AK Flats... Bend with brake???

[Dirtbiker]

Can I bend my tapco flat with a sheet metal brake? Why or why not?

Where can I find height specs and does anyone know the bend radius?

I was going to buy a Nodak but I got given a flat and I'm going to give it a try.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

It all depends on the size and capability of the brake.. some of the larger brakes can't do 90deg bends on small stuff.

[50BMGBOB]

Also, you will need to know the bend allowances (how much the metal stretches when it bends) and how to set your brake up to keep them square and in tolerances. It can be done but you will probably destroy a few flats to get it right. Not bad if you are doing several but not good if it is just one or two.

[wilit]

Just borrow or rent a bending jig. There are several people here with them.

[tankerman]

Please keep us posted if you try the brake.

[AJAX22]

It can be done, but it is quite difficult

It really depends on the exact specifics of your brake and how you have it set up.

[Vindiesel]

It's difficult to do correctly. You have to practice a few times on a piece of scrap to make sure the bend happens where you want it. Even then its very easy to bend the line off angle. Also if your flat has the magazine dimples already pressed in its easy to smash parts of those flat with your bending set up.

Also like NRA said getting 90 degree bends on the other side of the flat can be difficult or impossible, depending on your set up. If you decide to do it buy 2 or 3 flats at least and practice on pieces of scrap before hand.

I don't mean to discourage you because it can be done, you just need much much more patience and attention to detail than I have!

[50BMGBOB]

metal stretch will be a non issue as he would most likely use the same currant commercially available flats. They will go through the same stress at the same 4 bends.

It is more to know where to set the stops for your brake. With a jig it is factor in but with a press if you want your lip to be x.x" then you have to account for it and not just set the stop at x.x" . If you don't, then your reciever will be out of spec and your parts might not fit. It can be done, the shop I worked at when I was in college we did some but we did destroy a few flats to get it right. Even using scrap for practice, the flats bent just a little differant.

[motorhead]

it's been tried with little sucess. the only sucess i've heard of used a press brake and trashed some flats during the learning curve. the new tapcos seem to be extremly hard to bend. we did a bunch on my ak builder jig recently and they required more force to get the bend started than the old tapcos or ak builders. check this section for build parties.