Doors and Windows - trimming out windows

I am installing replacement windows in an older home that used 1X6's to trim the outside of the windows. How difficult would it be to trim the windows out in an aluminum. i asked some people and they recommended buying a 10ft brake to use on the aluminum. The brakes i was looking at were $1200. Is there any cheaper way to do this (we plan on doing several homes so an investment isn't out of the question.

Thanks Big Blue Jim

You could rent a metal break... but to tell you the truth, most places charge so much that you would be better off buying a new one, and then selling it used when you are done with it. You'd still come out ahead. If you call around to siding supply companies, you might also be able to buy a used one.

I'm partial to the 10' 6" Tapco Pro III.

Thanks for the help,
I have just started looking into these tools and was not really sure if the 10ft brake was needed or if a smaller brake might do the trick.

hi
Break are min 10 ft
you might fine some that are 30 in but hard to find.
You could take your measurement and go to a aluminium place and have them break it for you.

cheers

pg

We used to have an 8' break. It was pretty old, and was a real piece of crap. You might be able to find one of them used. I would have paid someone to take ours. LOL!

Brakes for aliminum coil are either 10'-6" or 12'-6". I don't think they make an 8' brake anymore (for the reasons stated above!!)

Rent?? If you are going to do any amount of trimming, that could get pretty pricey!! $1200 to buy one -- that's what I paid for mine. The only other option would be to get in touch with a siding contractor and sub the work out.

Thanks for the information guys, it was just what I was looking for. I just did not want to drop $1200 on a 10ft brake I really did not need. it looks here as that is the way to go. Is there a particular advantage to the 10'-6" over the 12'-6" or vice versa?

Is it very difficult getting the hang of bending aluminum?

Hi
no most of the bending in logic.
You have to look at it first and make drawing whats the first bend needed and work your way

As I mentioned, we have a 10' 6" Tapco break. The only time I've wished that we had a 12' 6" break has been the few (very few) times we have ever wrapped a window where the sill and head pieces were longer than 126". It is also easier to cut prebent fascia to the correct width on a 12' 6" break, since it comes in 12' lengths.

Breaks also come in various depths. The one we have has a 14" capacity, while the next size bigger is a 19". The Tapco Pro III has an optional cutoff tool that rolls along the front of the break, but it's so pricy that its not worth it, in my opinion.

As pgtek mentioned, wrapping is really just common sense and attention to details. Malco makes a nice hand seamer (S2) that you will probably want to have so that you can bend flaps on your sills and such.

Once you get the sill on :wall: :wall: it's cake. Get the malco trim nail holder that sets the nails. Miss a nail and they will see it for miles on a sunny day. Make sure you have drip caps over the window. Try not to over do the calk it get sdirty and looks bad in a hurry.

Great info guys. I looked around and found the 10'6" brake at a tool rental shop and it was $55 for the day. I think that is the way I will probably go for now. I have also been looking into at a 6" seamer and 3" seamer but wasn't sure which will be more handy.

definately the S2 3" seamer. It fits in your nail apron better. ;)

actually, the only thing I use the 6" seamer for is to bend flaps on fascia. When wrapping windows, 99% of your flaps will be in the 2-4" range, which can be done easily with the 3" one.

One more thing. Remember to pre drill your holes---always

XSleeper, I picked up the S2 3" seamer you had mentioned.

Thanks for all the information it all has helped a ton.

Big Blue Jim