SWAG 40" Finger Brake With Custom I Beam Stand

92970 Views 30 Replies 22 Participants Last post by gregoryjwells, Mar 29, 2021

Swag Off Road

Discussion Starter · Oct 16, 2014

5

We have been selling our 40" finger brake for a few years and we frequently get asked, what hydraulic press do you use with the 40" press brakes?

Materials list:
*15 feet of 4"x6"x.25" I beam = $110 delivered
*(2) Harbor Freight Air/Hydo 20 ton rams = $40.00 ea for manual or $100 ea for air/hydro with coupon.
*SWAG 40" brake = $299.95 for standard brake or $599.95 for finger brake.
*1 day to cut/weld and create a few gussets.

You will need to cut the I beam down to the following sizes (2) @ 52.5" and (2) @ 22" long. Then cut the excess in half to form the bottom feet which end up being ~16" long.

At the end of the day you have the ability to bend 30" long piece of .25" thick steel all day long or a full width piece which is 37" long of 3/16" steel.

The total investment in the kit $110 + $300 + $480 + your time = :smokin:

Once I hook up the air hoses together I will then mount the feet on some wheel so I can roll this around the shop as needed. The total weight of this assembly is 366 lbs. Let us know if you have any additional questions.

Thanks Troy

40 Inch Universal Finger Press Brake DIY Builder Kit

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ghostman

· #2 · Oct 16, 2014

Badd- freakin - ass.

I'm gonna do it.

RelentlessTaco

· #3 · Oct 16, 2014 (Edited)

Any problem keeping rams synced/bends even across the whole width?
A video of this in action would be killer....

Swag Off Road

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 16, 2014

RelentlessTaco said:
Any problem keeping rams synced/bends even across the whole width?
A video of this in action would be killer....

The only bends we have done thus far are manual which requires :mr-t: muscles.

It was easier than I thought it would be keeping them in in sequence. You do notice that towards the end of the 90 degree bend it got difficult. One of the guys in the shop could not go past ~70 degrees as he weights in at 160 lbs and that was not enough weight to operate both jacks at the same time. I weight in at 210lbs and it was all I had to operate both jacks in sequence.

An easier option would be to use longer handles or hook them up to the air compressor.

I will hook them up to air and create a demo video then report back.

Troy

PTSchram

· #5 · Oct 16, 2014

Any reason it couldn't be used with one's hydraulic press frame?

I love the idea and can't wait to see the video of the two air/hydraulic jacks (I just got one via UPS! I knew I should have bought two)

pcoplin

· #6 · Oct 17, 2014

Good deal Troy!

Munchies

· #7 · Oct 17, 2014

Is it just me or is the top I beam bowed ?

Swag Off Road

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 17, 2014

Munchies said:
Is it just me or is the top I beam bowed ?

Optical illusion. I also thought it was bent when looking at the picture, however when you hold a straight edge on top it is level, going off the picture the bottom beam looks bent too.

Troy

JKMotorsports

· #9 · Oct 18, 2014

Why oh Why did I go the 20ton route. Seems like a waste now that this looks soooo inviting.

Mud'n'truck

· #10 · Oct 27, 2014

What about going to one 50ton jack from tractor supply instead of 2 20tons? Wouldn't have the luxury of air/hyg tho

Swag Off Road

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 27, 2014

Mud'n'truck said:
What about going to one 50ton jack from tractor supply instead of 2 20tons? Wouldn't have the luxury of air/hyg tho

That will work, you will need to reinforce the top die assembly with a piece of I-beam or square 2"x2" to help distribute the load of you plan on using a single bottle jack.

Troy

webdog

· #12 · Oct 27, 2014

I have had the 40" die set for about 3 years now, and our original press looked almost identical to this one. After about a year the top I beam was bowed about 1" up in the center.

We rebuilt it using 4x4 .375 tubing, stacked two tall on the top and bottom. It has held up good for about 2 years now. We do get a little bit of canoe in the center of the bent parts, so its time to shim the bottom die a little.
The other advantage of this one is you are at standing height.

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SlightlyModified

· #13 · Oct 27, 2014

I've had a 40" kit for a couple years now..... I had to cut it down a little to fit my harbor freight air/hydro 50 ton press
I don't think many people realize HF has a 50 ton press. It's special order... Think I paid about $550 for it

CSP

· #14 · Oct 27, 2014

Swag Off Road said:
That will work, you will need to reinforce the top die assembly with a piece of I-beam or square 2"x2" to help distribute the load of you plan on using a single bottle jack.

So use two higher tonnage jacks.

SvenRNot

· #15 · Sep 20, 2015 (Edited)

CSP said:
So use two higher tonnage jacks.

No, two lower tonnage jacks (20T). Yes together they make 40T of total force, but they only exert 20T at each point, not 40T at a single point. would make a sweet project if it could utilize:
1 HP Electric Hydraulic Pressure Pump
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_16891.jpg

instead of the slow air over or manual pump.

Jakesr5

· #16 · Sep 22, 2015 (Edited)

Love the press break a ton. And have used it on a lot of bumpers. BUT be carful if you build your own press mine is built out of 6x6 I beam and it reinforced and trussed and with two craftsmen 20t jacks (blew through 3 harbor freights 20t within first two weeks of use) I can measure .625 inches of bow to the top I beam (is the weakest point on the press) so you can bow any press with this. I have been able to bend 32 inches of 3/16 to 90 before. And 24 inches of 1/4 with a 36inch cheater bar on the jacks ( don't over load the jacks. They still go pop). I was unfortunate to find out what 40 tons of Pressure can do recently. Bending 34 inch long 3/16 plate for a bumper I was able to cock something off and have the top of the presses finger doing the bending and my plate shoot toward me, and bent the gusseted plate that the jacks where cradled in bend out of the press and pop the bottle jacks out the back. I was lucky enough to just have a very bruised knee and top of feet from it, but still scary at the least. So time for tube cage and even more gusseted parts.

None the less a great product and one of my favorite tools. Just word of warning to be cautious when using anything that nothing gets cocked off....

Jake

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jdxj01

· #17 · Apr 3, 2016

did you get the air lines hooked together and how did that end up working
i have had the kit sitting on my work bench for a year or so and just haven't put it together.was gonna cut it down to work on my 29" press but
now I'm thinking i'll build a full with 40" press instead.

Awesome stuff Troy as Usual

Swag Off Road

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 4, 2016

2

jdxj01 said:
did you get the air lines hooked together and how did that end up working
i have had the kit sitting on my work bench for a year or so and just haven't put it together.was gonna cut it down to work on my 29" press but
now I'm thinking i'll build a full with 40" press instead.

Awesome stuff Troy as Usual

We have tied the two air hoses together with great results.

Morgan of ATHFABRICATION sent us in a few pictures of his custom frame designed to fit the SWAG 40" press brake. Shown below is a 36" long piece of 1/4" plate.

Troy

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hasteranger

· #19 · Apr 4, 2016

Holy shit.

ralphXJ

· #20 · Apr 5, 2016

Does anyone have some measurements of their setup for the 40in brake??

I really don't have much need for a full size shop press or i would just get the HF 20t so I'm thinking about building a shorter wider press for the 40in brake.

I have a large pile of 3in x 3in angle that is 0.5in thick. Thinking I could use that and throw 8n some extra plate here and there and get a good setup for the 40in brake. Work mostly with 10ga steel so it wouldnt need to be super heavy duty.

Anyone have some measurements they would like to share so I could start some plans?

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