I built that W6PQL 80 watt amp last year. Built the aluminum chassis, too. I did not have a sheet metal brake, but a few minutes on Google turned up quite a few home-brew brake plans. I built one of them and used it to form the chassis for my amp, and later on a couple other small boxes for shack utility projects. If you enjoy building stuff, creating your own brake is worth the effort. I think I made mine for less than $25. And it works pretty darn well!
Jim / W6JHB > On Tuesday, Sep 22, 2015, at Tuesday, 10:47 AM, P.J.Hicks > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Crafting a case very similar to the one pictured on the sited page is > relatively easy. While I do have a brake and no problem crafting cases I will > tell you how I would do it without major tools. > > 1. Do a drawing of the case with sizes and flanges laid out piece by piece; > top, bottom, sides, ends, etc. > > 2. Locate the nearest Metal Supermarket. I use them as they are close and > reasonable and I know them and their stock. They will cut your metal pieces > to size very cheaply. Often free. > > 3. Contact them for a quote and order. They may mail your order, I do not > know. There are other places who do the same type business; small orders with > cutting. > > 4. Cut 2 hardwood blocks that just fits inside the lines of the front and > rear panels. They should be smaller by the thickness of the metal material > plus a smidgeon. > > 5. Carefully fit the blocks within the lines of the panel you are bending and > clamp in a vice. The blocks should be aligned as well as with in the panel > lines; Use double sided tape if necessary. > > 6. Use another hardwood block as a "push block" and gently push and hammer > against the flange all along its length until it is bent 90 deg. bending only > a small part of the angle at a time. > > 7. The blocks are also useful when drilling the holes. Some may prefer to > drill first but that makes hole alignment very difficult. > > PJH, N7PXY > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [email protected] ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
