Used many brakes over the last 65 years. Pexto, Yankee, Tennsmith and those made by Malco. My dad had the 10' Pexto back in the 70s for his HVAC shop. Spent nearly 20years using a 5' older Pexto for duct fabrication at a HVAC dealer. That little brake for what it is out of the box is a good brake. It can be tuned to be better if needed. Nice change to a pan brake. Good video.
That's a amazing, you really have a ton of experience with these brakes. I tend to modify tools to help my projects and work go smoothly. This brake can be modified much more if I needed to be but it works really good for what I do. Thank you for sharing your amazing experiences, and for watching my humble video.
Oral wow thanks, yes it was a 3 day Build. I like Modifying every tool some way or another, it might be too much detail for folks. I built a throw line Launcher added miner steps on that video, let me know what you think. Thank you for the complement.
Steve, Very true! Normally under an extreme baring structure with high torque wrenching I would not use stainless. It would be a high tensile strength g8 or g10 nut and bolt, maybe a different pitch. It's fine for this build, but it's a matter of preference. I recommend PERMATEX lubricant its, anti seize, anti galling and corrosion, works great on stainless. I use it on my large heavy equipment. Great comment awsome advice, thank you for watching.
You make a whole new brake with replacement parts. The thing I like most about it is the fact that you painted it completely differently so as not to confuse this with being a harbor freight tool because it's not any longer. I think the handles could have been a little longer but what you did was build a whole new brake. I want one of YOURS not so much the original. Could you make a kit? I'd buy the mod kit if I had room in my garage! :)
Erroneus00, I really appreciate you're like comments. Yes, I did paint it as if it were a different brand machine and Yes, its no longer a HF unit. I modified 2 others HF benders for my brother's body shop and my friends home HVAC shop. Each pan brake with different features based on their needs. Longer extended handle were added to the Body shop unit. These mod machines look the same in (Color) but, not one is built exactly alike. I Had fun building them using the same ideas in my vids. A kit would be cool! Thanks for the comment and for watching my video.
Looks great, in the market to purchase same sheet metal brake but, quick question is how you made each individual fingers for hold down, short follow up video would be great! Also liked and subscribed!
Johnny, looks like I need to buy a new bender to Modify. 😁 This HFT Bender needed a little help, works great now. I feel good about doing a follow up video if everyone shows interest, Thank you for the complement and Thank you for Subscribing.
I have made 3 now for friends. Not sure how it would do with the competition. I know it would be less expensive than what is out there. It is a great tool I love it. Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback
Butch, was a fun Project. I tend to Modify and improve everything. I am looking to see how many sub's are interested in the process before I do a video, soon to come. Thank you for the complement and for watching.
Yaqui, awesome enhancements! Yes, you gotta show details/dimensions/order of operations. I want to duplicate your work. I'm ready to leave for HFT right now! Great content, great work quality, keep it coming. I just subscribed.
Hey Bevan, thx for subscribing and for the complement. I enjoy Modifying tools I buy.(HFT) If you can weld and have simple tools, you can build this. I used my mill to hurry up the build but nothing a drill and a jigsaw can't handle. Give me time I will post a video, hope others feel the same.
You handy with any autocad programs? Also, this video is 7 months old. How are the fingers holding up & what gauge have you been able to bend 24”+ of mild steel? I like your layout and wish there was an exploded diagram I could reference
Hey Brandon thanks for the comment. Yes I have used Cad for construction layouts never on parts design. I recently built a fan custom shroud for a home ceiling unit 18g 28"x28x 4" it worked pretty good. I Had to extend the bender handles, no big deal. Fingers are perfect no indication of integrity loss. Thanks for the comment and for watching my video.
What you did is nice how you did it would have been Great, like how did you build the adjusters and the modifications you made to get to the final product. I certainly could have watched a three part build video set because you really made it into a useful tool.
Its a chinese made break press. You paid $300 so do not expect it to work like a good and accurate $2k press. You take waaaay to long to explain your point.
Yes, your right some parts are Chinese but the finished home made product is USA made. I'll do better next time. Thanks for your comment and for watching.
Do you have a link to where you purchased the finger set? Good job on the build. If you have a printed guide or a video w/ build info id be interested in seeing it! Thanks
Thank you for your interest, I home made those fingers to create the box brake bender. I been very busy with my regular job but, at some point soon I will do a video showing how I made them stay tuned. Thank you for the comment and for watching.
Cesar, I fabricated the finger. If you look refer to the other part of this project it will show how I made them. Thank you for the positive like comment and for watching my video.
What effect did your mods have on the stiffness of the upper leaf? I would think moving the pivot back would increase the brakes tendency to bend when bending up heavier gage metal, especially full length.
Bill, good question, I forgot to mention that detail in the video. The flat stock ubove the fingers really stiffens the original leaf and helps support the function. Also both side plates add weight to help on throw out. Thanks for the comment and watching.
Hey Larry, glad you enjoyed my Mods to the HF Brake. Hope the Videos give ideas or just inspiration to make Mods to simple tools. Thank you for the positive feedback and for watching my video. GY💪
Ken, Yes I have bent stainless for small louvered vent coveres. 20x20x 2" 16g. If you notice I reinforce several key parts on the original HF unit. The fingers are not that long allowing me to clamp down nicely. Thanks for the like comment and for watching.
William it depends on your time and materials expense. I paid roughly, Driving gas $10 $300 HFT Hardware $14 Steel $35 Shop $20 My Time much less then building from scratch. Hope this helps. Thanks for the like comment and watching
I also would rather mod than build from scratch if you have a good machine to mod. It’s why I love HFT. I have a garage full of HFT that I bought used just to mod. I bought a NOS 3n1( the machine that was under you brake at HFT) and have done a couple of crucial mods to it. So far it’s done everything I’ve needed and it shears, bends, does boxes too and rolls.
Tony,That's Great! In my opinion, ones you modified the tool weather for strength, function or capability it becomes a personal tool. It can be a lot less pricey and less time. Thx for the like comment and for watching.
@@geniusyaqui1916 I got wrapped up in the idea of wouldn’t have been cheaper from scratch to comment about how I was floored you came up with the idea of converting it to a box and pan brake. Simple and direct, just how I aspire to redo/repurpose. Many HFT machines were really kits as they needed work to truly finish. If I’d seen your mod I think I might have been swayed to do that instead of the 3-n-1. The 3-n1 was hard to beat though unused still on the original pallet for $230. I will subscribe just so I can be notified when you do the details of the fingers you made.
Hello PE, yes please refer to my, How I Made fingers for HF Bender Brake Video. This may help you. Thanks for the comment and for watching please subscribe
Hey James Thx for the question, It all depends on my adjustments and the thickness of my piece. I can bend past 80° not sure how much. I never really needed to go more than that. Thanks again for watching and for the comment
If more folks are interested, I may take it apart and show parts dimensions and explanation. Also Step1 to Step 15. Thank you for the comment and interest.
Somewhat disorganized and choppy flow, camera waving around creates dizziness for viewers. Instead of just talking about it in a sort of interrupted ad-hoc manner, I would suggest writing a script to maintain an organized and logical flow to provide a smooth presentation, then go from there.
