shrinking by raising

[jlrussell4]

This project isn't metalshaping, it's fabrication, so I didn't post anything until now. I added a strip to this tank and to refit the top I had to shrink a spot. The material is .095" - .097" thick steel. I took it over to my post dolly, slid it over the pipe dolly and with my big hammer I raised the edge. Fits now .

[BarryA]

Hey Jim - got any more detail on the actual process/tools/technique used?

[jlrussell4]

Hi Barry,

I slid the edge of the tank over the pipe dolly with about 3" of the tank side sticking out beyond the dolly. I then took that big yellow handled (that is thick plate ) hammer I made and started to hammer the area near the dolly. I kept moving the blows back and forth across the area I wanted to shrink while moving each row of hits closer to the outside edge. At the same time I moved the work piece so that I was hitting just off dolly. I kept checking to see how the top fit and repeated the operation several times until it did.
Even though I used my heavy hammer, I didn't swing it real hard.

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/album...pictureid=2104

[Stretch]

That's a pretty hammer - can you tell me how to make one?

How heavy is it?

Can you show a picture of your pipe dolly?


(Sorry yet more questions from an enthusiastic beginner)


You put those curves on 2.5mm thick steel with a hammer? And you "didn't swing it real hard"?

(I've got to stop now - I have more questions but I'll over load you!)

[jlrussell4]

Hi Army,

I machined the hammer head from 4140 pre hard steel. I will have to weight it. I did once, but I forgot how much it weighs . I hit hard enough to move the metal, just not so hard as to damage the surface of the metal. I think we covered raising on here once or twice. It's a common practice in the metal art world.

The pipe dolly is in the picture. It's just a weldable bend for pipe.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by jlrussell4

Hi Army,

I machined the hammer head from 4140 pre hard steel. I will have to weight it. I did once, but I forgot how much it weighs . I hit hard enough to move the metal, just not so hard as to damage the surface of the metal. I think we covered raising on here once or twice. It's a common practice in the metal art world.

The pipe dolly is in the picture. It's just a weldable bend for pipe.

Oh I see - sorry I now understand a little bit more...

I'll do a search for raising.