how to make an aluminum bender or brake?

Question

need to make so bends in trim aluminum for roof cupola...anyone have plans for a temporary aluminum bender???

Answer 1

i know that alcoa makes pre bent rake and fascia trim if you can work with those sizes and just need a simple return bend. you could check with a local siding supply house and see if they have a brake available to use at their warehouse. you could do that if you can plan the shapes out and if you can make the pieces over sized and cut to fit when you get home. i made a brake jig for step flashing so i could get a crisp bend in scrap siding trim. if the pieces that you need to make aren't too large, a couple of pieces of 3/4" plywood or osb would work. make them about 4-6" by whatever length you need, place a filler piece of double scrap trim material on each end, then screw or nail them together. to use it to bend you will need a sturdy, flat work table to bend against. if you just need to make small return bends, you can buy a hand brake at a supply house or home improvement center, like a sheet metal worker would use for duct work. i have seen them at the home depot. i also have seen one with exchangeable faces for up to a 12" bend. with most of these you can only get a bend about 1 1/4" return. if all else fails, you could try contacting a few siding contractors and see if one would work with you on a 'rain out' day. good luck!

Answer 2

Aluminum Brake Bender

Answer 3

Yes, but it is a lot cheaper to cut the pieces you need and bring them to a sheet metal shop to have them bent.

Answer 4

bring them to pro.