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shrinker/stretcher ? #2439978
01/24/18 01:12 PM
01/24/18 01:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline OP
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline OP
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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.]

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2440135
01/24/18 05:19 PM
01/24/18 05:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,348
Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
The Doctor is in.
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Eagle, Idaho
I know a guy who has one and you have to run the tool over it many passes to get what your after. It moves metal, but only in small amounts.

Not sure if warming it would help. Maybe annealing it with a torch to soften it up would be better?

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2440244
01/24/18 09:41 PM
01/24/18 09:41 PM
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Lee Co. Fla.
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5carguy Offline
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I wouldn't heat it.Practice on some scrap sheetmetal.

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2440474
01/25/18 11:48 AM
01/25/18 11:48 AM
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ohio
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bbtrux Offline
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ohio
It will definitely be difficult to move 16 ga. with one. Just used mine last week on some used parts on a chimney project here at the shop. They can be real handy.

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: bbtrux] #2440483
01/25/18 12:09 PM
01/25/18 12:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,539
Motor City
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6PKRTSE Offline
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Motor City
One of my next shop tools will be one of these shrinker/strechers for working with the sheet metal for the next Charger & the Road Runner.


1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute
1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack
1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi
1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383
1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440
1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4
2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4
2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2440486
01/25/18 12:17 PM
01/25/18 12:17 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
I Live Here
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Mass
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

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: DAYCLONA] #2440497
01/25/18 12:39 PM
01/25/18 12:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline OP
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline OP
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north of coder
thanks guys ! mike, i was thinking along your thoughts of making a longer handle. i will be doing a practice run with some scrap because i have never used these tools before. couple of things i will be keeping an eye on is the jaw teeth, and the tool's pivot points at the handle and body connection. didn't think about inserting the material only 1/2 way into the jaws. thanks for that tip ! anything else i need to be aware of ?
beer

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2440573
01/25/18 03:24 PM
01/25/18 03:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
I Live Here
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Mass
Originally Posted By moparx
thanks guys ! mike, i was thinking along your thoughts of making a longer handle. i will be doing a practice run with some scrap because i have never used these tools before. couple of things i will be keeping an eye on is the jaw teeth, and the tool's pivot points at the handle and body connection. didn't think about inserting the material only 1/2 way into the jaws. thanks for that tip ! anything else i need to be aware of ?
beer




A little WD-40 helps as well on the jaws

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: DAYCLONA] #2440973
01/26/18 01:36 PM
01/26/18 01:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline OP
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline OP
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jaw teeth i assume ?
beer

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2441024
01/26/18 03:23 PM
01/26/18 03:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
I Live Here
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Mass
Originally Posted By moparx
jaw teeth i assume ?
beer



I spray the jaw teeth and the lever mechanism, as well as the mat'l being bumped, helps reduce the friction/effort required

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: DAYCLONA] #2441459
01/27/18 01:31 PM
01/27/18 01:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline OP
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline OP
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up thank you !
beer

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: DAYCLONA] #2442237
01/28/18 02:40 PM
01/28/18 02:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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JDMopar Offline
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
A quality shrinker/stretcher would come from who? Eastwood maybe? I may buy one in the near future, and want a good one.

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: JDMopar] #2442281
01/28/18 04:06 PM
01/28/18 04:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,153
Mass
DAYCLONA Offline
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Mass
Originally Posted By JDMopar
A quality shrinker/stretcher would come from who? Eastwood maybe? I may buy one in the near future, and want a good one.




Yes Eastwood, I have their dual combo unit shrinker and stretcher units so I don't have to change out the jaw sets, I mounted both units parallel, but opposite one another on a heavy duty stand so I can just switch the handle and go back and forth from one unit to the other to make immediate changes/correction in bumping the metal

I've purchased shrinker stretchers from HF and Woodward Garage in the past trying to be cheap, they were just ok to barely marginal... the jaws would either crack, or have a non existent grip right from the start, the Eastwood sets are a little bit more money, but worth the added expense for a better unit

mike

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: DAYCLONA] #2442539
01/28/18 11:26 PM
01/28/18 11:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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JDMopar Offline
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Thanks Mike. bow I try not to buy anything from Horrible Freight but silly widgets that I might use once every 10 years....lol.

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: JDMopar] #2442856
01/29/18 01:52 PM
01/29/18 01:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,237
north of coder
moparx Offline OP
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline OP
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north of coder
i don't know the quality of the one i got [more than likely imported], but it weighs a ton, and the movement is very smooth. i have to get it mounted first before i try it, and i'm not sure when that will happen. i'm in the process now of getting "stuff" rearranged ["garage aerobics" biggrin] for new garage doors. i plan on mounting this on a piece of 5/8" plate that will have a 1 3/4", 1/4"wall square tube that will fit in the quick change pocket i built into the top of my heavy duty, moveable, work table. i mount quite a few tools to the table using this mount, including a vice, grinder, small tube bender, small solid round stock bender, etc. one of the best things to incorporate in a work table i have ever done ! holds tools very secure, and has access almost 360 degrees.
beer

Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2442924
01/29/18 04:12 PM
01/29/18 04:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,539
Motor City
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6PKRTSE Offline
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Motor City
So the Eastwood is the best bang for the buck & in quality over the Woodward, and of course over the Horror Freight Chinese junk?


1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute
1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack
1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi
1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383
1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440
1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4
2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4
2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
Re: shrinker/stretcher ? [Re: moparx] #2445481
02/03/18 03:03 AM
02/03/18 03:03 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4 Offline
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gulfport, ms, west mi
I would think they all are the same.


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