Take your Tapco bender to the next level

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Tapco’s brake accessories boost efficiency when metal bending. 

Tapco Tools’ metal bending brakes have become known in the roofing and construction industries for their durability, portability and accuracy. With over 50 years of engineering experience behind them, these brakes “help contractors work smarter, faster and with greater confidence on every jobsite.” 

This is something you know firsthand if you already have a Tapco bender. But what you might not know about is the variety of accessories that Tapco Tools carries that can make the process even more efficient! To showcase the accessories that boost the performance of their brakes, Tapco teamed up with Desmond Tse, aka “The Siding Guy” for a series of videos about accessories like the Port-o-Slitter and Brake Buddy. 

An introduction to the Port-o-Slitter 

In the first two videos of the series, Desmond introduces the Port-o-Slitter. This accessory is used to create slit and rib forming in a portable and efficient package. It includes two sets of cutting knives and can be integrated with the “1/2 HP Motor Kit (specify 110v or 220v), Snap Stand, 24" Slitter Cut-Off, and PRO Coiler.” It can manage the following materials:  

    Soft aluminum up to .030 

    Galvanized steel up to 28 ga 

    Copper sheet and coil up to 16 oz 

Watch Desmond introduce the Port-o-Slitter and walk you through assembling and adjusting it.  

Exploring the Tapco Tools Pro Brake 

In another video of the series, Desmond walks viewers through adding a second handle to your Tapco brake. Adding this handle comes with a variety of benefits, including providing better leverage and maneuverability that aids in making more precise bends.  

Check out the entire process of adding a handle to a Tapco Pro Brake. 

Diving into the Brake Buddy 

And to round out the series, Desmond takes viewers through using the Tapco Tools Brake Buddy accessory. This accessory allows users to increase the style and originality of your trim coil, enabling the creation of complex products like brick mold trim and decorative ribs. In addition, the rollers for these specialized applications, the Brake Buddy comes with a measurement guide and a quick-twist handle. Compatible with any Tapco portable brake, it can manage “.019 aluminum, PVC-coated aluminum [and] vinyl-coated trim coil.” 

Learn more about the Brake Buddy and see it in action. 

Want to learn more about Tapco Tools’ brakes and accessories? Check out their YouTube channel for more walkthroughs and informational videos.