Comparison Of Van Mark I & II Brakes

windowjim

I recently bought a Van Mark II brake with the powerslot hinge (my first brake). I use it mostly on windows, very little siding. I'm not sure the floating hinge is an advantage. Would the Van Mark I have been a better choice? Or even a Tapco?

Tom Struble

dont they all have a floating hinge?

windowjim

Brakes are a new field for me, but my understanding of this Mark II Trimmaster is that the pivot of the hinge slides up when you want to finish your hem, unlike the conventional Mark I. I'm finding it a bit frustrating and wonder if it's more trouble than it's worth. The literature says that it gives you more leverage and makes tighter j-channels. How much more leverage and how much tighter I don't know... I don't have the experience to compare it.

Patrick

without the floating hinge, hemming is a bitch, cause the metal always wants to slip out, it gets even worse in the winter time when you get a little frost on it. I have used both tapco and van mark. I have a tapco now, the only thing I like better about the vanmark is the handle is easier to lock. Its hard to switch back and forth between brands cause the handles lock in oposite directions, and you get really messed up switching after using one style for a long time.

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

windowjim

So, Patrick, are you saying that you prefer the Van Mark II over the Van Mark I?

Patrick

If someone was going to buy one for me I can bend anything, on any brake, except one of those windy pieces of crap (its not that I cant, its that I wont)

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Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

fredIII

you got that right about switching between the two, it gets to be like clockwork then you change brakes and your all messed up.

Tom Struble

hemming a pain in the neckespecially the wider pcs im always kinking it

grob62

My brake is a tapco, but my mentor/friend has a markI (beautiful). Sometimes he will recruit my crew to help him out on bigger jobs, and if I go to use his brake I inevitable line my marks up where they should be and .... pull back to loosen the jaws instead of clamping. Aaargh. I like the handles on my tapco because there is two independent handles so I can stand in between them, whereas witht the van mark I have to either back up or stand to the side.

Patrick

Yes but at least with the Vanmark there is no risk of injury

__________________
Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

Tom Struble

funny Patrick