Neat, cheap, sheet metal forming tools?

Well first of all, what the heck is this thing? he's using it to make the part into an arc.

Second of all, what are some really useful, relatively inexpensive, sheet metal forming tools?

Tin snips, sandbag + teardrop mallets, ball peen hammer are the first to come to mind.

That a shrinker if you want to bend the other way you get a stretcher. Theres cheap ones out there but theres crap out there too. Best bet is to by from Williams low buck tools http://www.lowbucktools.com/ there made here in the USA and I've had mine close to 15 years they've formed 6 full dwarf car bodies and countless repair panels in fact i was doing a grill surround last night.

44Dwarf PS: just happy customer no ties with low buck tools.

My dad does a lot of metal forming with a hammer over a trailer hitch ball. He has a few that are ground into different shapes. They are a good inexpensive option and are easy to mount. He's also made a few English wheels out of large bearings for the top roller.

profile gauge, files, more hammers, anvil, oxy/acy torch, and a userid for metalmeet.com. Sometimes I make wood bucks for part profiles - hammer away until I get close enough - so wood tools are sometimes helpful. As they say, there's only about 5 things you can do with metal - cut it, weld it, bend it, shrink it or stretch it and mold it.

there's diy plans for lots of tools - bending brakes, slip rolls, bead rollers, english wheels... even lathes if you have more time than money.

I would love a good inexpensive sheet metal brake, shear and slip roller combo.

A leather bag filled with lead shot. I used a leg cut from ampair of Levis filled with sand for a while. Have the duct tape handy as you will make holes in the denim that will leak sand.

A piece or small leaf spring can be heated and bent, then polished into a slapper.

Look up planishing hammers. I don't know where to get them as I got mine free from watch manufacturers. A bit small but work well on thin aluminum.

I have dreams of making an aluminum roadster body. The swoopy lines kind, not the T bucket kind. Powered by a tiny V8 or a 2.5+ liter 4 banger. I want the body thin enough that it can be dented by pushing it. I guess in a sadist at heart.

I have been eyeballing a Harbor Freight English Wheel for a while/years. The other day I noticed they pulled it from selling online. I called the store and she said that they were discontinuing it, and when the store sells out, that is it. May have to go by the HF store this weekend....Here is a nice site on it.

http://www.jamesriser.com/Machinery/EnglishWheel/Finally.html

Those should be called Chinese Wheels.

I get by with: Combo shear, roller brake. Shrinker Stretcher TIG welder MIG welder LOTS of hammers Sandbag slappers and dollies Shrink disc Assortment of tin snips Hollowed out stump or a (tuck puck) Files Grinders Vices Band-saw Drill press collection of scrap metal to fab up stuff.

Really should get some O-A torches.

Need to finish the E-Wheel. Have a good set of Hoosier Patterns wheels sitting on a shelf for the last few years!

Learn to make flexible shape patterns.

You get by? You could build a Veyron with that shop.

I have been using a Black and Decker Workmate as a substitute for a sheet metal brake.

terp83 wrote: I have been using a Black and Decker Workmate as a substitute for a sheet metal brake.

I use a 4x4 and a hammer....it's all good :)

cwh wrote: You get by? You could build a Veyron with that shop.

Not a Veyron, but this project required a few tools to get done. I kinda got carried away

Same car a bit later. And to avoid hijacking this thread, I will mention that the shrinker stretcher tool was invaluable when it came to forming panels like the rear arches and several patch panels fo rthe bonnet and A post.

JThw8 wrote:

terp83 wrote: I have been using a Black and Decker Workmate as a substitute for a sheet metal brake.

I use a 4x4 and a hammer....it's all good :)

I have a brake, but it is only 30 inches wide. For anything bigger, I use square tubing, angle iron and a hammer. (@1:26)

I bought a shrinker stretcher a while back, kind of as an afterthought. Of all the stuff I got at that time, I use it the most. Magic.

Streetwiseguy wrote: I bought a shrinker stretcher a while back, kind of as an afterthought. Of all the stuff I got at that time, I use it the most. Magic.

definitely on my must have list

what brand?

supplier?

cost?

For those looking for an English wheel the answer is the same "LowBuck Tool" Weld your own "C" frame with interchangeable heads so one "C" frame can be used for 6 or 7 difrent tools thus take up less floor space.

In reply to fasted58:

http://mittlerbros.com/shrinker-stretcher.php

I bought the air power kit. I don't know if its nessesary, but the tool doesn't have to be mounted to a heavy table then.

Arbor press or shop press recomendations? I need one of those too.

I bought the larger HF shrinker/stretcher and just clamp it in my vise. It makes some really remarkable thinks possible. I am currently making my own box flares to further enhance that thread ;)