Machine to fold foil?

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
8,650
i am looking for an electric or hand crank foil folding machine. Don’t know what’s it’s called or if it even is a thing. Closest thing I could find is a bead roller for sheet metal. I figured we all of our combined brain power we can figure out if such a beast exists. Thanks guys, I’m getting sick of folding foil pouches by hand and I’m hoping there is a “magic” seam sealer out there. I have seen the seam welder that was posted a little while ago but I would like something that can be used in the office. Thanks guys - JT
 
I can't say that I've seen anything exactly what you're asking for, but if I come across something I'll come back here to link to it.

I've just been using a pair of vice grips with flat heads to get my foil folded... since I started using them, I haven't cut myself once, and they seem to take far less time to use.
 
Harbour freight makes a bending brake 18" long and under and under $40. it can be used to start crease, it doesn't bend all the way through just to about 110° before it hits a stop. I was looking at one in the store.

Would probably speed up starting an even crease.

I skipped the brake and just use a straight edge to start the crease, a metal roller to finish and some duckbill, smooth jaw pillers to crimp the corners folds really tight.
 
I was thinking that a simple brake would do your task, too. Make one that locks down on the foil with an angled plate and the brake arm can swing to around 150°. Roll a rubber roller down the edge, lift clamp and move packet to have the new fold under the clamp plate, repeat the fold and roll, remove and tap snug with a rubber mallet or roll between two hard rubber rollers.

I have a forging day today in Suffolk, but may draw up some plans tonight.
 
Maybe a bar folder or hemmer? Reached out to an old friend that used to make copper mission lighting years back and that’s what he said. He is 95 now, so.....
 
On a press brake, hems can be done in two hits of the same die:

combination%20(u-shape).jpg
 
Nick Dunham said:
On a press brake, hems can be done in two hits of the same die:

combination%20(u-shape).jpg
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be too difficult to procure some tooling (I believe those in this picture are WILA PRECISION part numbers) and build a dedicated small press for such a task. Maybe about $1000 dollars worth of tooling, impractical for a hobby guy, but maybe worth the time savings for someone like JT.
 
tkroenlein said:
It wouldn't be too difficult to procure some tooling (I believe those in this picture are WILA PRECISION part numbers) and build a dedicated small press for such a task. Maybe about $1000 dollars worth of tooling, impractical for a hobby guy, but maybe worth the time savings for someone like JT.
Click to expand...

My thought is that precision tooling isn't needed for folding foil - nor is hardened tooling or a precise linear stroke. I bet some mild flat bar could do the trick.
 
Start the fold with a $15 sheet metal folding tool with the 3/8 end. Use on a $5 piece of tile with toolbox liner mat underneath the tile

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Crease over by hand, roll the seem on the tile with a $10 steel hand roller.
dquxVax.jpg


When folding the ends use an $8 pair of duckbill pliers to pinch an extra tight crease.

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Under $40 worth of tools to make life easier.

qLHE1O9.jpg
 
Something is missing for me, I am only seeing one fold. I have been under the impression a double fold is expected. By the way, I have use a 3 dollar wallpaper roller on mine.
 
golfer1 said:
Something is missing for me, I am only seeing one fold. I have been under the impression a double fold is expected. By the way, I have use a 3 dollar wallpaper roller on mine.
Click to expand...
Before using the duckbill pliers you can see two folds, I pinch it tight with the pliers. Some do three folds, if you have clean, tight folds two is plenty.

uraDeXc.jpg
 
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