1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

Shrinker/stretcher Thoughts

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by Warloch, Mar 16, 2020.

  1. Mar 16, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
    Messages:
    5,469
    With all the body work I've been doing and needing to make some good floor pans, Tranny/Tcase Covers, I'm looking at this Eastwood Setup.

    Anyone used them? Any good?

    I'll have to spend some time figuring them out as I know I'll be tearing some metal at first.
     
    Warloch, Mar 16, 2020
    #1
  2. Mar 17, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    No shop near you that can make these parts? Seems like a big investment in money and floor space for a few covers.
     
    timgr, Mar 17, 2020
    #2
  3. Mar 17, 2020
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2009
    Messages:
    3,883
    i have some cheap harbor freight ones, cleaned and lubed em and have gotten many years of use out of them .
     
    sterlclan, Mar 17, 2020
    #3
  4. Mar 18, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
    Messages:
    5,469
    I've got a bunch more 'things' to do in the future with them on other projects. I've just been making corners with flat on a roll and then welding the edge back on to fit the flat sections. I know when I start on the '50 Chevy Truck I'll need to make some door corners as well as sections of the door frame. Hope to be good enough by then to have them easy to do and save buying whole sheet metal sections.

    It also rolls up and stores, so it shouldn't be too bad with the shed space I have for the tool bins.
     
    Warloch, Mar 18, 2020
    #4
  5. Mar 26, 2020
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2009
    Messages:
    204,351
    I have a friend who has something like that and he is a metal master...
     
    Admiral Cray, Mar 26, 2020
    #5
  6. Apr 22, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    Messages:
    236
    I'll just chime in here that using the right steel is very much key to good/easy results. You want auto-body AK-steel (Aluminum Kilned) because it has a temper and composition that will allow it to bend without tearing. It used to be hard to come by except in large quantity orders. I used to get mine from Ron Covell who offered partial sheets Covell Creative Metalworking though I'm not seeing it just now on his site. I'm sure he could tell you where to get some though.
     
    teletech, Apr 22, 2020
    #6
  7. Jun 8, 2020
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2003
    Messages:
    860
    I have used the shrinker/stretcher and english wheels in the past.
    Went to a metal meet in Rock Hill SC two years in a row. Learned a lot.

    Lots of good information on:


    All MetalShaping - Powered by vBulletin
    and also
    MetalMeet - for Metalshaping Enthusiasts & Professional Metalshapers

    Harbor Freight shrinker/stretcher is a good place to start. Like all their tools they require some modification to make them more useful/

    They are stippled jaws that don't tear the metal available also which make using them more efficient. Costs about $80.00 more for those.

    A good source for these made in America is:

    TM Technologies: Tools, Sheet Metal Shaping Machines, & Gas Welding Supplies for Better Metalworking

    Shrinker/stretcher is great for making curves and raising steel in the center of a shape.

    Not cheap, but after the learning curve, they really help you make some cool stuff out of steel.

    Dave
     
    Dave Deyton, Jun 8, 2020
    #7
  8. Jun 9, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    Ron Covell is good people. He's held seminars at my work for years. It's nice to sit in on his classes for free :)

    I've talked to people who have the Eastwood units and have had good luck but no personal experience.

    Mittler Brothers has a good reputation for their equipment. I've used some and the stuff I've used has been real nice. A little less than the stuff you linked at Eastwood Warloch. Machines - Shrinker/ Stretcher - Fabrication Tools & Equipment
     
    nickmil, Jun 9, 2020
    #8
  9. Jun 9, 2020
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2003
    Messages:
    860
    Ron Covel is a great guy. He's really interested in keeping the metal working hobby going. I really like his videos.
    Mittler Brothers is great equipment.
    Taking these classes really teaches you a lot.
    Great videos on line on metal fabrication.

    Looking to get a shrinker/stretcher myself.


    Dave
     
    Dave Deyton, Jun 9, 2020
    #9
    teletech likes this.
New Posts