I haven’t seen anything here on brakes, so, here goes….
What are you guys using to bend things on the site?
I will be needing some copper caps and other copper flashing bits, and a brake would be the ticket. Except they are big, heavy and tough to store. Of course some of the peices I need are long….
I wish somebody would make a super cool modular one that you could break down for transit, but set up long enough for real work.
Thoughts? Recommendations?
Thanks!
Replies
Tapco is what I have. They're fairly light weight, and you can take the stand and handles apart for moving and storage. Roughly equivalent to a super giant ironing board, it fits in about 1 ft by 3 ft by 12 ft. They make two models, Pro is up to 16 oz. copper, Max up to 32 oz. copper.
Unfortunately, somebody in the gun business has the same name and got the web site tapco.com. I tried some googling, but they're a bitch to find. I found one thru ebay.
-- J.S.
I have a pro-III Tapco and a Vanmark. Both work about the same. About the same quality and price. The Vanmark is mounted in my trailer so I don't have to move it around. Here's Tapcos www, I don't know what Vanmarks is.
http://www.tapcoint.com
Greg
Werner Building & Remodeling
Huntingdon PA
there's a smaller 3 or 4 ft break in the tool crib catalog.
Bet it's somewhere in the amazon site.
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I've currently got a Tapco Max with a 19" throat. It's heavy as hell, but the stand has wheels and I can load and unload fairly easily by myself. I've had several Vanmarks as well and I agree there's not much difference. Malco has a portable throatless machine out (4') that looks interesting to me. You'd be better off getting a 10' and a small brake. I've got 4 or 5 different types.
You know, I haven't used my Tapco in probably 18" months. I saw one sell on Ebay the other day for $600 more than they cost new. I was thinking of selling mine. I'm in Lexington, KY if you're interested.
http://www.malcotools.com/products/metalduct/mb48.htm
http://www.van-mark.com/vanmarksite/Brakes/VanMarkBrakes.html
http://www.tapcoint.com/Tapco/tapcoproducts.htm
Edited 5/1/2004 10:14 am ET by greencu