KF5002 Steel Bending Brake Sheet Metal Bender Metal Folder 28 Inch (730mm) 18 Ga (1.2mm) Capacity

I used this to bend about 6 folds in 18 inch wide sheet metal for furnace duct work, to hold the filter and intake. Was easy to use and worked great , making nice bends and made for a professional looking job. The pieces went together very well, creating a good seal and strong joints.

I was skeptical after reading the reviews. It was well packed, no function issues, and does what it says. Only tested on .063 (1/16) aluminum and handled with ease. I like the extra support on the angle iron. It really helps with not flexing and avoid material slip. The only less than great comment is the lift spring could be a little strong (in the pictures)

Before deciding to purchase this "KASTFORCE KF5002 Steel Bending Brake Sheet Metal Bender 28 Inch", I noted in the Amazon reviews that some people had some issues with it. But those issues, IMHO, seemed manageable. My evaluation was that if I was willing to put in a little time and effort to work through a few possible issues, then the end result would be a good sheet metal brake to add to my shop at a price point that I was comfortable with. Like others, my unit arrived with two broken knobs, and an improperly threaded handle. But the unit itself was in good condition. I contacted the seller, KASTFORCE, and Nancy from customer service was very helpful in getting replacement knobs and handles sent to me right away, with no need to hassle with returning the original ones (although it took a couple of weeks for the replacements to arrive). While I would have preferred never having to deal with a problem in the first place, I was happy with this customer service interaction. The brake was mounted to a wooden board, covered in plastic, and then boxed in cardboard. It was also coated in oil to protect the metal from oxidation. Additionally, some of the areas of the tool, such as in and around the threads, bolts, and springs related to the hold-down bar, were a bit gritty. So while I was waiting for the replacement knobs and handles to arrive, I spent some time cleaning and properly lubricating everything, and then applying a coat of T-9 Boeshield for protection. Once cleaned and properly lubricated, and the replacement handles and knobs in place, the tool was ready for use. So far, I've used it to create a replacement part for my outdoor grill. I used it to make multiple bends of different angles in 25" wide, 0.1" thick aluminum. The tool performed well, and I am very happy with the results. It's also just the right size to clamp to my table saw, which provides it with a nice heavy base when in use. I can recommend this tool, as long as you have the right expectations up-front. The knobs and handles can be a problem, but customer support will make it right if you do have a problem. (At least that was my experience.) You should also expect to put in some time and effort cleaning and lubricating the tool before its first use. Once these issues are addressed the brake seems to work well and, in my opinion, is a good value for the money. I only wish I could find a good metal shear for a similar price point. A note about the broken knobs: The problem seems to be a design issue. Since there is no internal stop inside the knob, the knobs can break if they are tightened too firmly and the handle threads are long enough to allow the handle rod to push against the inside far side of the plastic knob. Unfortunately, the factory doesn't seem to have figured this out since mine arrived broken due to this very issue. This problem can be avoided by first threading a nut onto the handle shaft to act as a stop limit so that the knob bottoms out on the nut before breaking. The other way to prevent the problem would be to have better quality control over the handle thread depth, thereby avoiding the problem altogether (a shorter thread acting as a stop limit similar to the added nut).

I was expecting a hunk of junk I have used it several times. It works great.

Works for me

Difficult to use

The stop bolt for the break lip was broken when it arrived. Had to weld it back on. Great little break though. Fairly lightweight. It has holes to bolt to the bench. I like having the bench space. I use 2 large 6 inch c clamps. Works perfect. Great for autobody patch work. Buy this and a shrinker/stretcher and you're off to the races

Works well on workbench

Missing one handle and knob and the other handle bent.

I use this in my welding job and it makes it so much better to bend my metal now

This is a nice heavy, strong bender with plenty of adjustment!