I bought diamond plate to build my bhaf 3 months ago but I haven't finished yet. The problem is I don't have a sheet metal brake. Can someone tell how to bend this up with out a brake?

 

how thick is it? can you bend it over your knee? if you got a torch you can anneal it and it will bend like butter.

 

its .10" I'm really looking for nice tight bend.

 

I used 2 pieces of angle iron in my bench vise and got pretty tight bends. I dont have many fabricating tools

Michael

 

Some 2x4s and a mallet might work

I took mine to the local welder and he charged me $7 to bend it up. Just took him the plans.

 

Pricing to have anything done around here is completely ridiculous. $60+ for just an oil change. I bought the aluminum at metal by the foot I think it ran me $65 for a quarter sheet and 4 cuts. I still have plenty of stock left if someone wants a piece. I may just go back and do it while I'm in TN on my next vacation.

Hey andy, I'm in KC. Where are you located?

 

about 3.5hrs north west of ya. If ya follow 36hwy over to Washington I am not to far form there.

I bought my aluminum at the local scrapper for $.35 a pound. We have a company here in town that makes wheel chair ramps and such. They take quite a bit of nice usable scraps down there.

 

I'd like to find someone local who could help with my KDP without re-aranging my wallet.

 

Well, I did mine the Jig way. Lots of guys now don't like it because they want to torque timing case bolts down inside at the same time.

It is really not that bad of a job to do though.

 

The kdp is probably the simplest job on the whole truck.just ask questions on here while your doing the job. it will go well and cost very little.I dont see any reason to take one of these trucks to a shop, unless one doesnt have any tools.

 

Try a sheet metal/HVAC shop. The guy in my shop complex did it for a six pack

Rich

 

close the diamond plate in a door jam, nice steel door, fold it over and crease it with a mallet. just watch no one tries to come out the door while you are doing it !

 

WOW $65 just for materials!!! There was a member who made up a few mounts selling them in the classified cheaper than that, already bent/made up.

 

I had to buy a full 1/4 sheet of tread plate. Its the price you pay for not wanting to use a roadsign and not knowing any fabricators.

 

When I had my 45 Ford gpw I bought a whole bunch of Brite tread aluminum from a trailer manufacturer in town. Just scraps the guy couldn't use and they worked just fine after digging around in his pile I had everything I needed without breaking the bank. Granted it's not as reliable as the comercial market but he had a brake and shear as well... got him to cut and bend it for the same price which was basiclly scrap. Jethrro