Ironworker - brake V-block and blade

scarlo101 · Dec 29, 2008

Hi everyone.
I have recently purchased a used 45 ton ironworker. I want to construct my own brake dies. Does anybody have any experience building a brake V-block and blade or where I can find such info. I am currently building a FEL for my BX1850 as well as many future attachments and this ironworker will be a great tool.
Thanks in advance.

Stimw · Dec 30, 2008

I have a 50 ton and 35 ton Scotchman Ironworker. I built a 12" brake for the 50 ton. I used 3 pieces of 3/16" x 1 1/2" angle for the bottom. I welded them in an upside down W. I used a piece of 3/4" plate for the top die and made a solid frame for it to slide in.
I use it for many things. I bend round rod, I even use it for straightening things. It is very handy and I saved about a $1000. by building it from scrap that I had laying around.

scarlo101 · Dec 30, 2008

Thanks for the idea. I will be picking mine up in the new year. It is a Uni-Hydro. Model 45-14
I have thought of building my V-block like that but was not sure if it would have the strength. I have some 1.5 X 2 solid block laying around and am considering welding it at an angle inside a C channel. For the blade was going to weld a 3/4" keystock onto a plate like yours. Probable grind a sharper point on it.

Stimw · Dec 30, 2008

I ground a bullnose on the bottom of the 3/4" plate.
If you watch How it's Made on TV sometimes they will show someone making something with a brake and you can see one in operation.
Also sometimes I see brake dies on ebay. Being able to see one will give you some shape ideas. They even have offset dies for specialty work.
You might design it so that you can change the die and make different shapes.
If you look at the pic of my machine you can see a piece of metal at the lower right. I took it and bent it in several different places just playing around with the brake. I use mine all the time, they are very handy.

scarlo101 · Dec 30, 2008

I will have to keep an eye out for that show. For now I am going to make something simple and quick. In time and as I get experience I will hopefully find or make a fancier brake.
How come you have 2 ironworkers?

Stimw · Dec 30, 2008

PURE GREED!!!! Plus I got a killer deal on both of them, seperately.
I keep a 1/2" punch in the 50 ton and I planned to use the 35 ton to swap punches. I keep thinking about selling the 35 ton because I don't really need it.
Both are 3 phase and I am running them on a homemade static phase converter ($50). They loose about 1/3 of their power with the converter but it's cheaper than new 3 and 5hp motors.