Intro

[Fieldy1999]

Hey,

I'm Damien and I live in the U.K.

Got into the metal working game when I made an impulse purchase of a 1964 Citroen HY at an auction.

I joined this forum for some advice for my this ongoing restoration.

I'm currently trying to make the window runners, for the front windows, by trying to bend U channel steel with not much success because it keeps buckling.

Hopefully I can gather some knowledge and advice so that I can finally complete my restoration.

[galooph]

Welcome to the forum, Damien

Whereabouts in the UK are you? We've got quite a few Brits on here.

[cliffrod]

Welcome to the forum, Damien.

There was a recent thread about developing a similar shape for a trunk surround- obviously not as narrow as window channel but maybe it will provide some insight- http://www.allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=17303

[crystallographic]

Originally Posted by Fieldy1999

Hey,

I'm Damien and I live in the U.K.

Got into the metal working game when I made an impulse purchase of a 1964 Citroen HY at an auction.

I joined this forum for some advice for my this ongoing restoration.

I'm currently trying to make the window runners, for the front windows, by trying to bend U channel steel with not much success because it keeps buckling.

Hopefully I can gather some knowledge and advice so that I can finally complete my restoration.

Hi Damien,
Welcome to the forum.

I have curved stainless window channel for olde cars by making a wooden press form.
You need two side boards, a finger thickness each. These are blocked apart the width of your channel with little blocks, making a forming "box."

Draw out the curve you expect to see plus another much deeper (estimated) curve that your channel has to go because of its springback. Keep your spacer blocks out of this forming/movement area, so look at the perimeter of this "box" to locate your spacers.

You need one spacer at each end of your expected curve. These remain screwed tightly, along with the perimeter blocks, as they support your channel as you push - two fulcrums.

Now make your pressing pusher, which is also wood, and shaved to the thickness of the glass you expect to have going into the finished channel.

Make the pushing curve deeper than you need because of springback. This curve must deepen each time you push and then don't reach your expected curve - so you re-cut the ends of this curve to allow the middle to deepen, after pushing. Work gradually, and then all of a sudden you have the part curved to match.
Then do the other side, in one attempt.
And make others to sell.
(ps. I use a little 5 ton H-frame press for this type of work. And it does stainless channel nicely. )

[Fieldy1999]

Wow thanks for the advice.

I will definitely have a go of your idea Crystallographic and report back.

More specifically Galooph, I'm from Wales.

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi Damien welcome to the forum
Peter