nobleswood Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 This evening while doing chores, I turned on the TV. The program was 'Craftsman Legacy'. Never heard of it before. The host runs Voodoo Choppers & was demonstrating how to shape a front fender from 18 gauge sheet steel. As a fabricator of all things wooden I'm fascinated how other craftsmen shape their materials. I've worked with sheet metal before & always been startled how easily it warps & deforms. Then wondering how do they get the stuff to be so smooth ? How do they create those sensuous lines on aircraft or cars ? The program worked through putting big dints in the metal, got that bit down, then working out the ripples. Then finally the fabled 'English wheel, with the craftsman smoothing & refining the shape of the fender. So different to the material I work; you don't stretch or compress wood like that. Fascinating.
Chuck Posted January 27, 2017 Posted January 27, 2017 It is a dying art, for sure. I apprenticed as a sheet metal diemaker, and can design and build tools to form sheet metal, but there is a lot of artistry involved in free forming sheet metal. Different skills entirely..
nobleswood Posted January 30, 2017 Author Posted January 30, 2017 It is a dying art, for sure. I apprenticed as a sheet metal diemaker, and can design and build tools to form sheet metal, but there is a lot of artistry involved in free forming sheet metal. Different skills entirely.. In that video of yours they showed the small aircraft you'd built & I wondered at the time if you had fabricated the metal bodywork. Many years ago a friend of mine was building a wooden frame aircraft in his garage; I don't know if it was ever completed or flown, but I remember admiring how light & risilient the wing sections were. Firm but able to flex.
nobleswood Posted January 30, 2017 Author Posted January 30, 2017 More hammers. I love hammers. Seems you need to have different hammers for different curves. The number of hammers needed could be endless
Kiwi_Roy Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 A friend built this Royal Enfield incorporating a Hillman Imp car engine His aluminum work is stunning fenders, forks, chain case, exhaust I asked him how he got the curves, mainly hammering with frequent annealing followed by the english wheel 2
czakky Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 That is crazy! Can't see the aluminum work too well but he's more talented than I.
Chuck Posted January 30, 2017 Posted January 30, 2017 It is a dying art, for sure. I apprenticed as a sheet metal diemaker, and can design and build tools to form sheet metal, but there is a lot of artistry involved in free forming sheet metal. Different skills entirely.. In that video of yours they showed the small aircraft you'd built & I wondered at the time if you had fabricated the metal bodywork. Many years ago a friend of mine was building a wooden frame aircraft in his garage; I don't know if it was ever completed or flown, but I remember admiring how light & risilient the wing sections were. Firm but able to flex. Yeah, I pretty much did all the metal work. Our ISP is tits up as ususal. (roll eye) I'll show you some of my best stuff when Ican post from a computer.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now