New Brake

woodchuck2

Well i got tired of borrowing from my cousin's brake and renting from the local hardware when his wasnt available so i broke down and bought one. I opted for the Van Mark, Mark II trim master TM 1260 contractor model in 12'6" flavor. It is a little heavier than i expected but works very well.

A W Smith

why a 12 1/2 footer? On a breezy day you will have a problem attaching anything bent up that long to a home. Plus the longer it is, the more it will expand during temperature changes and pull the trim nails out unless you slot them or use undersill or hem to hold your trim in place. I don't even know anyone with a 12 1/2 foot brake. I'm holding out to the last minute to update my ancient Tapco 10 1/2 foot windy to a pro 14, My brain says yes but my three herniated disks say maybe i should just put a rebuild kit on my windy since your not supposed to load/unload a Pro by yourself. yet i have little choice.

edit to add
I still have that old literature somewhere in my basement when I bought my brake in the eighties. its got a picture of the late '"Windy" Marsh on it, cigar clenched in the corner of his mouth and wearing a polyester suit if i recall, Obviously taken in the fifties or early sixties. Looking just like a used car salesman. They also used to have a pretty female model with the brake suspended mysteriously on her shoulder in the literature.

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Al Smith
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woodchuck2

I opted for the 12'6" for fewer seems in facia and it was only another $100 over the 10"er.

A W Smith

well it is good for them giant bays or bows you sometimes have to bend an apron around.

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Al Smith
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Patrick

Im debating getting a 12 footer or the 19 inch throat.

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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.

dkillianjr

I have a 10'6" Vanmark Mark1 contractor series. I have to say I am very happy with it. I used to have an old 12'6" Tapco windy. There have been a couple of times I have wished I still had a 12' like roof valleys or the 12' patio door I put in right after I got it!

Woodchuck, you might want to look into the wheel kit for your brake. I am gonna order one or make one for mine. I know my 10'er sucks to load by myself I can amagine the 12'!

http://www.industrialladder.com/prod...&categoryID=56

Dave

72chevy4x4

I've got an older Pro14 and could see the use for a Pro19-the depth of the throat for each is 14" and 19" respectively. With a 19", you may be more likeliy to leave the cutoff portion inside the machine while working on bends.

woodchuck2

Thanks for the link dkillianjr, cheap investment until i can swing for a folding table with wheels. This brake purchase was the straw that broke the camels back for storage room for my tools. I am now building a 10'X14' tool shed to put the brake, all my ladders, miter saws, planer, router table, table saws, conduit, etc so i can hog out my enclosed trailer for more room and towing less weight.

SHS-Matt

Alumapole came out with a brake a couple of years ago that I think is the best on the market.

It has a built in work table, a cut off that runs the length and another that runs the width. It has built in depth gauges all over. It is a heavy SOB and would probably work best mounted. The package with the legs costs a little more than a loaded Tapco.

Grumpy

I had a 12 footer with a 19" throat, it got stolen. I got a 10'6" now with a 14" throat, it got dropped the first week but the "Not me" ghost. In other words the only one person who uses it swears to god he never dropped it... Anyways, now it's like an 8' break since you can't use the last couple feet of it

wink

i have a quick question, now i do not do much siding. it took me a long long time to do some cedar shingle siding, but with all of the azek and other vinyl trim on the market do you really need a brake anymore? don't yell i am just wondering

WarnerConstInc.

Tapco Pro 19 10'6" here!! I got the wheels, side winder, cut off wheel, dies, and a siding table all in one fell swoop. I wish they made a deeper one though, I would also like to have one that opens up wider as well.

72chevy4x4

how do you like the side-winder? does it slide into the end of the brake? you've got the brake buddy too? how did your pricing for a window wrap change after this....or does it make it quicker b/c of few bends?

WarnerConstInc.

The side winder slides into the end, that is nice. Honestely I dont wrap too many windows, nor bending fascia for that matter. The dies ar cool, used a couple of times. The brake seems to get more action from chimneys and roofing than siding. I hate vynal siding, try not to sell any jobs like that, I am a wood man, being swayed slightly by cement board with wood trim. It is under 15 mins I suppose to bend all pieces to wrap a window, I just did two this week. Over all it is great, I love the wheels. Watch out because you cant bend any wore than 16 oz. copper though.

Handyman Jim

When I bought my brake around 1985 , I got the same literature. The pictures were exactly as you described them. I just looked and couldn't find my copy, but I did find the 12 page instruction manual "How to repair and maintain your Tapco Port-o-Brake" that came with it.

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Duane1982

I have the 10 6" tapco pro 19 with the sidewinder and cut off tool. If I ever buy another it will def be a van mark. I like how the handle clamps down the jaw on the van mark by pushing it back and not towards you like the tapco's . How many of you have "beefed" a garage door side wrap because the edge of the metal got stuck on the handle of the tapco and rippled it. I can make sure I don't do it but if one of the guys isn't paying attention it really sucks!

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easy sider

12-6 benders are the standard in my area. When we see 10 benders its usally a newbe.

thesidingpro

It's the opposite here.

I prefer the tapco 10' with the 14" throat. My newest one is a 10' with 19" throat and I hate it.

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Smileydog

Professional cladding with a low-end brake: I have been using a 10' 6" VM Trim-a Brake for 30 years. It has some advantages over the newer models. It is light and easy to handle. Plus, with the lock handle on the end, I always have my work table (2'x 8' plywood) sitting on top of the brake. I hold the coil to the table with spring clamps, cut to length by scoring along 2' framing square. Everything is right there in front of you. Hemming takes 5 seconds with hand-held tool. What more do you need?

Burby

Are you serious?? I don;t know anyone who bends metal, for houses, that has anything less than a 12.6, simply because of the joint lengths. Personally I have heard of more complaints about the number of joints on metal work with the shorter brakes. When I bought some brakes back in the early to mid 90's so I oculd move workers up to foreman, give them 2 guys and let um go out and side homes, talking to supply salesman the 12.6 was the way to go & so many siders were upgrading as well because reducing # of joints on rakes & facial.
What you say makes sense with shorter pcs of metal and may in part hav to do with the applicator, some can make nice joints, some, well, they should not be allowed near a brake.. hahaha
One of my workers I got a brake for and let him out on homes with vinyl & metal work, he played with that brake all he could to better learn ways to use it. One job he did I could be more proud of a worker with the dental & crown he made with metal on a brick house, he did some awesome work with it and especially his raised panel corners he would make for some houses using a combination of hardi siding & metal.
I never liked metal or vinyl on a home, but it was a money maker and he loved doing it, so he ran that side for me.
I do have a 10.6 brake, but it is a maxi brake for bending heavier guage metal for flashings, pan & step, mostly SS & copper.

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