[Elecraft] KX3 (or, K3) 2-meter solid-state amplifier

[Dale LeDoux]

Harbor Freight sells an 18” sheet metal brake for about forty bucks.

I’ve used a lot of Harbor Freight tools.  Some of them require a bit of tweaking to work perfectly, but they’re generally good enough right out of the box.

Dale
W5OHM

> On Sep 22, 2015, at 1:22 PM, James Bennett <w6jhb at me.com> wrote:
> 
> I built that W6PQL 80 watt amp last year. Built the aluminum chassis, too. I did not have a sheet metal brake, but a few minutes on Google turned up quite a few home-brew brake plans. I built one of them and used it to form the chassis for my amp, and later on a couple other small boxes for shack utility projects. If you enjoy building stuff, creating your own brake is worth the effort. I think I made mine for less than $25. And it works pretty darn well!
> 
> Jim / W6JHB
> 
> 
>> On   Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015, at  Tuesday, 10:47 AM, P.J.Hicks <hickspj467 at comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Crafting a case very similar to the one pictured on the sited page is relatively easy. While I do have a brake and no problem crafting cases I will tell you how I would do it without major tools. 
>> 
>> 1. Do a drawing of the case with sizes and flanges laid out piece by piece; top, bottom, sides, ends, etc. 
>> 
>> 2. Locate the nearest Metal Supermarket. I use them as they are close and reasonable and I know them and their stock. They will cut your metal pieces to size very cheaply. Often free. 
>> 
>> 3. Contact them for a quote and order. They may mail your order, I do not know. There are other places who do the same type business; small orders with cutting. 
>> 
>> 4. Cut 2 hardwood blocks that just fits inside the lines of the front and rear panels. They should be smaller by the thickness of the metal material plus a smidgeon. 
>> 
>> 5. Carefully fit the blocks within the lines of the panel you are bending and clamp in a vice. The blocks should be aligned as well as with in the panel lines; Use double sided tape if necessary. 
>> 
>> 6. Use another hardwood block as a "push block" and gently push and hammer against the flange all along its length until it is bent 90 deg. bending only a small part of the angle at a time. 
>> 
>> 7. The blocks are also useful when drilling the holes. Some may prefer to drill first but that makes hole alignment very difficult. 
>> 
>> PJH, N7PXY
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