rickman wrote in :

If you don't want to spring the cash for one, you can just use angle
iron and your vise. To do four sided boxes you need to cut the angle
iron to the right length for each bend.


Either that, or cut the metal after the bend, which introduces another
indispesible tool: a bandsaw. Given a drill press and a bandsaw, and an
accurate X/Y table for the drill, it can go a long way before any other tool
is needed, though a small Proxxon IBE drill with various widgets is also
vital, especially if you make PCB's and get a stand and X/Y table to go
with.. Carbide bits seem to last forever with those tools.