Metalshaping Videos

[Randy75]

I am trying to get into building some custom sheet metal for the first time. I've been doing bodywork for ten years now but want to play with something different. I was wondering if anyone has any metalshaping videos; (ie: covell, fournier, ect) that anyone can recommend or copy. My plan is to build a mini chopper or a customized trike for my son. Maybe a wagon. Not really decided yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Randy

r_revis@charter.net

[Boogiemanz1]

Randy, Welcome to Metalmeet. There are a few recommendations here in the forum at http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=162, and some short videos that wray made that are definatly worth watching!..

As far as your project list it sounds fun. If you need ideas, check out the gallery...tons of pictures....all worth looking at.

The forum is a super valuable asset, as there is more information stored there than in any other available form,...and it's free!

Oh, and on copying videos, most have agreed not to, those guys are metalshapers also, and that is a part of their business.

Glad to have you on the site Randy, come often and stay long.............john

[Randy75]

I was more wondering if anyone had anything that I can borrow. I don't know anybody around here that does anything like this and a friend has bought alot of old equipment and we want to learn; just nobody to help us learn the right way without messing up forever.

[Boogiemanz1]

Randy, the best way you guys can learn is to set the equuipment up and use it some, bend, stretch, and shrink some metal with it, and see this site for answers to your questions.

Now that is only until Metalmeet, If you are not familiar with the week long event held in Robinson Ill the end of Oct - first part of Nov, you need to pay attention to the posts concerning MM04.

You can learn more in one week there than probably all the videos you will watch. There will be equipment there, and knowledgeable folks there to show you how it works. There you will be able to learn from a large number of folks, plus there promises to be some seminars on different metalworking points.


There will even be videos playing most of the time. Think about this......its a once a year opportunity.......$50.00 for a week!......stay the whole week or just a day or two....great time too.............see you there......BTW I don't have any videos, sorry.................john

[Randy75]

Is there anybody that you know of that live in Southeast NE or Northeast KS?

[kenc]

I have a bunch of the Covell videos, they are all very good in my opinion.
I won't copy them for you because Ron Covell is a decent guy who deserves his money per video. Maybe you should just buy them.

[Randy75]

I didn't mean to offend anyone with the thought of copying the videos. I just was asking. Does anybody have any for sale? I have been wanting to get them but don't have alot of cash laying around. My wife is on bed rest for our second child and money is a little tight. Just don't want to spend any more on extras than I have to. Thanks and sorry if I offended.

[Dutch Comstock]

From your interests in bike type building Ron Covell has an excellent tanks video that gives you an excellent base on building an shping tanks. He also has starter metal working videos also.Ron Fournier, John Glover Kent white and Fay butler also have excellent videos which give you an idea of how to shape metal. You then have to start trying to make some metal panels and looking through the whole metalmeet site as every type of metal work has been discussed with explanations of every procedure.We will be here to help you through the hard parts. Dutch

[49clipper]

Guys,
I'm new to this shrinking and streching but I have been making quite a bit of scrap alum from flat sheet. I normally need to make small fairings and odd shapes from 3003 H-14& 5052 H-32 alum. (aircraft stuff only) It works well for shaping and welding. My question is, which would the better first tool, a air hammer or an Ewheel? I have been using a sand bag, steel shapes and ball peen hammers so far, but just ordered a cheap set of different shape hammers. I am leaning toward a air planishing power hammer first to try to speed things up and provide a better surface. What would be the consensus?
Jim :wink:

[Boogiemanz1]

Hi Jim, Welcome to Metalmeet. The small panels you are working on may present a problem with a wheel of any size. Maybe building yourself a small wheel would be the answer. I have been saving used bearings for just that type project myself. I figure to use a larger bearing on top and radius the smaller bearing using a mandrel and a hand grinder.

If you are wanting to order a tool, there are several small air planishers around. They are an easy build also. Someone had a real lightweight one at Keith Daleen's meet (was it TDMG?) and it was suprisingly useful. It would stretch and planish 18 ga CRS, I would think it would handle aluminum nicely.

You can see it in this picture http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/500/1269MVC-103S-med.JPG
Of course P-hammers are available in many sizes, lots of posts on them in the forum and pictures in the gallery. Hope this helps........john

[49clipper]

thanks John,
I think I will just try and build a cheap one and see how it works. I have some scrap 2" x 2" x 1/8" tubing laying around. that should work for a light duty hammer. I did see some plans earlier on building an e wheel with ford rear end bearings (8" and 2").
Jim