Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[colwyn500]

I have obviously done a little bit of internet searching but can anyone recommend one of these or are are they all very similar?

I am pretty good at "persuading" things into shape by hand but I want to make some rain channels (gutters) among other things and precision is very important for the final appearance.

Many thanks if you can advise.

[ukdave2002]

I use one of these for shrinking and stretching, the jaws swap depending on what you want to do. Quite easy to use, and with a bit of practice you can get very accurate curves. The metal does need finishing afterwards as the jaws mark the metal.

Mine is a floor mounted foot jobbie, but you can get smaller bench version that sits in a vice.

Dave

PS you have posted this question twice, I'd delete the other one else the thread will get fragmented!

[troutrunner]

My body restoring friend has a free standing type as in the photo made by Eckold and also has an older one of these in the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em04KY0tSxw

It's the tooling that cost a fortune, but worth it if you use it daily as my friend does.

Here is a link to a very interesting and friendly forum called "Metal Meet"

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/index.php

You will probably have to register to view photy's though, but worth the effort if your into making your own repair panels
_________________
Paul
.
1937 Ford Model Y.
1939 Austin 10.
1955 Austin A30.
1958 Ford 300E van.
1961 Austin A40.
1964 Wolseley Hornet.
1965 Series2a Land Rover.
1968 Wolseley Hornet.
1994 Peugeot 405 Est. 2of.
Nil illegitimi Carborundum

[colwyn500]

Wow, Troutrunner, certainly bookmarked that forum for future browsing. thanks to both you and UKDave for the suggested tools. What I have to face up to is that, unfortunately, I am going to have to spend quite a bit of money...Oh well, here goes...

[MikeEdwards]

I've got a smaller version of that, it's rated as "up to 18swg" and it will shrink that, but it's happier with 20. Mine came as a pair off an eBay seller, new shrinker and stretcher with two bodies and two handles for just under £100, so it's worth keeping an eye open. These are the bench mounting ones, I've got a steel frame trolley so I've mounted them on that. It is possible to do a lot of shrinking with a hammer and a lot of practice, but I never mastered the technique and it's very much easier with the tool.

[ukdave2002]

Its easier to stretch metal rather than shrink it, (just hit it with a hammer!) the shrunk bit is only shrunk relative to the other side, its sometimes easier to stretch one side rather than shrink the other.....if that makes sense!

I have a shrinking hammer, but its slow work, with the risk that by hammering the metal will stretch, the other way to shrink is by heat shrinking; heat a spot until the metal spot rises, flatten with a hammer and dolly.

Dave

[troutrunner]

[MikeEdwards]

That's a very interesting forum, some very inspirational threads and videos on there. I don't normally look at Youtube stuff but was engrossed by a video showing someone hand-making a rear quarter panel for a Monaro coupe. Incredible.

[troutrunner]

It is an International site with UK members, it is well worth the effort of joining and if enough members wish to have a "Metal Meet" near me this summer it could well be arranged as Neil loves demonstrating his tools and machines
_________________
Paul
.
1937 Ford Model Y.
1939 Austin 10.
1955 Austin A30.
1958 Ford 300E van.
1961 Austin A40.
1964 Wolseley Hornet.
1965 Series2a Land Rover.
1968 Wolseley Hornet.
1994 Peugeot 405 Est. 2of.
Nil illegitimi Carborundum

[D4B]

[troutrunner]

I'll let you know on here as soon as I nail him for a date he is ok with
_________________
Paul
.
1937 Ford Model Y.
1939 Austin 10.
1955 Austin A30.
1958 Ford 300E van.
1961 Austin A40.
1964 Wolseley Hornet.
1965 Series2a Land Rover.
1968 Wolseley Hornet.
1994 Peugeot 405 Est. 2of.
Nil illegitimi Carborundum

[ukdave2002]

[colwyn500]

Thanks for all that great feedback. I bought a Stakyes (or something like that) shrinker/stretcher.

It's can be very subtle or catch you by surprise how much it curves steel for no effort.

It has already been useful where I didn't expect. It was great for putting a very slight curve on a ready-made botton doorskin repair panel that was supplied very flat.

A pain to have to keep changing jaws but very quick. It seems a very well made machine designed to last years.

[colwyn500]

Just felt a need to reaffirm how useful these things are. Currently making guttering for my Fiat. The job is made unbelievably simpler than it would have been without the tool.

[D4B]

Hi Peter,

I haven't used mine yet ~ can't wait