Popular Post tortron Posted April 9, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted April 9, 2018 Have a few long stretches of sheet metal missing from my ute tray. Most of these need a bend in them, e.g. the bottom few inches of the tailgate. I would also like to be able to replace sills easily. Checked out many designs, and have chosen what i think will best suit my needs. The goal being 180cm of usable bend. Enter the ingredients The key parts are the angle iron - i got 6m of 10mm thick 100x70mm used, and cut it into 2m lengths on site so i could lift it and fit it in my truck. Then some 20mmish ID pipe, some 20mmish OD steel rod for hinges and some 20mmx10mm box section for supports and gussets (i probably need more as i used half of what i had on my gate) - I will also need some nuts and bolts, possibly springs, and something to use as a handle measured out the hinges. i figured 10cm of hinge on each end would be ok, i don't expect to bend long lengths of anything over say 1.2mm, and shorter lengths of 1.6mm. cut out the recesses for the hinges. so the pipe sits centred. i admittedly made a poor job of cutting the pipe, its about as good as a vice and angle grinder would get me today. a drop saw would be lovely, a lathe would make a lot of my problems go away. I V cut into the angle iron and laid down a ton of beads. not sure if i want to do the other side and grind flat as well. might do. Just fits on my bench in the end i got 179.5 cm between the hinges. Amazingly the hinges pivot nicely The top clamping part will go on something like this So i can make the most of my bending angle. Another guy has cut and filed the leading edges of his to get a very crisp bend in this way, otherwise it can come out a bit rounded. I will see how it goes should measure the angle, but its probably more than i will need next up i will weld on some bolts or something and cut into the top clamp so i can bolt it down. Would like some springs to help lift it off the work piece, its bloody heavy do maybe some motorcycle/scooter springs. Will make an A frame above so i can put pressure on the centre of the clamp so theres no bowing out will consider gusseting the lower half for the same reason, and add some pipe for handle mounts Will tap a set screw into the hinge pin so it doesn't fall out. I am very keen on being able to dismantle this as its very big and heavy. 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 I like very much. but also. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted April 19, 2018 Author Share Posted April 19, 2018 not when I grind the rest off m8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted April 19, 2018 Author Share Posted April 19, 2018 to be honest I have never welded anything but panel steel, they got better once I figured out the best welder setting, but still... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tortron Posted August 4, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 4, 2018 DIY surface grinder Feel free to send me your heads for skimming 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusepy82 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Where are u located for a head skim ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post tortron Posted August 4, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 4, 2018 123 gay st, Invercargill, unit 4M 6 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimjon Posted August 5, 2018 Share Posted August 5, 2018 6 hours ago, tortron said: DIY surface grinder Feel free to send me your heads for skimming I once mounted a 4" grinder in a similar way. Then bolted a sump off a 350 chev to a bit of MDF...and used the grinder to cut the sump off about 50mm up from the flange the entire way around. I turned the sump 180° around on itself and then welded it back together. This worked out perfectly and the motor could then go into a commodore with the sump now clearing the front cross member. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 5, 2018 Author Share Posted August 5, 2018 Oh yeah mate, it's sound engineering the frame even acts as a guard so it's OSHA compliant 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muncie Posted August 6, 2018 Share Posted August 6, 2018 Perfectly safe as long as your suspended over it so it cant attack your ankles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 6, 2018 Author Share Posted August 6, 2018 I found Asian squat behind it works best That way if it gets out of control you wrangle it like a pig by the tail It's actually very easy to control and you have a hand on the handle and trigger at all times. It won't cut you unless you put your bits inside the frame same as any angle grinder I have named it the stump grinder 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 12, 2018 Author Share Posted August 12, 2018 Gave the clamping section a nice edge with the grinder jig. May need another mm or so but will test it first Then cut a clearance for the hinges, cut a notch out for a flat section to run some bolts through, and drilled through the top and bottom. Slotted the top so I can adjust the clamp to the thickness of the sheet I'm bending. Bolts will go in the other way round, through the bench and the springs in the grinder jig will go here as well 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bling Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 How is this looking? I need one myself, so will see what I have in stock metal wise before considering a savebarn special. Just keen to see if you're done / tested it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 Working on the house since then so looks the same. This is a similar design and used for making BBQs and spit roasters 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Oh. Don't google 'spit roast video' at work... 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Long as it's not Dolcett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nominal Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 Got this one from TM a few weeks ago. Home made, uses air rams for clamping. Seems fairly sturdy, don't think it would do 1.2m of 18g though. Got to be better than bits of angle iron in a vice though. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bling Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 That's impressive as fuck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Drilled some holes, bolts through my bench, added some springs. When I get my welder back I will sort out the top loop to clamp the centre down flush. Tried it out and it's pretty decent even with no handles 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortron Posted December 26, 2018 Author Share Posted December 26, 2018 Functionally done. Need to go through and gusset up. Am running a bit short on steel so am using up some offcuts, but it works. I'll grab some 20mm ID pipe next shopping trip and use that as handle mounts - my 2 Jack handles will slot inside 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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