maddog
Here he comes to save the day!
I need rocker panels and some other sheet metal things but have never tried to shape any sheet metal before.
I have spent some time on a couple metal forming sites and decided to give it a try.
First I built a stand to hammer on that can hold hammers as well. It was so heavy, I put wheels on it.
Then I found a stump and carved a couple divits in it. (I am gonna put wheels on that too)
Then I found some round things, polished them and made them mount on my stand.
Then I went to buy some 20g sheet metal. They were out. Then the guys says "do you want the bendy stuff?" I said whats that??
He said body shops and race car body fabricators like it because its easy to form, welds well and doesnt crack. I bought a sheet. Aparently it is part aluminum. Does anybody know about this stuff? What is it called? It didnt cost much more than just plain 20g.
I made a tucking fork and have been practicing making tucks with that and the stump. Once the tucks are made you hammer them down, shrinking the metal. Its quite easy.
I also cut some pie cuts and welded them up and hammered them too!
Tig weld is much easier to work with but mig works too.
I have $0.00 invested so far and I can form sheet metal!!!
I am going to get some plastic hammers and the wheels for an english wheel and I will build the frame.
It was much easier than I thought. Here are a couple pieces I have been practicing on. I am also making the rocker panels for the Topolino(not shown).
All the steel used in my hammer stand (except for the hammer rings and dollys) were scrap from my shop neighbor. He does structual steel. If anyone in my area needs any really heavy metal, let me know. The price is right, free.
I have spent some time on a couple metal forming sites and decided to give it a try.
First I built a stand to hammer on that can hold hammers as well. It was so heavy, I put wheels on it.
Then I found a stump and carved a couple divits in it. (I am gonna put wheels on that too)
Then I found some round things, polished them and made them mount on my stand.
Then I went to buy some 20g sheet metal. They were out. Then the guys says "do you want the bendy stuff?" I said whats that??
He said body shops and race car body fabricators like it because its easy to form, welds well and doesnt crack. I bought a sheet. Aparently it is part aluminum. Does anybody know about this stuff? What is it called? It didnt cost much more than just plain 20g.
I made a tucking fork and have been practicing making tucks with that and the stump. Once the tucks are made you hammer them down, shrinking the metal. Its quite easy.
I also cut some pie cuts and welded them up and hammered them too!
Tig weld is much easier to work with but mig works too.
I have $0.00 invested so far and I can form sheet metal!!!
I am going to get some plastic hammers and the wheels for an english wheel and I will build the frame.
It was much easier than I thought. Here are a couple pieces I have been practicing on. I am also making the rocker panels for the Topolino(not shown).
All the steel used in my hammer stand (except for the hammer rings and dollys) were scrap from my shop neighbor. He does structual steel. If anyone in my area needs any really heavy metal, let me know. The price is right, free.