Eastwood Manual Sheet Metal Brake: Metal Fabrication Tool, Universal

Brake was effectively packaged and easy to assemble. Beyond assembly, little instruction was provided with the unit, but use is simple so not a lot needed. Tried 20 gauge bends, worked like a charm. Tried 18 gauge, 6" wide bend, finished product was on target but I started feeling the stress on the unit. I believe their recommendation to stay below 12" wide 18 gauge bends is on target. The problem is not the bending table, but the top clamp. It would need extra gussetting, bracing to handle wider 18" gauge bends or heavier material. But if you need to do that kind of work, then you really need a floor brake. This will be an often used tool in my shop, I will need to retire my 6" vice and hammer, Ha.

Nicely built, good quality tool. To this point I have only used it for the reason I bought it, the bending of .040 aluminum, and it does an excellent job with one caveat; I did have to form a shoe for under the break form as it was too sharp for the aluminum. Once I made a couple of trial bends and found what positioning was needed for what I needed it work very well. I bolted it to my welding bench, but it will be easy enough to store away.