Box and Pan Brake

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:06 pm

Any suggestions for a small (less than 2 feet) box and pan brake that I could mount on a rollaway tool box for work? Light would also be nice as well, because I travel for the job out of country and would like to eliminate some hassle.

Thanx

Tom

avaviat · Post by **avaviat** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:09 pm

I can't recall having seen what I'd call light box brakes... 50-100lbs seems normal for a 12" unit. I have seen some light aluminum *bending* brakes (4lbs for an 18") but bending brakes aren't nearly as much fun.

I'd like to know what you find though...

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:03 pm

50-100 pounds would probably be doable for me for a small box and pan brake if it is something that could be mounted on top of a rollaway and was reasonably inexpensive..

What I meant about lightweight was I didnt want something in the range of a 4-6 foot freestanding box and pan brake that would be found in a fabrication shop.

We do have a small bender, but it really isnt sufficient when I need to complex repairs requiring a box and pan.

avaviat · Post by **avaviat** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:42 pm

In that case there are Chinese made box brakes that would fit your specifications. Grizzly and Jet both import 12,18, and 24" sizes that range between 50 and 120lbs. Of course, to use them for aircraft parts you'll either need to tweak them a bit or use the old "air force cardboard trick" (at least that's what the person who told me about it called it....)

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:52 pm

Never heard of grizzly before, and did a google to find their site.

I saw the box and pan brakes you talked about and still may be a little big for portability.

I was thinking of getting one of their cheap clamp down brakes and maybe cutting some small slots in it to see if it will work for field repairs.

TomNativeNewYorker · Post by **TomNativeNewYorker** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:54 pm

By the way, what is the old 'air force cardboard trick'?

Is it some sort of repair they make using cardboard and duct tape when a box and pan brake isnt available?

avaviat · Post by **avaviat** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:07 pm

Nothing fancy, just using cardboard shims to adjust the bend radius rather than setting up the machine differently. I suspect most of these machines come set up for overtight radiuses you wouldn't want on aircraft parts.

I like the cardboard/duct tape idea better. though.