My 30" 3-in-1 combo machine can bend 22ga steel but not the 18ga that matches the 1mm thickness of the rusted car area. I just ordered a 4", 14ga vise brake from Amazon. Is there anything I should know about their use, capabilities or limitations? A reviewer broke his vise by using a cheater bar on the handle.
My nibbler like this can cut up to 18ga, 1.2mm.
I have mostly used my vise brake (like this
As to breaking a vise with a cheater bar... I have done that as well. It was a very cheap lighter duty Harbor Freight Bench vise. I was not bending sheet metal at the time. I was trying to shade tree press a u-joint using a 6 foot piece of pipe. I replaced it with a heavier Harbor Freight bench vise that I have not broken.
That being said I have a Columbian Bench Vise that in some circles is called a Columbian bench press. Prior to my acquisition it was used so hard they bent the handle and even put a slight bow int he screw, but it did not break. I don't who what all they used on it, but there were pipe wrench marks on the meatball, and they previous owner did also own a five foot pipe wrench. I have used it with my vise brake.
I suspect your odds of breaking the vise braking the sheet metal are low, but may depend on the quality of the vise, and previous abuse it may have suffered.
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