal (if that) = big savings

 

I don't think he is refering to the combination shear/roll brake that everyone was having trouble with the castings breaking. If it's just a brake it's constructed with sheet steel and welding. It should last a long time if operated properly.

Frank

 

I should mention I used a propane torch to heat the metal in conjunction with the brake.

 

2 things:

I bought one of these a couple years ago, I was producing a product that was multi-process with three brakes setup to do specific bends, and the change over time for my two finger brakes was slowing down the process - I bought one of these to put the final brake of a simple1/4 flange on the final product, and it worked great.

Also, the Chinese are fully capable of producing very high quality products, however the greedy capitalist westerners are constantly pressuring them to produce the products for 3 cents on the dollar - thus the quality suffers. My company is producing product in China now that we could never get produced in the US at a similar quality level, delivered on the time frame they can meet. The cost of production is nearly similar for China vs US for our product - but they can do it better and MUCH faster - even with the overseas shipping.

 

"greedy capitalist westerners" is ********,coming from someone who is obviously part of the problem.Manufacturing in America is suffering because greedy suits like you find excuses to go to the chinamen,with no E.P.A.,social security,workman's comp,etc.Hope you are not making HotRod parts,that would really be unforunate.We are currently making the best product( in its little niche)you will find, and are proud to make it in Connecticut with American craftsman.To bad we all aren't doing our part,you can rationalize all you want,but if you want to leave a legacy for your kids,better buy American.Sorry for the O.T.rant,but not really.

 

I've bought one of these about 2 years ago, and I also have a TennSmith brake also, and I do use it alot. It has never let me down. When I got it, it too was covered in cosmoline and I smothered it with brake cleaner and then rinsed it off. The added a little lube to the gears, then Sham-WOW.................perfect. I do suggest taking an angle grinder with soft roloc pad and removing the baked on paint from the bending surfaces as it will make for inconsistent bends. I've made t bucket doors and inside panels, trans tunnels, small portions of floor, and lots of other stuff.

 

I sold an 8' monster brake to buy the more compact model. It won't bend the thicker gauge metals but we don't do much of that. Sheet meatal and aluminum is what we bend the most of. I sure do like the added space>>>>.

 

Have a central shear, brake , and slip roll. First one was bad, replaced it and no issues two years later.

 

Im kind of in a pinch and thinking of grabbing one of these. We are moving soon (bigger garage/more land) and a friend of mine is selling me an 8ft brake then, but its HEAVY and being we are closing in a month or so, I am NOT going to move it twice. I just need to bend up some 18 gauge for a Merc Im working on right now. Think this little Chino monster would work? I hate buying Chino but timewise my back is against the wall. I usually always try and get USA made after wising up to what's going on, even if its 2nd hand.

 

For are you know I could just be the janitor cleaning the restrooms in in the office - you are calling me a greedy suit? I knew typing that last night it would provoke a response like yours - "part of the problem", so you are a close of the borders and "f*** the rest of the world guy." The world and perhaps the universe is a much bigger place than our 50 states, we are all humans and all deserve certain things provided by our creator(who ever you believe that is) - regardless of some politically drawn geographical boundaries a couple hundred years old. The Earth and its occupants have been here longer than the US cons***ution.

The world is getting smaller all the time guys - you can't continue to maintain the incredible high standard of living we enjoy in the US forever - while the VAST majority of the world lives in gross poverty.

What is buying American anymore? 75% of consumer goods are produced and sold by publicly traded companies - so I should buy a Ford if I own stock in Hyundai?

It is a brave new world guys - $6 fuel worldwide, decentralization of manufacturing, satellite TV broadcasting MTV Cribs to a 11yo kid in China eating noodles out of a hollowed out tree stump will change the world.

I'm sure you don't recycle all of your plastic and gl***, and high gloss paper either - what was that about leaving a legacy for your children? A mountain of trash at the edge of town? I'm sure you are pumping the "buy American" when it comes to saving your job in Conn, but I bet I could take a look at your weekly household spending and find an awful lot of Chinese products p***ing through your doors every day - really, how committed to the buy American philiophy are you? Do you buy locally grown produce and groceries at a 60%+ premium? This could go on forever.....

Oh yeah, the brake works great for a $100 Chinese POS.

 

Bet there aren't too many janitors bragging about their chinamen pals,are there?Greedy capitalists,indeed!

 

Will you two guys shut the **** up?????

This is NOT a politics board. It's a good thing that we are made up of all different beliefs and stand points, but all you idiots are going to do is LOCK an otherwise informative thread about TOOLS us hot rod and custom guys use to BUILD CARS.

 

I've got one Brad...got it CHEAP used with a bunch of other stuff....says 24 gauge capacity on it (maybe 22?)...but have used 20 gauge in it for smaller pieces.....works fine.....but for bending short flanges, when bending, the metal tends to "push" through the clamp, as in not enough clamping force....if that makes sense. May just need a slight adjustment.

 

Williams Low Buck Tools has an excellent selection of HAMB oriented machinery,made by actual hotrodders and racers,their web site is real good,and we have several of their tools ,including one of their plate brakes,a tube notcher,beader,etc.Mr Williams is quite a character,his web site is well worth looking up.OK,I'm done.buy American if building cars is what you want to do.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Well, almost all of them!
I also posted the same question over on The Garage Journal (I highly recommend hanging out there, too...great compliment to this board).
Someone posted a link to another board where the guy did a couple upgrades to his. I haven't read through it yet, but a quick scan of the photos showed one improvement I'm absolutely going to make--a reinforced anchor for the clamp's pivot bracket.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=553583

Keep them coming! If anyone else has any good info on these clamps, weak points, whatever, post them up. It sounds like it's a decent tool, and should surely be able to do what I'm going to ask of it. That's a comfort--I got it at a pretty good price, but I still hate to part with money!

-Brad

 

Brad, after reading this and doing a little more research I called a place in NH and bought a table top 30" model around 11 am. I talked to the guy over the phone and he said HFs machine isnt terrible, but they rate that 12 gauge at like a 1/2" section. So yes, it can bend that, but no you really cant make anything out of it haha.

I am only looking to use this once and then give it to a friend or something when I upgrade (or if it works well, who knows?) but he said his $60 table top can and will bend 17 gauge across the 30" brake...side to side. He did say though that it would take 2 ppl most likely.

 

I hope your brake doesn't break(mine did). I buy used American tools now; way better and often cheaper than new Chink stuff.

 

I think it'll do you fine, pretty sure the one I have is "rated" at 16 ga mild steel, 18 Ga SS for the full 36inches.

But you're gonna kick yourself for not grabbing that 8 footer

 

I'm not an idiot. And these thread don't get locked because the three people that can lock them don't read them all.

And I was far from the first person to start slamming Chinese people. It isn't cool to pick on someones nationality just because they are trying to make some tools and sell them to rich white people that have so much extra money they choose to waste it on 76 year old obsolete cars.

*2002 NCAA Debate Reserve Champion - Stanford University*

So to keep the thread totally on topic - I love my $89 brake. I drilled a couple holes in the face of the forward arm, and bolted on an adjustable stop so that you can dialed in the degree of bend you want - excellent for repeated bends of the same angle.

 

These sentences sure look funny next to each other! You (reserve) champion!

 

Can we go back to slamming the Chinks instead of me, please?