This is hands down the most clever upgrade I've seen for one of our Finger Brakes. Can't thank you enough for posting the video of the build. I've been recommending this mod to guys for quite some time now by linking them to your Instagram post, now I can send them this great video instead! Seriously, really cool idea and great execution!
I recorded this in Jan ‘20, edited and posted Feb ‘23. I’ve been using this setup for the past three years and it’s been a major part of production since day one.
That's a well thought out mod. I have SWAG's 1.5" press plates & would have to make sure the "extensions" would fit thru the large half-moon cut outs in the press plates. Thanks for sharing this idea with YT university students (even us old farts)!
I’m looking to make my own from scratch. As you say for $350 ish US (roughly $500 Aus) it makes sense to just buy one, however here downunder, when you go to check out, it’s another $Aus 970 postage on top, then when it arrives here, because the total including postage is over $Aus 1000 - the Aus Government impose a further 10% of the total ($Aus 1470) in GST (Goods & Services Tax) despite we have a “free trade agreement” with USA where it says we won’t add trade tariffs, if a 10% tax on imports isn’t a trade tariff I don’t know what is) so that adds a further $Aus 147 on top. Now that ~$350US “affordable” press break, now suddenly costs $1617 of our Aussie hard earned sh!tsvillian pacific micro pesos. 😳😳😳 There’s just no way I can justify that sort of cost for a kit that I still have to assemble / fabricate / weld myself unfortunately. So my intention is just to unashamedly “steal” SwagOffroads idea / design and copy it mostly with steel that I already have on hand. Whilst doing so, I might as well incorporate this modification as well. I can’t see why not. And this is no fault of Swag Off-road - they are a good company making a good product who deserve to do well & whole I would like to support if I could - it’s just unfortunate that the stupid rates that UPS are charging these days means that they won’t be able to increase their market share outside of USA. We are only a small population by comparison to USA (~23Million compared to USA ~300Millioj) so about 7.6% - but if you could grow your potential market by 7.6% annually by being able to export to Oz, that wouldn’t be a bad thing. So someone needs to slap UPS CEO upside the head and tell them to sort their sh!t coz the Covid pandemic with its supply chain issues is over so theirs just no excuse for the current postage extortion racket going on ATM with freight to Oz.
Nice modification. I’ve contemplating the same as you were. Do I build on or just buy one. Which ever I do I will be copying your mods. Thanks for sharing this.
Awesome mod! I am trying to replicate this on the kit I just purchased. Did you add stop collars to the round bar and if so what is their purpose/necessary? Didn’t hear mention in the vid but looks like there are some after assembly. Also if you are using a HF press did you have to modify the lower press apron? After I pressed in the round bar and checked fitment on the press it appears to hit the angle inside the apron. Thanks!
Same issue here. The extended round bar hits the angle that ties the apron channel together. Any better ideas than just cutting the angle to create clearance?
Yes to both questions. The collars are there to account for the spring load. It’s necessary for the springs to be loaded slightly because that helps keep the upper come down square. I did modify my press to clear the rods. But I moved, sold that one, bought a new press. Since then I cut the rods off of the standard configuration and just stopped using it that way. Now I just keep it with the modular lower all the time. I kept the function of the regular configuration just in case I got in a pinch and needed that. But since I’ve done the mod, I haven’t really needed the conventional setup.
I realy don't wonna be mean butt People dye en stemps for a press brake need to be heat treaded to make them strong. Those kits yall by is mild steal. De not gonna Lest for long. They gonna bend of break really fast.
This is hands down the most clever upgrade I've seen for one of our Finger Brakes. Can't thank you enough for posting the video of the build. I've been recommending this mod to guys for quite some time now by linking them to your Instagram post, now I can send them this great video instead! Seriously, really cool idea and great execution!
That means a lot to me! I appreciate it very much!!
I recorded this in Jan ‘20, edited and posted Feb ‘23. I’ve been using this setup for the past three years and it’s been a major part of production since day one.
Well done, Gary! 👏🏼👏🏼
Man this is great will be doing this soon to mine thanks for the video
I'm impressed, very excellent idea.
That's a well thought out mod. I have SWAG's 1.5" press plates & would have to make sure the "extensions" would fit thru the large half-moon cut outs in the press plates. Thanks for sharing this idea with YT university students (even us old farts)!
I bought the brake last week, i haven't put it together yet. After seeing this video im glad i waited! Ill be doing this mod for sure. 😅
I’m looking to make my own from scratch.
As you say for $350 ish US (roughly $500 Aus) it makes sense to just buy one, however here downunder, when you go to check out, it’s another $Aus 970 postage on top, then when it arrives here, because the total including postage is over $Aus 1000 - the Aus Government impose a further 10% of the total ($Aus 1470) in GST (Goods & Services Tax) despite we have a “free trade agreement” with USA where it says we won’t add trade tariffs, if a 10% tax on imports isn’t a trade tariff I don’t know what is) so that adds a further $Aus 147 on top.
Now that ~$350US “affordable” press break, now suddenly costs $1617 of our Aussie hard earned sh!tsvillian pacific micro pesos. 😳😳😳
There’s just no way I can justify that sort of cost for a kit that I still have to assemble / fabricate / weld myself unfortunately.
So my intention is just to unashamedly “steal” SwagOffroads idea / design and copy it mostly with steel that I already have on hand.
Whilst doing so, I might as well incorporate this modification as well.
I can’t see why not.
And this is no fault of Swag Off-road - they are a good company making a good product who deserve to do well & whole I would like to support if I could - it’s just unfortunate that the stupid rates that UPS are charging these days means that they won’t be able to increase their market share outside of USA.
We are only a small population by comparison to USA (~23Million compared to USA ~300Millioj) so about 7.6% - but if you could grow your potential market by 7.6% annually by being able to export to Oz, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.
So someone needs to slap UPS CEO upside the head and tell them to sort their sh!t coz the Covid pandemic with its supply chain issues is over so theirs just no excuse for the current postage extortion racket going on ATM with freight to Oz.
Nice mod. glad I found this before I ordered mine. Thanks
Great Job! Just subbed.
Nice modification. I’ve contemplating the same as you were. Do I build on or just buy one. Which ever I do I will be copying your mods. Thanks for sharing this.
Awesome mod! I am trying to replicate this on the kit I just purchased. Did you add stop collars to the round bar and if so what is their purpose/necessary? Didn’t hear mention in the vid but looks like there are some after assembly. Also if you are using a HF press did you have to modify the lower press apron? After I pressed in the round bar and checked fitment on the press it appears to hit the angle inside the apron. Thanks!
Did you figure this out? I've just ordered a kit and plan to do a similar mod with the HF 20t press.
Same issue here. The extended round bar hits the angle that ties the apron channel together. Any better ideas than just cutting the angle to create clearance?
Yes to both questions.
The collars are there to account for the spring load. It’s necessary for the springs to be loaded slightly because that helps keep the upper come down square.
I did modify my press to clear the rods. But I moved, sold that one, bought a new press. Since then I cut the rods off of the standard configuration and just stopped using it that way. Now I just keep it with the modular lower all the time.
I kept the function of the regular configuration just in case I got in a pinch and needed that. But since I’ve done the mod, I haven’t really needed the conventional setup.
You're the man Necessity the mother of genius
Love what you did. I got the break also and love it. Want to make the same changes you made, is there a way to speak with you. Off line?
Sick, subbed
Great mods . I'm looking at one of these and am going to make this mod when I get to it . Thanks for your idea . :)
So this looks like its 2X 18" 7/8 solid round, 2x3 square tube, and some 1/2 solid square stock?
Would have made it easier to do it on a fixture table i think :) But this is niiice.
I realy don't wonna be mean butt People dye en stemps for a press brake need to be heat treaded to make them strong. Those kits yall by is mild steal. De not gonna Lest for long. They gonna bend of break really fast.