We bend metal, not the truth!
We have all bought ‘miracle products’ before. You know what
we are talking about. Those products that claim to do something that no other
product can do or offer the promise of results that seem completely
far-fetched. Only to find out after your purchase that the product didn’t even
come close to doing what they suggested it was capable of, or your results fell
far short of what is shown on the box.
That is no fun. And it can really have a lasting impact on
your opinion of the product or brand.
At Van Mark we take a lot of pride in the quality of the
tools we build, and our long history of providing more value and durability
from our products than customers expect. It’s just something that is in our
DNA. Not to drag out the old adage “under promise and over deliver” but it
seems to suit us. We are well aware of all of the audacious and often inaccurate
claims or promises from brand after brand. So, we are very cautious when we
make any product claims.
That said, a brake’s bending capacity is a critical feature
that should be considered when making an investment like this, so accuracy in
its presented capabilities is paramount. Because of this, we at Van Mark do
thorough testing before releasing our products and any information about them.
And with brakes it can be tricky, since there are a variety of materials and
sizes that need to be accounted for. We typically use common or “industry
standard” metals for testing, but if you plan to use materials not intended for
construction use we ask that you contact us to discuss your specific needs in
more detail.
When we do our product development we test the maximum
capabilities, sure, everyone does, but we test full-length pieces, not
small scrap pieces. So, for example if we rate a 10’6” brake as capable of bending
.032” Aluminum, then we ensure it can bend a full-ten-foot piece of
.032” Aluminum. Or with our Industrial brakes, when we list a 14’6” brake as
capable of bending 24 gauge Grade D painted steel, we test this by bending a
full 14’ piece of 24 gauge. Testing the maximum capacity of a brake with
short scrap pieces is a cheat, and we won’t have it.
So as a Van Mark user, you can work with confidence knowing
that our brakes will do what they say on the box each time, every time. That’s
the truth.
