How To Turn Your Harbor Freight Press Into a Press Brake For CHEAP! 

Local 66 sheet metal worker here. I get to play with breaks every day. So you’re on the right track. But definitely would look into tightening your die (punch is the top, die is the bottom.) With a 20 ton capacity I don’t see it ever being able to get the use out of a 2.5” bottom. Your over 90 punch will be great for thinner metal and could maybe even use 1.5x1.5 1/4 wall angle for the die to allow nice clean breaks. Your die needs to change with material thickness. Thicker the metal the larger the die. But we can break 3/8 to 90 in 2.5” die, so trying to break 10 ga in a 2.5” die is going to not achieve what you want. Also worth noting you might want to make a 90 degree punch as well for heavier gauges. If you brake too thick of metal too often you will destroy the punch. Over all though pretty cool to have something at home in the shop like that !

I’m glad I got rid of my abrasive cutting wheel and got a cold cut saw, so worth it.

Nice job appreciate the trial and error segments that you included. I definitely like the additional spacers you added on top of the cross member to prevent any slop.

I’ve got a Swag Off-road kit. It works great. Your willingness to create your own makes this the channel that it is.

Very neat and creative. You must lay awake at night coming up with ways to build instead of buying. Excellent again.

Gusset plates from your main push points to outer edge of your main push bar will work better to balance everything

Crazy you did this video, I was just looking at these, didn't want to pay the price, excellent work bud, came out great !

Pretty sweet lil brake man...gonna come in handy making brackets and everything else. I thought you were out west but you're just north of me! 😯🤣

You may melt down off camera but your composure is unmatched!! Lol😊👍🏻

Awesome video!! I am local PNW & have a Kei truck as well. Love watching your videos. They give me the confidence to do the same things. Really appreciate you!

Possibly champer the inside of the cylinder that rides on the two pipe on each side of the main beam. Less friction.

I’d recommend a box fan or two with a furnace filter sitting near your powder coating station to pull the overspray into them. It took a couple of try’s but you worked your way through the binding issue and end up with a nice brake in the end.

STONE black. Love it.

Why not put caster wheels on your shop press? Makes it much easier to move around

Nice work!👍🏻

I am curious how this held up. I thought that the blade that pushes down should have been hardened to prevent the sharp edge from deforming. Also curious if you have found a use for and made shorter sharp bending edges? I too looked at the Swag unit and it’s fantastic but I don’t have the budget for one of them as I mostly need to fabricate smaller brackets for small lawn equipment. Up to now I just use the vice but this looks like something I would use.

Hell yeah dude good job!!! I’ll definitely be doing something similar

Wish I could hang out with you to pick your brain!!! Awesome work.

Wow nive workshop my brother...good luck...💪💪😊

Time to do the pneumatic bottle jack upgrade so you don't have to pump it manually anymore. Super easy upgrade and is very convenient.

Where did you source the "T" shaped metal that is used for the punch?

What are all the dementions. How long are the rods on either end? Looking to build my own. Please reply.

You've probably looked at the Swag Offroad Press Brake like everyone else, but now you've gotten me thinking I could build one like this instead. Wondering what the total material cost was for you?

Looks good but didn't you just get a plasma cutter? That would have helped for cutting the big tub.

Time to buy an inexpensive lathe. I have an HF mini lathe I bought years ago (when they were really cheap). It's paid for itself many times over.

Have you found a way to add a foot pedal ?

Was wondering, how much money you think you have in building the brake, they want a pretty penny online just for the materials, an input appreciated. Thanks

Like this mod!!

I did something similar, but ended up breaking the press 😢

I would watch Austin cooking and baking channel as well , Not gonna lie...

Materials list?

The sharp point is why the bends are not as tight as they could be. 90 degree on the point will produce professional looking bends

At the beginning I thought “I be that he powder coats this thing!”

👏👏👏👏

Well he can add tool & die maker to his resume. They make on average 45k a year, not too shabby. Hopefully he won't have to use it but sure doesn't hurt to have that skill.

Now it's time to upgrade it to a air over hydraulic jack so you don't have to manually jack it

What’s up with those boots bro?

good job as always ! very beautivul video ! greetings from germany ! 👍 😊