Baileigh magnetic brake question

[BTromblay]

Hi,

I'm looking at buying the 4 foot Baileigh magnetic sheet metal brake. Does anyone in the group have one of these and do you like it? I have a nice old cast iron brake that I would not sell. But I'm looking to add to my shop a more versatile machine. Thicker material I can form in my other brake and clean up the corner in the pullmax if needed. I form mostly aluminum 5052, 3003, 2024, 6061, thickness from .020-.125", will this work well?

Thank you,
Bill Tromblay

[MP&C]

Due to the brake not pulling the aluminum like it would steel, it won't have the same clamping capability, and thus it will be less bending thickness capability. Go by the showroom and take some samples with you to bend. Kick the tires.

[luscten]

It does not make a crisp like a standard brake does, but it will do bends that you can't do in a standard brake. It also will not do thick materials. There are some good videos on YouTube that shows the kinds of bends that it can do.

[BTromblay]

Hi,

I decided to drive up to Baileigh next week and give it a try. They are open to the idea of me bringing my own material. I hope it works well for my needs, in the mean time, I will do some more looking on you tube. Randy, do you have some pictures of the bent edge?

Thanks

Bill

[luscten]

I don't have any pictures. When you try it out you will see that it doesn't make crisp bends like a pan brake. It is not a everyday tool but when you need it nothing else will work.

[longyard]

I've used the Tennsmith and the Baileigh. They work equally well.

[Oldnek]

As Randy mentioned, you can't get crisp fold line, you can't fold simple U Channels like for seat mounts ETC and it won't fold any U section smaller than 15mm.

Simple Examples of what it cant do, which is common for most, is 30mm with 10mm flanges, nothing smaller than 60mm strip folded in half or smaller flanges, so on.


But to fold anything complex that the magnet and clamp will hold is excellent. For doing rounds and radius bends is excellent.