Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal.
Bending aluminium sheet at home.
For most applications with stainless steel or aluminum you can get away with a zero radius bend on anything under 0 050 thick.
To make this easier you d start with your 6061 material in the soft t 0 state.
Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards.
With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet.
In other words if you re bending 1 8 sheet use a tool with a 1 8 radius to form the inside of the bend.
When working with sheet metal one particularly useful piece of equipment is the brake.
Bending sheet metal by hand is a manageable task if the piece of sheet metal is small and thin enough to handle.
You d probably air bend by using a 3 0 in.
Metal shops have brakes mounted at different angles with automated braking arms however it is possible to bend sheet metal at home without the use of a brake.
A brake is a device that allows you to bend a piece of sheet metal at a particular angle.
Die opening with a relieved profile.
If you re bending 0 020 thick material use a 0 020 radius.
This involves making a score or cut line on the sheet where you want the bend to start.
Video demonstrating a diy way of bending thin gage aluminum coil stock by making a simple roller using a soft skateboard wheel.
Let s consider a challenging job.
For this you will need a table saw with a blade that has as many carbide teeth as possible and preferably sharp.
This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line.
A bending brake is a specialized metalworking tool used to create precise linear bends and folds in light gauge sheet metals like the kind used to make flashing for doors windows and roofs.
Purchase a metal bending brake online or at your local hardware store.