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Experience With Swag Press Brake For H F 20t Press?

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by ITLKSEZ, Apr 6, 2018.

  1. Apr 6, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    I started taking the parts out of the box last night and was a little confused about something...

    The "shoe" that they supply is simply a piece of angle iron. Anyone who's done any metal bending knows that in order to make a 90° bend, you have to go a few degrees past 90 to allow for spring-back. The nature of angle iron compounds the issues to a degree by having a bit of thicker webbing in the inner corner. From this, thin stock will never have a sharp bend.

    I assumed the shoe would at least have a bit more than a 90° bend.

    If any of you have one of these units, is this an issue? Can you bend a full 90°?

    I know they sell an adjustable shoe that can bend sharper than 90, but I'd think the basic unit should at least be able to bend a solid right angle.

    I might assemble this as instructed, but I'm thinking I'll need to build a drop-in shoe with a sharper and steeper angle.

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Apr 6, 2018
    Mark Wahlster

    Mark Wahlster Member

    Silverton, OR
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2015
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    386
    Who is selling this Swag Brake? is it a Harbor freight product?
     
  3. Apr 6, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    They’re in you're home state.
    Welcome to SWAG Off Road -
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2020
  4. Apr 7, 2018
    Mark Wahlster

    Mark Wahlster Member

    Silverton, OR
    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2015
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    386
    OK they never cleared that with me LOL. I think I had heard of them a while back but based on the prices I lost interest.
     
  5. Apr 8, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2014
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    4,170
    I got the of those this past Christmas from my Honey. I had the same question, and figured I would run the lower angle though the Bridgeport mill to tighten up the inside corner, and maybe even add an extra degree to the inside angle. All this before I "assemble" the press brake.
    I decided I needed to re-wire power to the mill, ordered the supplies, etc. and simply haven't gotten to the project yet.
    What did you think of the "flat rate" packaging that press brake arrived in? I feel sorry for the US Postal workers that have to handle those!
    -Donny
     
  6. Apr 8, 2018
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    1,214
    I have one, and built. It’s been a while since I used it.

    I recall 90 on 1/8” was no problem. I was replicating c channel for a cj5 frame.

    If it’s an issue on the thicker stuff you could fix it.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  7. Apr 9, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    You must've missed my post from the other day:
    H F 20 Ton Shop Press Reviews?

    Thanks for your input fellas. I'll eventually get it put together and give it a try.
     
  8. Apr 15, 2018
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    Not sure which kit your looking at - I got the 20 ton Finger DIY setup done and it bends tighter than 90 with the full press on a test piece of 3/16.

    I also got the Gooseneck dies, but have not put them together yet.
     
  9. Apr 15, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    This one.

    20 TON Finger Brake Heavy Duty DIY Builder Kit

    It sounds like the one you're referring to, but I'm not sure how it could bend even a 90 without modification. The fingers are cut at a just shy of 120°, but the angle of the shoe is only 90, not allowing for spring-back.

    I'll be thrilled if it somehow makes a solid right angle, but just from a physics perspective, I'm not seeing how it can.

    I'll certainly report back when I get time to throw it together and test it out.

    Thanks for the feedback.
     
  10. Apr 16, 2018
    montanacj

    montanacj Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2012
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    794
    I had my eye on that press brake a while ago it’ll be interesting to see how it works out for you, his portaband table seems legit too.
     
  11. May 12, 2018
    FugginJim

    FugginJim In control Sometimes

    Pinon Hills,...
    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2004
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    379
    I have both the finger dies and the gooseneck system! They both have there limitations. But with that in mind, they both seem to work for me! Just need to use a little backyard ingenuity! Example that comes to mind. I wanted to build my own motor mounts from steel around the shop! I have a large pile 1/4" hot rolled plate. I made some templates and transfered these deminsions to my plasma. Cool so far! Its kinda of diamond shape. So I use the goose neck fingers to bend these bad boys! Yes I got my 90's but let's just say there was a lot of scrap prototypes. Now the press brake tool is quite capable, but there is a learning curve as with all new tools. The wings on these are fairly deep, so I welded several pieces of scrap angle iron together to compensate the length limitations! I'll post a pic of the aforementioned mounts later today! So I guess to sum it up! I really like these for what they are! Also thru trial and error I have used them with reasonable success. I also own several other swag products and are quite pleased with them. The press plates are GREAT! I just set up the the u turn tube bender digital read out system for my son. It seem like it should be a very good investment, when I finally start caging the CJ6. My son also purchased the plane of bend clamp system.
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  12. May 13, 2018
    FugginJim

    FugginJim In control Sometimes

    Pinon Hills,...
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    Nov 22, 2004
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    Here is a couple pics of the motor mounts! I think I am going try these in 3/16's and see how it comes out! These have been welded yet. I have trying to practice some, for once I dont want booger weld it together! :lol::rofl::lol:
     
  13. May 14, 2018
    piffey263

    piffey263 Active Member

    Medford, OR
    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
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    Second picture looks like you made some ford truck shock mounts.
     
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  14. Jun 10, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    6,656
    I finally had time to assemble this thing.

    Front:
    [​IMG]

    Back:
    [​IMG]

    They call for the "shoe" to be fully welded into the base. This warped the whole unit a little bit as the welds cooled, so I made a few hot lines across the bottom to flatten it back out. You can see the spots of discoloration across the bottom. As my cherry-red lines cooled, they pulled it back flat.

    [​IMG]

    Here it is in the press:
    [​IMG]

    I did a quick test-bend. My concerns seem valid. The tightest I could get this bend was 88 1/2°.

    [​IMG]

    I'll have to make a drop-in shoe with about a 92° throat to make a true 90° bend.

    Besides this issue, this is a very solid unit with well-machined parts. I'll get lots of use out of it.
     
  15. Sep 22, 2018
    jarhead6153

    jarhead6153 New Member

    Milton FL
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    Dec 10, 2017
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    7
    Thank goodness being a aircraft structural mechanic, I have access to many machines at our hanger. Box and pan break, and cornice break in the back shop.
     
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