How to Bend a Metal Corner

Metal corners add strength and durability to wall corners.

Metal corners protect both inside and outside wall corners and act as a trim for HVAC duct penetrations. To ensure that a metal corner functions properly, you need to perform a precise bend on the piece of metal. An improperly bent metal corner will not rest tight on the wall and therefore will provide less protection and in certain cases an improperly bent metal corner will not pass an inspection if an engineer or architect is involved. Double checking your measurements and paying attention to detail will ensure the metal corner is bent correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Combination square
• Awl
• Safety glasses
• Center punch
• Hammer
• Sheet metal brake

Instructions

1. Measure the width of the sheet metal you will be bending into a metal corner with the tape measure.

2. Set the blade of the combination square to one-half the width of the sheet metal. If a size other than one-half the width is specified, set the combination square to the length of one of the specified leg lengths. For example, you may have a piece of sheet metal that is 3 inches wide and a leg of the metal corner is specified to be 1 inch long, you would set the blade of the combination square to 1 inch.

3. Place the base of the combination square against one edge of the sheet metal, slide the square to one end of the sheet metal and run the awl along the end of the combination square blade. Slide the square to the other end of the sheet metal and repeat the process to make a second scribe line on the surface of the sheet metal.

4. Put on your safety glasses and align the point of the center punch with one of the scribed lines you placed on the sheet metal.

5. Hit the back of the center punch with the hammer to make an indentation on the sheet metal. Repeat the process to make another indentation on the other scribe line.

6. Open the clamping leaf of the sheet metal brake by pushing the top handle of the brake away from you.

7. Slide the marked piece of sheet metal into the sheet metal brake until the center mark indentations you placed on the metal are aligned with the end of the clamping leaf.

8. Pull the clamping handle toward you to lock the sheet metal in place.

9. Lift the handle of the sheet metal brake's bending leaf to bend the sheet metal.

10. Lower the bending leaf and push the clamping handle away from you to release the sheet metal from the brake.

References

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