Occasionally I must set my extension ladder on a floor with a slope of 1” drop in a 48” run. With its legs in contact with the floor, it is unsafe to climb the ladder.

My solution was to make a tapered wedge to go under the downhill leg.

I started with a 1” thick hockey puck and used my horizontal/vertical bandsaw to cut it into two 1/2” pucks. For a 20” spacing of the ladder’s legs, I need a thickness of about 0.5”.



I used a drill press vise set at 90° from the saw’s vise to hold the puck on edge. In this way, my hands are far from the cutting action. I knew the saw cut would not be perfect but that was my goal. Using a 3” wide belt sander, I smoothed the cut surfaces.

I marked the thinner side of the puck. It will be on the uphill side.

To use, place the ladder on the sloped floor with the puck under the down hill leg. Periodically check that this leg is canyon the puck.

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Hi All

I decided to make a press brake to help bend, fold and form sheet metal parts for my Foden Steam Wagon and any other jobs that need forming in the future.

Initially in my head it started as a quick and simple build, trying to utilise materials that I had already around the shop. The further I got into the thought process I realised this was not going to be the case. If I was going to future proof the design and have something I would be happy with and do all the things I wanted. I didn’t have all the materials I needed. A couple of hundred pounds later, delivery of the parts and stock needed to get started.

The basic frame of the machine is standard like most other builds, with a base plate, two guide shafts and a bridge piece to hold the press tooling. The tooling is 1/2” plate different widths. Also a few form tools for larger radius’s which also double up as a bump tool for extra large radius’s and shapes.

As it is difficult to use a standard hydraulic press when bumping a large radius as the same depth/pressure is needed to be applied for a consistent form two adjustable stops were made to control the travel of the ram.

The other additional part is an adjustable back stop which I will do a separate post on.

The photos below show the completed brake press and it being used.

Brake press with different tooling

Adjustable bump stop to set constant depth of bump tool.

Bump tool used to form an oval to round funnel shape.

Bump tooling and form tooling

Form tooling creating oval shape.

Completed safety valve cover.

Both form tooling and bumping tool was used to create this part of the Foden water tank.

As sheet metal isn’t my strongest discipline this has improved my skill level in forming sheet metal. I am so happy with the result of this tool and hope you have found it of interest. I haven’t tried bending 90 degree folds yet but I am sure the tool will cope.

Again thank you for viewing
The Home Engineer

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