Engineering and fabrication
how do i use an aluminum brake to cover the exterior wood around the window?
i'm replacing 3 windows but im installing bigger windows in a small opening and i need to know how to use the aluminum brake?
Public Comments
- I don't totally get the question. A brake just bends the aluminum pieces to cover the wood around the window. You just need to bend the aluminum to fit over the wood you would use to cover the nailing flanges on the window.
Make sure that your window is installed properly with wrap and pan flashing, and that all your final wrap/aluminum joints lap shingle fashion to prevent water penetration.
Good Luck.
- An aluminum brake is simply a large bending tool.
First figure out what the total width of all the bends you are going to make is. We often bend a flat flange that goes against the house wall when braking aluminum.
Add all these bends together plus the flange. Next figure out the longest length you need. Now cut your (coil stock), this is what pro's call the roll of aluminum coil that is used to cover window sills,side casing,etc.,
Cut coil to that length plus a couple inches.
Insert that full width coil into the brake. Pull end handle on brake back to open mouth - slip coil into front jaws. Now put a pencil mark on each end of coil at the total width you need for your pc. Pull handle into the locked position. Take a utility knife and carefully slide it along the brake jaw scoring into the aluminum. Start at one end of brake and go all the way to about 8" from the end, now switch to the other end and come back to overlap your first score. Keep your other hand behind your knife hand - NEVER in front of it. Make another pass of scoring each way. Now pull up large handle hanging down until you have heard the pc. of aluminum snap, let handle down and take your two hands and work the pc. of aluminum down again, pull up hanging down handle again, and pc. of alum should snap off at your cut line.
Take a small scrap of coil stock and cut it to width you need - say a 12" pc. Now treat your brake as a bender. mark each bend line on the backside of pc. Depending on which direction your bend is, you will need to schedule your bends accordingly. Some bends you must do prior to other bends or the pc. won't fit in the brake. It's hard to explain - so just try it with some scrap pc. until you get it. Just remember Keep your other hand behind your knife hand when slitting the coil.
Once you get good at it. You can bend aluminum to cover just about anything. Test your scrap pc. out before making a full pc. Sometimes adjusting your bend line by just 1/8" will make your fit a lot better. We always prefer to use 100% clear silicone to install our aluminum coverings, that way you don't have to face nail it. On rake trim we often pop rivet the fascia cover to soffit panels and or roof edge. Looks Great.
