Used Siding Brake

The most popular used siding brake type is the portable type. Installers need a sheet metal brake that is portable, lightweight, strong and capable of making the bends required for their exact job.

Most siding brakes are designed so they can make just about any bend needed in residential and commercial applications. From overhangs to undersills and outside corners. Most will also handle decorative bends as well as bends needed for soffits and windows.

Even though the portable machines are considered lightweight, they can still be quite heavy to lift and difficult to move around. That's why many siding brakes come with lifting/carrying handles as well as folding legs.

The two most popular types of siding brakes are the Tapco and the Van Mark and in your search for a used siding brake you will find these brands are the most popular sheet metal brakes for sale. Both offer good quality and the Tapco brakes come in four different models from commercial stationary to small portable units. If you can find a used siding brake by Tapco, you should take a hard look because of the quality of the Tapco sheet metal brake machines.

Be sure to check the length of any brake you are considering and be sure it will handle the length you need. Most of the time the price of a used siding brake is determined by the length the machine can handle as well as the condition of the machine.

Most of the popular manufacturers build their siding brakes to last a lifetime. This is especially true of the most common brands. Some off brand brakes imported from China are not built with as heavy gauge steel and do not have the capabilities necessary for a commercial/residential siding installer. These types of units are best for the hobbyist or home user. For a commercial installer, the money you save on buying one of these units may be short lived because they just will not hold up to the everyday stresses when used in a commercial setting.

 If you need a lot flexibility then you should try to buy a unit with a 'wheel kit'. These make moving the siding brake a lot easier by just lifting one end and rolling the unit into position using the wheels at the other end. In your search for a used siding brake you may have to look a little longer to find one with wheels but the extra time may be worth it.

Another caution when buying a used siding brake is that not all of them will come with legs. If you need to set up the unit on the jobsite then you will need a leg kit. If you find a great deal on a used brake then check to see if you can buy the leg kit (or the wheel kit) separately. That way you can save some money and still have the versatility you need to do the job.