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Tips
Tips

Body N Fender guys?

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AweMan

AweMan

Jedi Knight
Offline
First off, before I go to the trouble of manufacturing a Fender Flange Tuck tool. {For Shrinking sheet metal}
NOTE: I dont want to make HUGE tucks. I rather prefer to make small ones even if I have to make several to achieve my goal.
Can anyone tell me if
1. there is such a tool already in existance.
2. where to get it
3. about how much does one cost
P.S. Iv seen the ones you stick the sheet metal in and twist and that is NOT what I have in mind.
I would rather have something that is visegrip like where you could presisly control the shape and size of the tuck or tucks.
Hoping beyond hope once again :lol:
 
Kerry, if you're working off the car on patch panels the shrinker/stretcher such as sold by Harbor Freight works great. https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95062
You can use it to form the fender edge in a smaller piece then weld that "lip" to the rest of the fender. The only other shrinker tool I've seen is a pliers like device used by HVAC guys for duct work, but that is really limited to thinner sheet metal rather than the 20 gauge commonly found in car bodies. They form a pretty rough corrigated look similar to the reduced size on duct work and probably wouldn't give you the finish you're looking for on a fender edge.
I used my shrinker stretcher along with my sheet metal brake to form a filler panel for the front valance on my MGA. That required a compound curve along a 90 degree bend. Photos of the piece in work are posted on snapfish under my metal shop section. It will give you an idea what you can make with that sort of tool. https://www2.snapfish.co.uk/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=229324769/a=132619650_132619650/t_=132619650
You may have to log in to view these, but it's free and you don't seem to get any spam. Just look for Bill Young and my photos should come up.
Hope this helps.
 
Bought the harbor freight shrinker/stretcher a few weeks ago. Worked fine shrinking 18 gauge. I bolted a piece of angle iron to the bottom of the device and held it in the workbench vise.
 
Here are a couple of websites for shaping metal, www.metalshapers.org and www.metalmeet.com You can "tuck" shrink which is forcing the metal into itself. The metal will be in "V" bump/pucker/tuck and is hammer into itself with proper pressure. This is how the big yoders/pullmaxes do their shrinking. Then like the others have mentioned the squeeze/compression shrinkers . Where the jaws grab the metal and force it together. 3rd would be using heat such as torch or a friction disk to put heat into a high spot, then cool Thus reducing the high spots. I'm certainly no fan of horrible freight, the quality is lacking, You might check into a USA made "Lancaster" style pm or email me and I'll give you some places that are more reasonable priced. One trick with the Lancaster style shrinker is to use sand paper to take less of a bite from the serrations of jaws. Take care! tt
 
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