[TheForge] Strap brake

[Andy Vida]

PlumDon at aol.com wrote:
> 
> 
> In a message dated 9/9/2004 1:06:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> osan at netlabs.net writes:
> 
> > Is  anyone aware of any on line plans for a strap brake that would do  3/16"
> > cold and 1/4 hot? Or are there inexpensive imports out there  that work
> well.
> > Appreciate any help.
> 
> You mean for  bending strap iron?  Id so, I didn't know they
> made a  special brake for that.  SHould be easy enough to
> cobble  up, especially if you can have castings done.
> 
> Yes, strap iron...like off-set strap hinges, etc. But how do I cobble it  up?
>  I have seen old bench mounted strap iron brakes in blacksmith shops  but
> never seen one to buy.

	THink about what it is you want to do, and fab up a contraption
	to do it.  Obviously is will have to be a lot more robust than
	your run of the mill box and pan brake.

	The biggest "problem" if you will, will be the clamping.  turning
	up 3/16" cold will require serious clamping force.  I would suggest
	an offset cam sort of mechanism that is adjustable for thickness
	with screws or spacers.  The whole affair will have to be pretty beefy,
	but if you're to be doing a lot of this,  it will be well worth the
	effort.  If you're going to do 3/16 cold, you may as well engineer it
	to do the 1/4 cold, too.  I think you will have more hassles with
	trying to dissipate the heat than engineering up to that size for
	cold bending.

	Also, size of the machine will depend on how wide a strap at 1/4"
	you are looking to turn.  If you're really going to do a lot of this,
	you might want to consider making a hydraulic unit.  What's the sense
	in wearing yourself out?

	Drop me a line off list, perhaps we can discuss this in detail, if you
	are so inclined.

	-aNDy