Bending Aluminum Sheet At Home

Aluminium cuts surprisingly easy with a decent table saw especially when you use a blade designed for cutting non ferrous metals.

Bending aluminum sheet at home.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. Monkeys spinning monkeys by kevin macleod. To make this easier you d start with your 6061 material in the soft t 0 state. If your sheet metal is long ask a friend to stabilize the part hanging out from the form blocks so it doesn t affect the bend.

As the apron comes up it will gently fold the sheet around the edge of the clamp bar at your chosen bend point. When it has reached the angle you re trying for release your pressure and remove the clamps. Next put your wooden or metal form blocks in the vice and clamp your sheet of metal between the forms. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line.

After a few wiggles the sheet will fracture along the cut line leaving a clean break as shown in the above photos. Flip the sheet over and repeat. Metal shops have brakes mounted at different angles with automated braking arms however it is possible to bend sheet metal at home without the use of a brake. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet.

This involves making a score or cut line on the sheet where you want the bend to start. Simple sheet metal bender using a hand roller clamps and plywood. Get free shipping on qualified aluminum sheet metal or buy online pick up in store today in the hardware department. You d probably air bend by using a 3 0 in.

Say you re bending 0 25 in thick 6061 t6 aluminum to a 100 degree external angle 80 degree internal angle. When working with sheet metal one particularly useful piece of equipment is the brake. Die opening with a relieved profile. Aluminum sheet metal metal stock the home depot store finder.

With both hands pushing downward on the outer 2x2 begin bending the metal sheet applying equal downward pressure at both ends. Lift the handles of the apron to bend your sheet to the desired angle. For this you will need a table saw with a blade that has as many carbide teeth as possible and preferably sharp.