Sheet Metalwork

Good morning,

I need to do some sheet metal bending and rolling (around 20 swg Mild Steel).

I've come across these 3 in 1 bender, roller and shearing machines from the likes of Machine Mart, Vevor, Warco, etc.

Are they any good? Capacity looks about right.

They are OK, but need careful setting up when new.

They are OK within their operating range. Do not expect too much for thicker metal.

Andrew.

Be careful, I bought an 300mm Axminster one and left it boxed for a year, DUH.

Nothing was quite right, the casting machining was off so long bends are still a little off after fettling as one side operates before the other.

On the plus side they will roll 3" wide 3mm steel with lots of runs even if the gears are way off meshing.

I have set of home made rollers and a folder for sheet metal, both work well but would like to be able to cut sheet steel and sheet aluminium, with out the usual marks with tin shearers, should I buy a 3in 1 job from Machine Mart or Axminster. Your comment will be appreciated. John

Friend of mine bought one, it was impossible to set up correctly as the end pieces were machined out of line. Supplier refunded without even checking, which suggests it wasn't unusual. Having said that, someone else I know has one and is pleased with it, so it sounds like typical imported stuff, some of it is rubbish, but other which looks identical can be good. Moral of the story unpack it and try it out straight away.

The 3 in 1 machines are better than nothing, I have a 12 inch Warco version and the vee bender is next to useless, the guillotine works but only on very thin material, I tend to only cut brass shim on it, the roller is perhaps it’s best feature. To sum up I suppose it does the job.

Thanks All,

Looks like as Baz says, they're better than nothing. I guess, you "pays your money" with these things.

The 200mm version from Warco looks quite attractive for it's compact size (and it will suit my needs), but I think I'll go for a 300mm version. Because as has often been said on here about Lathes and Mills, you can do small things on a larger machine, but not always the other way around. Also, there seems to be more choice with the 300mm versions, although they all look pretty much the same apart from the colour.

Expect something to be out of line/sub-standard, if bought with a vevor sticker. On the mathematical probability scale, I would say ‘likely’ rather than ‘possibly’.🙂

Dunno about the rest

The first Chester 12" 3-in-1 I bought would not operate alla three funsctions due to the moving beam being machined incorrectly. No spares to hand, so the machine was replaced & the second one works fine.

The quoted 1mm capability in steel is an effort to shear, though I have used mine mainly on sub-1mm aluminiun for which it is quite easy..

It has not had much use & is currently greased up under a bench pending sale - it is in the small ads on here , collect from Huddersfield for a lot less than a new one, plus it has already been deburred !

Nigel B.

The little sheet metal work that I do is done using a larger Warco bench shear, and set of 12" bending rolls, basically, made to the G H Thomas 10" design, and a Warco 12" press brake/folder.

Am always a little worried by machines that claim to be "All things to all men"

being a cynic, "Jack of all trades, master of none" comes to mind.

Howard

I've had the smaller size from Machine Mart for several years and make round fuel tanks for my stationary engines using ex immersion heater tanks copper sheet, I've cut thin steel sheet with it. The rolls and bender work well for me as well.

My only criticism would be that I had to tinker with the guillotine table to get it to cut well.

Martin P