48" 120-Degree Manual Straight Hand Brake | Baileigh Industrial

The hand brake bends sheet metal up to 120 degrees in a single pass. For a full 90-degree flange, the 120-degree capacity provides margin for springback compensation. Overbend slightly past 90 degrees, release the material, and the spring-back brings the flange to true 90 degrees. Check your material's springback factor before production runs.

Rated gauge capacity depends on the material type. The product specification sheet lists maximum gauge for mild steel, aluminum, and stainless. Never exceed the rated gauge - bending material thicker than rated overloads the bending beam and clamp, causing permanent deflection that degrades bend accuracy across the full 48-inch width.

Bend accuracy depends on consistent clamping pressure, correct gauge setup, and material springback compensation. The hand brake produces repeatable bends within 1-2 degrees when set up properly. For tight-tolerance work, calibrate with scrap pieces of the same material and thickness before running production parts.

The straight hand brake forms flanges along a full 48-inch width in a single operation. For box shapes where each flange must clear the adjacent wall, a box and pan brake with removable finger segments is the better choice. The straight brake excels at long single-flange bends, channels, and flat pan shapes without raised edges.

Lubricate hinge points and the clamping pivot at regular intervals. Check the clamp bar for straightness periodically - a warped clamp bar produces inconsistent bend lines. Inspect the bending leaf pivot pins for wear. Clean metal shavings and debris from the work surface after each session to prevent surface marks on finished material.