Brackets Tutorial 3: No Frills Shelf Bracket

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Link to: Bracketage Main Page

Introduction

This document shows a very simple process for making a right-angle shelf bracket. It uses mostly GREEN tools that don't require any training. The dimensions are 6" x 6" x 1-1/4" but the reader will see that these dimensions are arbitrary.

Cut the blank

We use 1-1/4" x 1/8" steel strip and cut it on the Ironworker. Mark the overall length of the bar and the line where it should be bent with a highly visible marker. Put dots where the mounting holes will go.

Turn on the power to the Ironworker so the blade rises to the top of its travel.

Insert the bar and line up the cut line with the blade of the Ironworker shear.

marking thin strip thin strip bar_in_shear

Tigthen down the stock clamp. Depress the foot pedal on the Ironworker to bring the shear blade down.

Release the foot pedal as soon as the bar is cut! DO NOT allow the Ironworker to bottom out!

clamp thin strip foot thin strip cut bar

Punch the Mounting Holes

Now we punch the mounting holes in the blank.

Turn off the power to the Ironworker.

Select the punch and die set for 1/4" holes. Note that the die for 1/4" holes is 1/32" larger in diameter: 9/32". Tools for tightening the punch and die are provided in the tool box.

punch set thin strip tool set

Place the die in the die seat on the punch table with the small hole facing up. Tighten with the hex wrench provided.

Insert the punch into the punch socket and tighten the nut only finger tight prior to aligning it.

die drop thin strip die tighten thin strip punch install

Grab the handle at the top of the punch spindle and pull it down to lower the punch into the die.

Make sure the punch is centered in the hole in the die. Push it around by hand until it is centered

Tighten the punch with the wrench provided and then return the handle to its top position.

lower punch thin strip punch center thin strip tighten punch

Swing the upper part of the stripper into position.

Place the lower part of the stripper underneath it.

stripper 1 thin strip stripper 2

Place the workpiece under the stripper and lower the punch to line it up with the mark. Return the release handle to the top position.

Depress the foot pedal to bring the punch down.

Release the foot pedal as soon as the hole is punched! DO NOT allow the Ironworker to bottom out!

Repeat the process until all of the holes are punched.

align with mark thin strip punched workpiece

Bend the Bracket

This operation uses the Hydraulic Shop Press that can be found in the back of the shop near the chop saws.

Place the workpiece in the bending tool and lower the tool until it lightly presses against the workpiece.

Square up the workpiece in the tool and make sure the bend mark is under the tool.

blank in bender thin strip square blank thin strip pump press

Pump the press and bend the workpiece. Check the angle periodically to make sure it comes out with a right angle.

bending thin strip pressure release thin strip bent bracket

Cut the Diagonal Brace

To strengthen the bracket, we add a diagonal brace to the bracket. First we cut it on the Ironworker.

You can measure it, or you can place the bent piece on a piece of bar stock (in this case, 1/2" x 1/8") and mark it. Try to account for the width of the pen tip.

You can insert bar stock at an angle into the Ironworker. Clamp as normal and chop.

mark angle thin strip cut angle

Assemble the angle brace to the bracket on the welding bench. As shown it is held up with welding magnets.

Weld the brace to the bracket with the MIG welder.

The MIG welder is a RED tool. You must be trained and tool-tested in order to use this tool.

bending thin strip pressure release thin strip bent bracket