Van Mark brake

End of year time to spend some money, I guess.

Looking into a brake upgrade. I've had my eye on a Van Mark for years after having 2 Tapcos. IDK why, never used a Van Mark. Not even sure of which model to choose, but the cam lock looks best to me. Perhaps the Mark I.

Funds aren't unlimited, but I do want accessories, like a cutter and wheels.

Any suggestions?

I agree about the hems Lefty. Especially as aluminum keeps getting thinner...... I foresee more steel in our future.

My old brake would easily bend 28 ga. which is what most trims seem to be.....not so sure about the hemming there tho. But I want the capability to go thicker PLUS the slide cutter is a great invention for quality and efficiency. As far as I know, my TAPCO was a year or 2 too old to have a cutter

Twill59,

I only bought that one because of price. I am going to get an 8' Van Mark like you are getting this week. Just so I can put a hem on some of the casings. Makes for a nicer job. Keeps the wrinkles out.

Lefty Said: I got a 12 old style brake for $400. It is like brand new. It is nice to be able to buy tools that you may only need every once a year.

I used it on 1 job already. At that price it is paid for. If I never use it again, no loss.

Me too. However, when figuring in time, research, resources allocated, energy expended and overall effort involved in a one shot deal, price is almost a non factor

I got a 12' old style brake for $400. It is like brand new. It is nice to be able to buy tools that you may only need every once a year.

I used it on 1 job already. At that price it is paid for. If I never use it again, no loss.

that sounds about right clover. Mine came with the wrong leg kit. That's why you see it sitting on sawhorses.

The manufacturer told my supplier it was the right leg kit.....I figured out that it was nit within 5 minutes. And I've never seen or touched one of these things before.

It's the way of the world anymore it seems . I'm jaded and with good reason.........because I am OLD! :unsure:

We just spent about 20+ man hours cleaning the shop this week for yesterday's delivery. When it got there, it looked like two guys had tried to carry it down from Michigan. Box was beat to heck and the brake was scratched everywhere and bent in one spot. Refused delivery :(

That's okay, because we really need to spend about another 20 hours cleaning the shop.

That thing has some serious style to it.

I dont normally use those types of brakes but i used a 12'6" metalmaster on an island job and it bent 16oz copper pretty good. I even managed to accomplish 3/8" with it. Was pretty heavy to consider it portable but it is. Mine had the stand with the foot bar for better leverage. I believe it helped a lot but i still strapped it to the wall. Anyway for that type of brake, in my experience the metalmaster outperforms the others.

http://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rcs/users/twill59/2014-12-17 16.23.51.jpg

I want that ability copperman, although with 24 gauge that sounds tedious on a 10'6". I hated to buy new but found this one $1,000 cheaper than any distributor around here. This will be the shop break for the most part and I didn't want to regret getting the shorter ones.

to heavy for my liking but an awesome brake. I would bend 24 foot standing seam pans with my 10'6" brake. this can only be done because it has the deep throat.

You da man!

Just purchased the Max XL 14'6" w/ pro cutoff and angle gauge. Go big or go home I thought. I hope I don't regret getting the big one!

That is funny. Sounds like I'll be staying away from VanMark. Looking at the Maximum.

I forgot to mention thst you can easly adjust he max with an allen wrench that is stored on the brake. Only takes minutes