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What Equipment is needed to bend aluminum edge?

0igo

New Member
So I have a couple questions and I'm confused as to where to start. What material is needed to bend the edge on aluminum or I believe also called aluminum fascia? The aluminum will be thin. Or where can I buy aluminum around my area with the lip already bent? Or large 4*8 aluminum sheets?
 

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Billct2

Active Member
To do that type of work you'll need a sheet metal brake, and a shear would be nice too. They can be found used, but don't come cheap. The notches can be done with a hand punch or floor press. It also helps to have a finger brake. We have gotten by with an 8' brake and 4' shear, cutting larger pieces on the panel saw or scoring and snapping in the brake. Like Marlene said, you can see if you can find a local sheet metal shop to sub it to
 

equippaint

Active Member
Gutter guys usually do this too with light gauge material. If you only need a little bit, score it with a grinder, clamp it to a workbench and brake it by hand. It'll give you a perfect bend as long as you score it straight.
 

ams

New Member
Metal brakes don't cost too much, sometimes you can pick them up on ebay or craigslist for half the cost.
 

DerbyCitySignGuy

New Member
Tangentially related, but used to work next to a company that had a HUUUUGE shear and every time they would cut material with it you could feel vibrations through the concrete floors.
 
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0igo

New Member
Your terminology might be incorrect... but in cases where you are making dimensional odd shapes - kerf cutting angle or extrusion might be the way to go...

Kerf cutting presentation
Yeah sorry. Whenever I log into this site on my phone, my phone tends to autocorrect a crap load of words. But correct I'm making a dimensional sign. Out of aluminum coil, dibond and acrylic face
 

henryz

New Member
How thick are you thinking of making it? if you are not planning to illuminate it. Do a plywood backing so you can screw the coil aluminum to the side and you don't have to bend/brake a flange, back in the days people used plywood with an aluminum face Laminators Inc. still makes it Omega board.
 
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