Homebuilt Sheet Metal Bending Brake
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Ken Voigt, Wausau, Wis.: "Here's a photo of a drill press I converted to electric drive. The drill press was probably called a blacksmith's drill and was originally designed to be hand cranked. It was patented June 8, 1907 by CB & F Co. of Lancaster, Penn. What I like about this unit is its automatic down feed, which operates at the top. A notched wheel is turned by a pawl off a cam, which turns a threaded shaft connected to the chuck shaft. I can clamp a piece down and do something else while the machine drills away. I rigged it up with a 2 hp electric motor. It can drill 1-in. dia. holes with no problem.
"I also made a sheet metal bending brake. The press measures 6 ft. 3 in. wide and can open up to 7 in., which is handy. The top part is made from chopper knives that have the right angle needed for that section. A 1/2-in. drill, mounted at one end, drives a 1-in. threaded rod one way and then the other. I use a foot switch on the floor to hold the metal with both hands. A chain drive connects the two 1-in. threaded rods at each end so that it opens and closes evenly. The brake is also hinged to the shop wall at one end, allowing me to roll it out of the way whenever it's not needed."
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Homebuilt Sheet Metal Bending Brake FARM SHOP Tools 30-3-37 Ken Voigt, Wausau, Wis.: "Here's a photo of a drill press I converted to electric drive. The drill press was probably called a blacksmith's drill and was originally designed to be hand cranked. It was patented June 8, 1907 by CB & F Co. of Lancaster, Penn. What I like about this unit is its automatic down feed, which operates at the top. A notched wheel is turned by a pawl off a cam, which turns a threaded shaft connected to the chuck shaft. I can clamp a piece down and do something else while the machine drills away. I rigged it up with a 2 hp electric motor. It can drill 1-in. dia. holes with no problem.
"I also made a sheet metal bending brake. The press measures 6 ft. 3 in. wide and can open up to 7 in., which is handy. The top part is made from chopper knives that have the right angle needed for that section. A 1/2-in. drill, mounted at one end, drives a 1-in. threaded rod one way and then the other. I use a foot switch on the floor to hold the metal with both hands. A chain drive connects the two 1-in. threaded rods at each end so that it opens and closes evenly. The brake is also hinged to the shop wall at one end, allowing me to roll it out of the way whenever it's not needed."
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