Frustrated beginner

[Dick Bear]

Hi all,
I don't know where to begin to ask a question or get direction 'cause try as I may I'm able shape metal in only 2-dimensions. Not always the same 2-dimension, I can shape it one direction and then shape it in the other but have yet to be able to combine the two to make a compound shape.

What success I have had in achieving "compoundness" is strickly by accident and that fact offers me little encouragement for creating a specific shape, say nothing about duplicating a desied shape.

I've read information on the site, reread and read some more over the last several months. Shrinking, stretching, discs shrinking, hammer/mallet shrinking, planishing and e-wheeling but other than making a mess (if I attempt to move out of one direction) I've made nothing!

I just spent the afternoon destroying a perfectly good 1/4 sheet of 20g. steel after feeling confident that today was going to be the day that I could "suggest" something the the material and it would respond as I anticipated. Achieving some degree of predictable response would giving me the hint I so desparately need to indicate that I am heading in the right direction...Not!

I can make a bowl, smooth curve(s) and even a slightly modulated convexed curve but, my goodness, I'm so far from duplicating a shape dictated by a buck, soft pattern or mental picture.

I know someone will ask me to describe the shape I wish to create so, as best I can, I'll do it now. I'm building a Cyclecart and am trying to form the cowling that is located just in front of the cockpit. It has an overall side to side arch forming the primary body of the car but it also has a flare upward and outward from what would theoretically be the engine cover.

So, to be more precise: side-to-side arch with a flare from front to back. Oh, and to make things worse at the top of the flare I will want to fold down the edge to form the cockpit lip. Obviously I havn't gotten to that detail yet since to-date I haven't gotten beyond making either the side-to-side arch or the front to back flare.

Actually I've made some acceptable arches and some acceptable flares but never the twoin combination. It's either one or the other.

Just all me, Frustraed in Winston-Salem.

Dick Bear

[Tom Lipton]

Hi Dick,

Here is an example that may help you visualize what needs to happen in your cowl section.

Take a sheet of lined paper and make short one inch cuts at each line along the edge.

Next loosely hold the paper in the approximate shape of your CK hood.

Now press the feathered edge down on your desk simulating the formation of the cowl. Make sure all the feathers are on the same side.

If you have done everything right you should see spaces between the feathers. These spaces taper from large to small from the outer edge.

What this is telling you is that there is major stretch going on along the cowl edge tapering down as it meets the hood. This edge must get quite a bit longer to have a larger circumference than the hood shape.

The procedure would be to form the hood shape first then turn the panel over on the sandbag and stretch the outer edge of the cowl over the edge of the sandbag tapering your stretch les and less as it intersects with the hood.
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3019/9MVC-826F.JPG

Hope this helps.

Tom Lipton

[Tony Sanchez]

---Hi Mr Bear,
After you get the shape of your hood, before you you start forming the flare, make sure that the hood is fastened down. If you start forming your flare and your hood is not held in its final shape the hood will straighten out. You will be shaping only in one direction.
---Tony.

[Dick Bear]

Thanks for the advise, Tom and Tony,

The photo helped a lot!

I guess I put the cart (bardon the pun) before the horse. I was trying to form the cowl as a separate piece and the go on to forming the hood next. Makes sense to do the two together and use the structure of the hood as the basis for the "stretch" of the cowl.

I'll try the paper and process tomorrow and let you know my results.

Thanks again,
Dick

PS. Tony, I may be old but not that old ... Mr. Bear?

[Dick Bear]

WOW!!!

That's more like it!

It's amazing what a little direction from you guys can do for a beginner like me.

Sorry no pics (forgot my camera) but as you already know it's a lot more fun burning up your arm muscles when you can see possitive results.

Thanks again ... still have a great deal to learn but having the first steps of success is rewarding enough to keep the hammer movin'.

Dick Bear

[bcarlson]

Hi Dick,

I found myself having very similar problems with fitting my gas tank side to my buck. I found that I need to slow down my pounding, and just tap a little here, shrink a little there and it works alot better! ;) but as Wray will tell you, patience is the key!!

Good luck, and keep working on it, it takes lots of time!

Ben

[Dick Bear]

Ben,

I think you're right. In my excitement I may have gotten a bit too aggressive with the hammer but now I can slow down and adjust even that mistake. The important thing is, for the first time I can see what effect my work is having on the metal and can therefore make adjustments as they are needed. I guess that's all part of learning.

If we were all masters when we begin something new, the interest in accomplishing it wouldn't last very long.

At my current learning curve, I'll be interested forever, but that will suit me fine!

Cheers, Dick Bear

[Boogiemanz1]

I'm right there with you Dick......I'll be intrested forever.