On 20 Jan, 16:51, wrote:
I am working on a simplified version of Northern Tools brake press:http://www2.northerntool.com/metal-f...sses/item-1455...

With the lower die at 90 degrees (I am using a piece of scrap angle,
3x3x0.5 wall), I presume the upper die should be less than 90 deg.
Correct? *I am thinking of about 80 degree angle. *Your thoughts?

My brake press will have a 11.25 length working surface (mainly
because the piece of 1x4 CRS scrap that I have is 11.25 long) and at
this time I am going to try to make it work without the two guide
posts.

In the States you seem to prefer a 90 deg bottom die.This means you
need to coin the material.Elsewhere in the world we work with 87
degrees.This allows for air bending which takes infinitely less
tonnage.
Something to bear in mind is that on average mild steel will spring
back 3 degs,so bottoming the material in an 87 deg die will result in
a average 90 deg bend.