Originally Posted By moparx
just got a shrinker/stretcher to play with. specs call for use on 20ga. stainless, 18ga. steel, and 16ga. aluminum. as i need to put a gentle curve in a piece of 16ga. steel, i was wondering if i heated the lip before i fed it through, could that help the grippers of the tool work for this ? it is shrinking the lip. TIA.
beer
[note : i'm not a body man, and this does NOT need to come out perfect.]




If you bought a quality shrinker/stretcher, with quality jaws, 16 gauge steel shouldn't be a problem, only insert the mat'l halfway into the jaws depth, you'll find you can bump the mat'l better, I usually replace the handle with a longer piece, and fashion a handle grip using some heavy stock to give it some extra leverage and weight to help bump heavy stock or tight bends

Mike