Metal Shrinking Stretchers experts

[Craig-SM]

Anyone on here do metal shrinking stretching? The rear wheel arches on my Shogun are rusting mainly at the return that tools back into the wheel arch where the arch liner goes.
I’m thinking cutting the rotted piece out replacing with a single piece of right angle 1.2mm sheet approx 1cm x 2cm x 130cm formed to the shape of the wheel arch. Would anyone have an idea on cost for two of the above pieces? Obviously I could get the tools and do it myself but the cost for what use I’d get from them would be prohibitive.

 

[Paul.]

You can probably get a repair section for that, like this for example
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/283224875803?chn=ps

 

[Craig-SM]

Cheers Paul, I’ve been looking for salvageable arches for a while and there’s quite a few Shogun breakers to choose from but it’s a common problem making good ones as rare as rocking horse poo.
The problem is the plastic trim that you linked to trapscand holds water creating an ideal environment for the rust to develop unnoticed until it’s too late.

 

[AndersK]

Going that route you describe is doable with just a hammer and a flat chunk of steel.

Place the L shape on the steel and start hammering the edge. You will soon see it arch as you stretch the edge. Not as quick as using a dedicated stretcher but will do the job

 

[Dcal]

Hi Craig, Whats wrong with the repair section @Paul. linked to?
Will be a better option than getting someone to make it and probably cheaper too.

Once you start cutting into the rot there will be more to do than you expected.

if you can do it yourself it is very doable as @AndersK says but not to pay someone else to do it

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Once you start cutting into the rot there will be more to do than you expected.

That's almost a racing certainty.

 

[Dcal]

Apologies @Craig-SM didn't look at the link properly, I though it was a repair panel.
Is there such a think?

 

[steveo3002]

dare i suggest a £120 ebay shrinker , do the work and keep the tool clean you can probably sell it for close to what you paid

plenty of youtube vids showing them making just what you ask for

 

[Craig-SM]

Apologies @Craig-SM didn't look at the link properly, I though it was a repair panel.
Is there such a think?

From enquires made unfortunately not.

dare i suggest a £120 ebay shrinker , do the work and keep the tool clean you can probably sell it for close to what you paid

plenty of youtube vids showing them making just what you ask for

I had thought of that but how much of a market is there for such tools

 

[steveo3002]

always snapped up when ive seen em for sale

 

[pressbrake1]

When I did coach building for a living I still used a cheapo eBay shrinker stretcher.
Dies last for ages just body wears out.
Only good for narrow sections really

 

[AndersK]

Yeah those machines are great.
Did this console some years ago, full circle in such cheapo shrinker.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Did this console some years ago, full circle in such cheapo shrinker.

What was it for?

 

[Dcal]

Can you post a photo of what you need?

No real need for a shrinker stretcher for a one off (easier if you have access to one)
It would also be better if you had a section close to what you need and modify it to suit.
If it's a bit of bent angle it pretty easy if it's a full arch less so.

YouTube is your friend and David Gardiner is a great place to start.

I would highly recommend his dvd where he shows you how to do it with a hammer and a bit of railroad track.

 

[AndersK]

What was it for?

For a gear shift console

Austin Healey clone with a Volvo drivetrain

 

[slim_boy_fat]

For a gear shift console

Austin Healey clone with a Volvo drivetrain

Any pics of the car? Sounds very interesting

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I have a shrinker stretcher....but before I bought one I used to make repair patched using wooden bits and bobs.

If you cut a rough arch shape out of 2 pieces of ply and then clamp the pieces together you can easily fold the edge over to form the arch flange....would be good enough for an inner arch repair I think.

I'll see if I have a pic somewhere of what I mean!

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/project-2-nissan-figaro.74791/page-11

In the end I just bought a repair panel....but with hindsight I should have made the panel myself!

The down side is that it does use more steel than just using a shrinker.

 

[Tom O]

I have a shrinker stretcher....but before I bought one I used to make repair patched using wooden bits and bobs.

If you cut a rough arch shape out of 2 pieces of ply and then clamp the pieces together you can easily fold the edge over to form the arch flange....would be good enough for an inner arch repair I think.

I'll see if I have a pic somewhere of what I mean!

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/project-2-nissan-figaro.74791/page-11

In the end I just bought a repair panel....but with hindsight I should have made the panel myself!

The down side is that it does use more steel than just using a shrinker.

You mean like this I found it to work quite well.

 

[AndersK]

Any pics of the car? Sounds very interesting

Not many, that is a waaaaay over-due project

Heres a few of metal I shaped for it

Sorry for the hijacking

 

[AndersK]

Back to topic
This is a few minutes hammering.
I use a quite curved hammer, the sharper the quicker but also more tool marks.
This is 0,8mm steel. Started with a 10x25 mm