Metal shaping
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Metal shaping is an invaluable skill to have in hot rod fabrication. There are many specialized tools used in the forming process. | Metal shaping is an invaluable skill to have in hot rod fabrication. There are many specialized tools used in the forming process. | ||
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Shaping metal is basically as simple as shinking or stretching it to achieve the required shape. | Shaping metal is basically as simple as shinking or stretching it to achieve the required shape. | ||
| + | SHRINKING | ||
Shrinking metal can be done using a stump and wooden or plastic mallet. A set of tucking forks can also be used but this process can be slow and tedious. A reciprocating machine such as a Pullmax with thumbnail dies can also be used to shrink metal rapidly. This is not a machine for a novice though. Learning to shrink metal by hand is said to be the best way to see how it reacts throughout the process. | Shrinking metal can be done using a stump and wooden or plastic mallet. A set of tucking forks can also be used but this process can be slow and tedious. A reciprocating machine such as a Pullmax with thumbnail dies can also be used to shrink metal rapidly. This is not a machine for a novice though. Learning to shrink metal by hand is said to be the best way to see how it reacts throughout the process. | ||
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[[Image:DSC05346_(Small).JPG]] | [[Image:DSC05346_(Small).JPG]] | ||
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| + | STRETCHING | ||
Stretching metal can be done on a shot bag with a wooden, plastic or steel mallet. The bag is made of leather and filled with a material such as lead shot or sand. Plastic injection molding pellets have been used for this as well. | Stretching metal can be done on a shot bag with a wooden, plastic or steel mallet. The bag is made of leather and filled with a material such as lead shot or sand. Plastic injection molding pellets have been used for this as well. | ||
Metal may also be stretched over a hollow such as the cut out of a stump or even a piece of pipe. In the photo above, one corner of the stump has a 3" dia hole for stretching metal. Shrinking a piece of metal around the edges will result in a bowl like shape. After shrinking the edges to the maximum amount allowed by this process, it then becomes necessary to stretch the center area of the piece to achieve the radius required. | Metal may also be stretched over a hollow such as the cut out of a stump or even a piece of pipe. In the photo above, one corner of the stump has a 3" dia hole for stretching metal. Shrinking a piece of metal around the edges will result in a bowl like shape. After shrinking the edges to the maximum amount allowed by this process, it then becomes necessary to stretch the center area of the piece to achieve the radius required. | ||
| + | REVERSE CURVE | ||
| − | Stretching the edges of a panel only and not working the center at all will achieve the classic potato chip shape. This is called the reverse curve. The | + | Stretching the edges of a panel only and not working the center at all will achieve the classic potato chip shape. This is called the reverse curve. The stretching can be done by holding the edge of the sheet over a cutout in a stump and applying some severe hammer blows. The photo below shows a wooden mallet with a small radius and a panel that has been stretched over the 3" dia cut out. |
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[[Image:DSC00400_%28Small%29.JPG]] | [[Image:DSC00400_%28Small%29.JPG]] | ||
| + | ENGLISH WHEEL | ||
An English wheel (ewheel) can then be used to smooth out the lumps created from the stretching or shrinking processes. If too much pressure is exerted by the ewheel on areas that were shrunk, the material will start to stretch changing the shape. If too much pressure is exerted at the stretched areas, the metal will be stretched even more and change the shape. | An English wheel (ewheel) can then be used to smooth out the lumps created from the stretching or shrinking processes. If too much pressure is exerted by the ewheel on areas that were shrunk, the material will start to stretch changing the shape. If too much pressure is exerted at the stretched areas, the metal will be stretched even more and change the shape. | ||
| − | Pic of ewheel below. This is a clone based on the | + | Pic of ewheel below. This is a clone based on the Imperial Wheeling Machines brand. |
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| + | A good quality wheel and anvils will greatly help in the wheeling process as the contact between the rollers and sheet will remain constant and give nice results. | ||
[[Image:IMG_3072_(Medium).jpg]] | [[Image:IMG_3072_(Medium).jpg]] | ||
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