Looking to set up your shop for some heavy duty fab projects? Or maybe just add that one tool you’ve always wanted? We’ve gathered up a selection of fabricators’ favorites priced for any budget. Take advantage of holiday specials for yourself, or put this list in front of someone who isn’t sure what you want this year.
UNDER $100
Panelbeater Sandbag and Teardrop Mallet
Get started with metal shaping where all the great craftsmen began. With this traditional all-leather bag (you add the sand) and a non-marring mallet, you can form flat sheetmetal into all kinds of shapes and surfaces. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Panelbeater Sandbag Only
Sheet Metal Layout 5-Piece Kit
The key to good sheet metal work is starting with a plan. This 5-piece layout sets lets you mark the precise locations for bends, cuts, holes, and other important steps in the fabrication process before you ever set tool to material. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Sheet Metal Gauge
UNDER $250
19” Bead Roller with Dies
You’ll be amazed by how much strength and rigidity your sheet metal panels gain by rolling a simple bead in them. A must for almost any sheet metal project, this 19” bead roller is perfect for fabricating truck and floor panels as well as other custom parts that require structure. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – 8” Heavy Duty Bead Roller
Metal Cutting Throatless Shear
Cutting complex contours with a straight saw is impossible, but this bench-mounted throatless sheer lets you trim up to 14-gauge steel or aluminum with precision, regardless of tricky curves. A must for any fab shop. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Bench Mount Metal Cutting Shear
UNDER $500
Yost 4.5” Heavy Duty Bench Vise
A quality bench vise is the cornerstone of any shop. This heavy duty combination vise from Yost is made of 65,000-psi ductile cast iron for strength and features pipe jaws to securely hold metal tubing. Its double-clamping swivel base allows for 360 rotation. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Yost 3” Heavy Duty Machinist Vise
24” Box & Pan Sheet Metal Brake
Create complex shapes like floor reinforcement ribs, corrugated pickup bed floor sections, and much more with this one convenient bench-mounted tool. Designed to produce accurate, variable-length bends in angles up to 135°, this brake will be your favorite metal bender. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – 12” Box & Pan Brake
Benchtop Metal Cutting Band Saw
Clean, precise cuts require the right tool. This compact bench top bandsaw is it, allowing you cut bar and flat stock, angle iron, tubing and more. Its built-in vise holds your work while the powerful 1000W motor does the cutting. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Mini Metal Saw
OVER $500
Large Frame English Wheel
Go big or go home. This large English wheel is made for shaping full body panels up to 50 inches wide. Built for maximum rigidity, it will form up to 16-gauge mild steel. It includes five lower anvils and a full 8-inch upper anvil to suit a range of projects and is guaranteed to be the focal point of your shop. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Benchtop English Wheel
36” Motorized Bead Roller & Stand
With its mighty 36”-deep throat, this motorized bead roller is equipped to make panels up to 72 inches wide, making it ideal for pickup beds, floor pans and all kinds of custom work. Powered by a 1/6 hp electric motor, it comes complete with 1/2” dies to make a variety of beads and bends right out of the box. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – 19” Motorized Bead Roller with Dies
Pro Former Metal Tubing Bender
Whether you’re working on roll cages, exhaust pieces, or other custom tubing projects, this tubing bender will be invaluable. Capable of bending mild steel or chrome-moly, this hydraulic bender includes five die sets to handle material from 3/4” to 1-3/4” diameter. Click HERE for current promotional pricing.
Alternate – Heavy Duty Metal Bender