Working Metal in a Quickbuilt BH 5

[FFTravism]

I am tooling up for my BH 5 kit arrival in October. Would this 30" Brake, shear, roller be a good investment?

Here is any example but I a looking for a cheaper one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/30-inch-shear-press-brake-and-slip-roll-5907.html

[Utah-Jay]

I am building a Companion, and if I was buying a brake and or shear it would be a 48” model if you can swing it. Most of the time I get by with a 30”, but I have needed to search out a 48” shear and brake.

[schu]

I bought the grizzly version of that and returned it because it was utter garbage. The fingers for the brake varied in thickness nearly .100. Also, some of them were sharp which would damage aluminum, and you will never get a bend tighter than 90.

I’d much rather have a real box pan brake and use a razor to score the edge and brake to cut it as that’s close enough to a shear to get away with it, while having a more useful brake

That said, what are you making? You can build a bearhawk kit with snips.

[FFTravism]

I didn't know if it would help for bending what ever and rolling the cowling.

[Utah-Jay]

That said, what are you making? You can build a bearhawk kit with snips.

This is true, but not the easiest way

Personally I have used a brake many times

[Bcone1381]

I belong to an EAA chapter that has a brake, shear, and roller. I've used them once or twice a year and glad they don't up space in the shop. It sure is nice to belong to a local EAA chapter that has a workshop.

When an EAA chapter can become a kind of Maker Space it's a good thing, and I think should be a very high if not highest priority of a local chapter.

[FFTravism]

Really seems like it would be easy to fab a roller and there is plans to fab a brake.
Thanks for the input guys.
Travis

[Ranchap]

I purchased that exact model from Harbor Freight abut a year ago when I started my M5 kit. Utah-Jay’s point (48” would be better) is a good one. Of course 30” is a bit too small to handle some of the pieces needed to be sheared or bent. I can think of only 3-4 times the 30” was too small (by only an inch or so) but the jump in price to 48” was hard to justify. No, you don’t need a BBS to built a kit but it’s a very handy tool to have in the shop.