shrink dies for 170euros

[Lebreton]

tell my what dou you fink ?for 170euros it work for aluminum
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=58&pictureid=7737
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=58&pictureid=7738
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=58&pictureid=7738

[metal manny]

Hi Lebreton

Are these dies machined from a type of plastic solely for aluminium?

Are you asking if they are a good price or are you offering them for sale?

In my (very) limited experience, the 'thumb' appears to be quite aggressive - a little more so than the ones I use, but may still work fine?

Ask to test them if you're considering a purchase.

[Rick (madera)]

In my (very) limited experience, the 'thumb' appears to be quite aggressive - a little more so than the ones I use, but may still work fine?

.

That's what I was thinking also.
Those dies look like they would stretch the material before it shrinks it. In fact they might even stretch more then shrink:confused:

[oldgoaly]

Hi Lebreton!

They look like they have been style along the lines of a Yoder style thumbnail dies. I have a pic of the Metalcrafters version, your can see similarities between the two.

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=249&pictureid=7740


http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=249&pictureid=7741

Red is the thumbnail that stretches and forms the tuck / pucker, the Blue is the contact area or sweet spot. This is the spot the tuck / pucker is forced back into itself, thus making the metal thicker and shrinking it.
These are for a power hammer that slings the upper die towards the lower. Many factors go into a power hammer throw, wieght of the upper die, stroke, and position of lower die. flexibility in it coupling.
Now if I remember right your are building a reciprocating machine? These dies will work it it too, instead of tuning like a power hammer and it's varibles. A reciprocating machine will have one simple adjustment, the gap between the dies. To shrink in a reciprocating machine the most important thing to remember is the gap between the dies need to be greater than the thickness of the metal as it gather thickness from being shrunk. So if you have .063 aluminum (is that a mil in metric?) you need at least .064 to allow the metal to thicken, more is generally used but as you increase the gap, you finish tends to be rougher.
I made these simple shrink dies http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/album.php?albumid=279 they shrink like crazy and they are not even smoothed yet. The only downside to the plastic dies I have been told is they do wear. I've made my own since 1995 steel is the way for me! Take care!

I guess I should mention I've been told numerous times you can't shrink on a pullmax...... (just between you and me you can and it's easy!)