New Tool - Finger Brake

[Gumball]

I have a friend who is a machinery rigger / mover and he often comes across good deals on equipment that is being liquidated. Today he dropped this off at my shop - it's a 48" bench top finger brake.... should come in really handy while fabricating panels for my vintage race Mustang project.

[WIS89]

Chris-

That's one great friend you have there! That's a great find too. I have a few things to bend up, I will just send them out to you, OK? HA

Congratulations on a great find, and awesome friend!

Regards,

Steve

[edwardb]

I'm seriously jealous. Would love to have one of those. Congrats on a great find.

[myjones]

Chris
Keep us posted on how much you use that brake. When we visit Springfield MO I always go to Grizzly and see what is in their discount room.
That exact same brake was there this week for $500, I'm tempted to buy one for my 33 project.
Dale Berry
Hemi33

[NAZ]

A brake will certainly come in handy (for many things even beyond building cars). Now you need a good 48" sheet metal shear to complement your brake. Buy quality and it will last a long time. I've been using & abusing my brake & shear since the 80's and they still work like when they were new. The brake will be much handier if you build a sturdy stand on locking casters vs. mounting it on a bench. When ready for a shear buy a pneumatic (or hydraulic). Yes they are more expensive than the stomp shears but well worth it. Look for used equipment auctions there are some really good deals if you know equipment well enough to sift through the junk or worn out equipment and find the bargains.

[2FAST4U]

That is a great find.

[Gumball]

Thanks guys - I'm really happy with it. Definitely plan on a stand for it, as bench top space is always at a premium at any shop.

Having a buddy who is a rigger / mover is way better than having to follow all the equipment auctions - he's helped me get this, my mill, and other large machinery. Usually I go for old (very old) US made stuff, but this was such a good find and nearly free, so I wasn't going to turn it away.

The last three things on my must-have list are a good shear (looking for old Pexto, Chicago, or Niagara), a sand-blast cabinet (likely a Scat Blast one from the guys over in Canfield, OH), and a real compressor - likely the 80 gallon Quincy I've been watching at a local store.

If this lawyering thing doesn't work out - or if I ever get around to retiring, I can finally turn to making a living (or at least not spending money) using all this stuff!