Thumbnail Shinking Dies for a homebuilt P-Hammer

[tdoty]

Magnesium? Darn, I have some titanium I was going to send to someone who might volunteer to cut it into a die in exchange for a blank of their own. I ain't got no magnesium though.

Another question, how do you put a compound curve into a piece of metal without shrinking or stretching?

The lower die has to put a compound curve into the tuck.

The pin type design makes more sense to me because it's a straight bend - just like using a tucking fork.

I have to get back to my dies, as well as my Anders Hammer! I'm used to working in aluminum. After Randy's Regional meet this past weekend I never want to tuck shrink steel again!

All of this is being absorbed, to, hopefully, be put to good use later.

Tim D.

[tdoty]

Originally Posted by tdoty

Another question, how do you put a compound curve into a piece of metal without shrinking or stretching?

Duh, by drawing! Have to forgive me y'all, I've been sick since leaving Robinson Saturday night and I guess I'm not thinking real well right now .

Tim D.

[777ralph]

Tim
I just saw someone today, light up some Titanium shavings from his lathe. Burned nice and bright! The "mystery metal" could be Titanium, and since you already have some.......try what you've got.
Ralph

[Boogiemanz1]

OK guys what are the properties of this "mystery metal? and how do they affect the shrinking process......we know they are both light and burn.............what else?..............john

[tdoty]

Purely theory here John, but I've been thinking the lighter dies would be much less likely to stretch the metal than a heavier die. We are talking about pneumatic hammers and not "power" hammers, so die weight does make some difference.

Personally, I would love to see the technique that makes so much difference !

Tim D.

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Tim, take a bowl shaped piece of steel. Put it in your air hammer with a rounded lower die and flat upper, Push the metal in and out while Pulling DOWN on it on the outstroke. Tucks or ruffles will form. work your hammer blows up the tuck from the inside to out to crush the tuck.

That's the process. It takes a considerable hammer and dies that are not TOO polished.

[tdoty]

Originally Posted by kerry pinkerton

It takes a considerable hammer.....

That, I'm not sure about, mine will move metal, but it's no "Ivan" (from what I've heard anyway )

Originally Posted by kerry pinkerton

.....and dies that are not TOO polished.

That, I can do! I have a couple that are looking a, ummmm, uhhhhh, less than perfectly polished . They're not too ugly though.

Thanks Kerry, I'll have to try that out!

Tim D.

[Ron Naida]

.

Personally, I would love to see the technique that makes so much difference !

Tim D.[/quote]

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/communit...=9990107792461

On the MSA site there is an album. Howard Booster I believe put it up.

Ron Naida

[Jvarnell]

Do you really want to have surface contact so far back on the tuck part. I think if you don't have contact by .001" about half way back on the tuck you will have better shrinking.

[Boogiemanz1]

John, I don't understand what you are saying? PLease elaborate............john