Stretching And Shrinking Sheet Metal

The basic principle of shrinking and stretching relies on squeezing the metal together or pulling it apart to stretch.

Stretching and shrinking sheet metal.

Alternatively there are shrinking discs on the market that are attached to an angle grinder that use friction to create the heat. A metal shrinker stretcher can be used to form a gentle radius or compound curve so your replacement panel is an exact fit. Shrink stretch some types of sheet metal parts formed by hydroforming rubber pad forming or fluid cell forming require special treatment to adjust angles produce the required contour tolerances or to finely shape or smooth them. Episode 6 of the natoli panel creations video series.

The press came down and stamped out the correct shape. A process that uses a hammer and dolly a stretcher or an english wheel to pull metal apart tucking. With this method you firmly hold an object behind the metal and hit the other side with a hammer. A method of shrinking metal by bunching it together through force using a crevice and spade hammer or a folding technique where the metal is bent at the edges with a homemade tucking fork.

In this episode mark gives some of his top tips and shares some knowledge behind shrinking and stretch. The hdas 4 air operated sheet metal shrinking stretching machine was developed for the use of fabricating and repairing all types of sheet metal and some extruded aluminum sections. Then remove the tool and move it over so the fork will roll the metal over the other side of the fork by twisting the metal the other direction. It has moving textured jaws that grab sheet metal from the top and bottom forcing it together.

Shrinker stretchers accomplish this with a pair of ribbed jaws that bite into. You can shrink steel or you can stretch steel. This tool is operated with a lever by either hand or foot. These tools form metal by either compressing shrink or expanding stretch the material with no hammering heating or secondary cuts necessary.

Then twist the handle of the tool to twist the metal around one side of the fork. Start by inserting the fork into the edge of the sheet metal at the desired depth of the shrink you want to make. Stretching metal hammer and dolly this is the most basic way to stretch metal. These two qualities are what make it so workable when it comes to forming or repairing a body panel on your car or truck.