Introduction to The Minibrake

Hello, I’d like to introduce you to the Minibrake. The Minibrake is a tool my father had an idea for a while back. He had a need for this tool, but there wasn’t one that was practical for the job. So he started to make one. The Minibrake is a metal and material bending tool, constructed mostly of aluminum. He came up with the concept of having a portable, small, easy to use brake. This isn’t just any brake...

It is designed for:
• Easy use when bending
• Time Saving Ideas
• Very Lightweight and Portable

You can take this Brake in the back of your car or throw it in your trunk. I hear from contractors from time to time what a pain (in the you know what!) it is to lug the conventional brakes around. They are just big and bulky, take up too much space. They are also expensive and sometimes a darn hassle to load and unload every day. Some contractors will just leave this expensive tool at the job site, or maybe chain it for security.But the Minibrake you can just pick it up in two moves...

1) Unclamp it, if you have it clamped
2) Slide the locking Lift handle in and pick it up.

Instead of having to find a place to set up your large conventional brake do your work, you can take the Minibrake to your work. How much time do you waste going up and down scaffolding, ladders or stairs to get back to your brake set-up?
You could have a Minibrake that you can take to the location of your work.

The Minibrake comes in two sizes, a 52" and 36" length. It is easy to carry anywhere you are working. It can be clamped to a 2x4, sawhorses or unlike other brakes, just lay it flat on the ground. In most cases, it is not even necessary to brace it. If you just had to do a couple of bends with the conventional brake you’d have to set up the brake on a surface or stand of some type, because the Pull Handles are at a 6 o’clock starting position. The Minibrakes’ open position is totally flat (straight across), as you’ll see when we demonstrate, Also, the Minibrake could be designed to be coupled together so you can gang the 52" to a 36" for longer length.

This tool is great for flashing and rolling stock, and thin sheet metal. Siders and Carpenters are going to love it. This tool is made user friendly with time saving applications. We’ve even toyed with the application of bending plexiglass. With a heat modification added this could be possible too.

HVA (Heating, Ventilating, Air-condition) ductwork can be done as well (shown in the demonstration). Most HVA home ductwork is usually installed with fiberglass. A drawback is that the duct cannot be cleaned. While Metal is a better system, it isn't used much because of cost, and the metal is pre-fabricated, so if the installer needs more pieces, they have to be re-ordered.

With the Minibrake, the homeowner that prefers the better metal system can have it, with fewer installation problems. The Minibrake can do what other brakes can't. It can make full wrap bends - four 90 degree bends, with the smallest being 11/2"x11/2". Fabricating on the job site is a breeze with the minibrake!

How could you make a brake user friendly? It has been designed with the user in mind...
• Lays flat
• Rulers across Clamp Arm and Tables to Measure Length, Width, Depth
• Protractor Angles and Pitches are Inscribed in the Table
• Stop Peg System

The great thing about this tool is the 'STOP PEG SYSTEM', which saves both time and work

ALL THE MARKINGS ON THE FRONT AND BACK TABLE ARE DRILLED OUT AND HAVE PEGS OR STOPS THAT ARE INSERTED INTO THE HOLES AT YOUR DESIRED MEASUREMENT OR PITCH.
These pegs are an awesome concept. They are so easy to insert and take out.
They act as stops at measurements or angles you desire; just use two pegs and you're done.
It’s like having a jig setup on your brake. You can mass-produce parts fast and easy, or do changing measurements very fast.

The Clamp Arm is spring mounted and your material slides easily under it. Just push down the Cam Handle on the Clamp Arm and your metal is secure, pull, and you are done. If you want a 3" 90 degree bend, just insert two pegs at the 3" mark clamp and lift you’re done. Want a combo angle? (a 45-degree with a 90-degree). Insert the pegs in the 45-degree hole, and lift your front table straight up. You are done in seconds.
You’ll see how all the bends are quick, and uniform to each other.
A protractor can be put on the side of the tool so you can view the lift angle; no guessing anymore.

This Minibrake isn’t limited in the length of a bend like others are. Most brakes only can give you 14" to 17" or so before you hit their C-clamp brace. The Minibrake doesn’t have a C-clamp so you can run as long a stock you want and
bend it in the middle (shown in the demonstration).
Remember this Minibrake can do full wraps also. Other brakes can’t do this.

Once You See and Use the Stop Pegs You're Going to Love Them. There is no measuring, just insert the peg, push the material up to the peg, clamp the arm and bend. The holes are the size of a number 8-penny nail. The pegs are only one inch high. If you want you could even use an 8-penny nail instead, If you want your peg longer. Roofer and masons will love it. The roof pitch is right there. The flashing comes out looking great, clean bends, and fast, all the same. The 36" unit would be useful on the work site.

WHAT ABOUT CUTTING?
We made the Clamp Arm so that you can run a razor along the bottom and not mar the aluminum. On the front table there is a Pull Back Bar, that takes the whole front surface and moves it parallel up and down with the front table. This causes an easy and clean snapping action on thin materials. Just slick. Cutting is a breeze. You can leave the Pull Back Bar on the front table or take it off, it’s up to you.

CLAMPING
Under the back table legs are clamps that can either be tucked up if not in use or dropped down if needed.

CARRYING
When you are finished working, the lifting handle slides in and locks the two tables together, so there is no swing of the hinge when carrying. When carrying, all the parts are secured and carried as one piece (shown in the demonstration). The Lifting Handle slides when spring loaded retaining pin is pulled. The Lifting Handle will slide in and lock the two tables together, making one rigid piece.

SLIDE TABLE
This is a removable front table that comes off.
Locks closed or locks half way out (shown in the demonstration).

THIS TOOL IS BASICALLY DESIGNED TO
1. Have no loose parts except the pins
2. Save time by having rulers to measure width, length and depth
3. Save time and give accuracy in lifting by means of side protractor
4. Use pegs as jigs, to provide angles and pitches. Great when repetitive
measurements, or accurate bends are required.
5. Provide portability for transport to, from and around the work site.

This is a tool that is ready to fill the niche in the market, for the tradesman who doesn’t want to buy the full-size, bulky and expensive conventional brake, and knows the job doesn’t require the large apparatus all the time. It is also for the handy man that wants to do some bending but doesn’t want to buy a huge brake.

The Minibrake is for anyone who realizes the concepts put into this tool will save time, money and hassles of working the old style brakes. This Minibrake will cost much less than the conventional brake.

Try one, use it, and you’ll be hooked on the benefits.