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Tips and tricks for Shrinker- Stretcher

Vernmotor

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Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
1,318
Location
Mt.vernon oh
I just got both tools and been fooling around with them..it is not as easy as it looks !! any hints On how to ???? My hand almost sore already !!!
 
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Vernmotor

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Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
1,318
Location
Mt.vernon oh
Well I made a tool stand for them today..
toolstand.jpg

toolstand1.jpg
 
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
14
The real trick is to only use about 1/4-1/2" of the jaws on the first pass or so and keep working the metal further into the jaws with each successive pass. It's much easier on the jaws as well as your hands/arms this way.

Randy Ferguson
www.fergusoncoachbuilding.com
 

65WILDKAT

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2006
Messages
6
Location
Pa.
My Question is how much pressure is needed, I have done some light Aluminum and also some really thin gauged steel (some stuff that I had in the shop) I was given my S&S machine so I am unsure of how much or how far down do you push the handle? :headscrat
 
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Rocket

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Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
481
Location
Keith, South Australia
OK.
Now that I've found this place & a thread that is up my alley too, here's a pic of my shrinker stretcher kick stands I made some time ago.
Nothing like having your hands free to control the job.
The amount of pressure required to bend depends on the amount you need to bend & of course the thickness, size & type of the material.

Picsfromnewphone097.jpg
[/IMG]

They enable you to stuff like this :

Picsfromnewphone075.jpg


CHEERS ALL :thumbup:
 

John Kelly

New member
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
4
Here is an example of some work I have done with a shrinker and stretcher. A custom steel t-top roof for a Karmann Ghia. When shrinking a tight radius on a flange that is more than 3/4" or so it is sometimes better to cut the flange down to 1/2", shrink it until you have our curve right, then weld in a small piece to finish the flange. I did this on the flanges of the t-top opening. Shrinking a 1" flange in a tight radius of 90 gets more difficult the thicker and more work hardened the metal becomes. If you don't want to weld in a piece as I described above, you can heat the metal a little bit with a torch to make it easier to shrink.

John www.ghiaspecialties.com
 

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Plushy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
84
Location
Sulky , Victoria
OK.
Now that I've found this place & a thread that is up my alley too, here's a pic of my shrinker stretcher kick stands I made some time ago.
Nothing like having your hands free to control the job.
The amount of pressure required to bend depends on the amount you need to bend & of course the thickness, size & type of the material.

Picsfromnewphone097.jpg
[/IMG]

They enable you to stuff like this :

Picsfromnewphone075.jpg


CHEERS ALL :thumbup:




Hi Rod welcome to the Garage journal i am starting to think you are following me around . Those Weldmates i got off you at the swap meet are great :thumbup: Did you manage to get that Cab home ?

cheers Plushy
 
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Rocket

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Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
481
Location
Keith, South Australia
Hi Rod welcome to the Garage journal i am starting to think you are following me around . Those Weldmates i got off you at the swap meet are great :thumbup: Did you manage to get that Cab home ?

cheers Plushy

Thank's,
You can Blame Simon for getting me here :headscrat

Glad you like the weld mates. I sold out of them and many other tools by Sat. lunch time.

Yes, the cab is now at the shop :bounce: & I'll unload it in the morning.

I picked it up today.
It ended up at Portland (thanks for the offer by the way) A mate who lived a bit closer to home made an offer I couldn't refuse.

You'd better stand by for the build to get under way in April :thumbup::thumbup:
 

HOTFR8

Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
24,498
Location
Castlemaine, Victoria. The Hot Rod Centre of Austr
Hi Rod welcome to the Garage journal i am starting to think you are following me around . Those Weldmates i got off you at the swap meet are great :thumbup: Did you manage to get that Cab home ?

cheers Plushy

Thank's,
You can Blame Simon for getting me here :headscrat

Glad you like the weld mates. I sold out of them and many other tools by Sat. lunch time.

Yes, the cab is now at the shop :bounce: & I'll unload it in the morning.

I picked it up today.
It ended up at Portland (thanks for the offer by the way) A mate who lived a bit closer to home made an offer I couldn't refuse.

You'd better stand by for the build to get under way in April :thumbup::thumbup:

Plushy, Blame me I sent Rod a link to this place.
 

Plushy

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
84
Location
Sulky , Victoria
Simon your a naughty boy , now go to your shed and finish your truck ! :thumbup:


Rod i will need to get some of the plastic hammers from you to when you get more of the handle grips in stock . When are you next over this way ? :)
 

Rocket

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
481
Location
Keith, South Australia
Simon your a naughty boy , now go to your shed and finish your truck ! :thumbup:


Rod i will need to get some of the plastic hammers from you to when you get more of the handle grips in stock . When are you next over this way ? :)

It just so happens we started to a hang the doors on that F1 in the previous pic today :bounce::bounce:

Plushy,
The grips are supposed to be still on the way, but hopefully they will be here once I get back from the salt :bounce::bounce:

yes, I'll be at Horsham & Castlemaine swaps @ the end of the month (I hope:() I basically sold out at Ballarat & with the mail & internet orders (plus the shop work :lol_hitti) where a bit snowed under, but some how well get there :beer:
 

ps junkslinger

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
258
Location
New york(Hudson Valley)
Foot pedal stand is a must. If you don't want to make your own like above(which looks great) you can get a cheapo stant from harbor freight if you want, or for not much more money you can get a much better one from Baileigh above. I just got the Baileigh catalog and they have some really nice stuff and it's alot more affordable than you think.
 

Bob Paulin

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2008
Messages
69
Location
N.E. USA - Atlantic Canada
Well I made a tool stand for them today..
toolstand.jpg

toolstand1.jpg
In think you're going to find a problem with the way you have the two machines mounted on the stand.

Depending on the length of the workpiece, as you shrink it, it will soon interfere with the stretcher as the radius decreases.

That is why most "factory" stands have the two machines mounted so close together - so the piece that is being shrunk will slip around the stretcher.

Better still is separate stands for each machine.
 
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