Re: panel making ? shrinker/stretcher
[Re: moparx]
#2440134
01/24/18 05:17 PM
01/24/18 05:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,535 Canuckville
68Cbarge
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,535
Canuckville
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The laws of physics at play here.. Heating will expand (stretch) the metal,yet soft to bend. Drawback is when it cools it will contract (or shrink) and will not be what you want when cooled. Not doing any favours by heating it up.A risk of distorting the sheetmetal.Working the metal after it is heated/cooled can also harden it and tougher to work with. Just more work than necessary,IMHO With a good eye and elbow grease,test fit over and over and over till it is right. Hope this helps.
Last edited by 68Cbarge; 01/24/18 05:20 PM.
'68 Newport Custom Barge on a Budget!! BOAB 1973 Satellite WAGON! 318- 3 on the tree!! 2008 Chrysler 300c HEMI!
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Re: panel making ? shrinker/stretcher
[Re: moparx]
#2440807
01/26/18 12:46 AM
01/26/18 12:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,538 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,538
Freeport IL USA
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Moparx, I understand about wanting thicker metal in an area that may see more abuse, been there myself.
My 54 Dodge pickup sat pretty low, and I had running boards on it as well. I built the running boards, and they were mounted to the frame with 3 braces, 1/4" thick x 1 1/2" angle with an angle brace. I built the running boards with 16 gauge steel, formed with a 1/2" wide bottom lip, bent up 90 degrees for 2" then another 90 degree bend for the full width. The 1/2" flange sort of formed a "C" channel.
One time I went into a driveway that had a pretty big hump in it. Driving ever so slowly, about the center in the length of the driver side board scrapped the ground. I was going slow, and the running board was pretty thick steel with the channel, so I thought I would be OK. I was wrong.
That nice channel bowed up in the center before it bent in, and wrinkled to top surface of the running board for about a foot. Because it was 16 gauge, I couldn't straighten it out and finally ended up making a new running board. The new running board was made out of 18 gauge without the bottom lip. I bent it once and was able to straighten it back out.
Sometimes brute strength isn't what you want. That 16 gauge will fold up just as quickly as 18G or 20G under the weight of the truck, but will be a lot tougher to straighten. Gene
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