How To Bend Sheet Metal Without A Brake

Showing how i bend steel plate without using a brake.

How to bend sheet metal without a brake.

This video will show you how to do it and hopefully save you some money. I have never tried this method but if you don t have a metal brake this may work fine. Grab the top of the metal with the pliers as the section you heated cools off and pull towards you gently at first. The metal should bend but only bend it as far as it goes without forcing it.

There are many ways to get the job done without having all of the tools. Stacey demonstrates a technique of how to bend a sheet of metal using a vise and 2 4 s. This measurement will be necessary for calculating your bend allowance. Use scrap lumber to make a brake that is effective when only a few bends will be necessary.

A purpose made brake isn t necessary if you are going to be bending only a few pieces of coiled siding. You can use a tape measure or ruler to measure the thickness of your sheet metal. If you need to reheat the metal and redo the bend. If your sheet metal is too thick you may need special machinery like a brake or a torch to bend your sheet into the desired shape.

The bend won t be quite as sharp but suitable bends can be made for many construction projects without using a brake. A siding brake bends aluminum or bendable vinyl siding to the angles you want using leverage from a hinged joint.