More cars I work on, the more I want to learn to do myself. An area I've been trying to expand in is bodywork and metal fabrication. I have been getting by with the old "use whatever is around the shop" method to bend and form metal. Been wanting some metal fab shop equip. for some time, and now is the time with some new tax return money. 1st looking at a 3-in-1 metal bend roll shear machine. Brands I looked at online are Baileah, Birmingham, JET, and Woodward Fab. Like the 30˝ to 40˝ models, most seem to be 20 gauge. Leaning towards the JET 30˝ model as it comes with a set of female/male dies, has multiple wire grooves, and a 2 yr warranty - all options that the other brands don't offer for about the same price as their 40˝ models. Or I could go with a 40˝ model of the other brands but not have the options/warranty. (JET has a 40˝ model, but it's almost double the cost of the other brands) As a starter, I just want to do floor pans, braces, brackets and metal boxes sort of work. Don't want to buy something that's cheap or known to break. With all of the metal work here on the HAMB, surely someone has some advise as to what to look for, options, or brands that are good/bad? May also look into a bead roller, shrink/stretcher. Advise? Thanks
20 Ga. isn't enough. I wouldn't buy anything that wasn't rated for 18 Ga minimum. After my torch, my most used tools are, Beverly style shear, shrinker stretcher, and bead roller. I have and use my two slip rolls a lot, but that type of bend is pretty easy to do with other methods.
If you want to make floor pans, boxes and brackets i would invest in a bead roller and a finger box pan and break. I got my bead roller from woodward fab i think it was $150-$180ish on ebay. That included shipping.
Thanks, the 3-in-1 seemed appealing because it saved shop space and more bang fort the buck, but if they aren't worth a crap... I need other options That was my first opinion on the 20 Ga., as I use 18 Ga. on floors. Models that go up to 16 Ga. sure jump up in price though... Yes, primarily those are the two items I need the most. Mostly a pan & brake. Never used a slip roller, would be nice to experiment with one and see what I could learn to do. Don't see me buying one separately just to experiment and learn, which is why the 3-in-1 was appealing. Do they make a bead roller / slip roller?
Read the homemade tools and equipment thread. Great low buck stuff!. With a few pieces of tube you can do what a slip roll does. I got mine cheap at auction, but good ones are spendy.
Bear in mind that a 4' brake like mine that is rated 16, is a real tough job bending a 4' wide bend on the 16. So, if you bought a 30" 20ga, it might have a tough time with the 20 ga if you bent a 30" piece. A longshot unless you don't need one right this moment; keep looking for used ones in C/L local, or... I got real lucky with mine on ebay, but had to drive 1hr away to get it. It was worth it. $400 for a mint used Tennsmith 4' box/pan
That is a great thread... I'll have to flip through it again as it's grown a lot since I first time I looked. I remember seeing a lot of english wheels and bead rollers...
Thanks, not something that I realized I started looking about 3 weeks ago. Wasn't much to be found. Also wasn't sure about buying used equip. as since I don't know what to look for. Didn't want to buy someone else's junk just to save a penny. Not in a super hurry, although I need to purchase my stuff before the wife comes up with some "house project that we can't live without"!
Used American made stuff is always the way to go...use common sense, try it first, and you will have something for the rest of your life. Remember you can make a small part on a big machine, but a big part is impossible on a small one. This stuff is always around once you learn the ropes. ( Never saw a 3 in 1 machine that wasn't broken.)
As others have said, look for American made, older equipment. Auctions, garage sales, estate sales are a good start. Weight matters in shop tools. HEAVY is usually stronger. Cast iron is almost always better than fabricated. Forgings are best. Most older American made stuff is very repairable, off-shore crap not-so-much. Good tools will last you a lifetime, junk tools will get you frustrated and hurt.
The Jalopy Journal
