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Old 11-08-2009, 10:53 PM
chris@whiterhino chris@whiterhino is offline
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Default Contour gauges

As you guys know I am working on the model 29. I am having a personal conflict as to the best way to make the contour gauges without a shrinker or stretcher. Any ideas?
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Old 11-08-2009, 11:07 PM
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I use 1/4 inch plywood.
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Old 11-08-2009, 11:08 PM
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Chris, you could stretch one side to the the other side to curve away or tuck shrink but to be honest it's going to take you forever to get it right.

HF has the set of "Rancasters" for $199 every day.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95062

They're usually on sale and there is usually a 20% off coupon. Lancasters don't do much good putting shape in a panel but they are perfect for contour guages and flanges.
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Old 11-08-2009, 11:41 PM
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Chris, I agree that you need a set of Lancaster shrinker/stretchers. Harbor Freight has the cheapest and will save a lot of time making contour gauges. You will find a lot of places where they will work fine. The biggest drawback is they mark the metal.
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Old 11-09-2009, 12:07 AM
TheRodDoc TheRodDoc is offline
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you can bend them by hammering on one edge.

make a simple tool from two pieces of strap iron. bolts on each end with a washer in between them that is just slightly thicker then the strips you are wanting to bend. Bolts about 4 to 5 inches apart.

one plate can be made a little wider so it can be held in a vise.

now cut strips up to 3/4" wide and sit them in slot and hit on edge in center between bolts. If you are bending a sharper bend you will have to flatten out the strip some if it starts to get to tight in slot.

stripbend.jpg
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Old 11-09-2009, 12:33 AM
TheRodDoc TheRodDoc is offline
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or with a little more to it to keep the strip from kinking.
Might even work in a pullmax or ricipicating machine.

stripbend2.jpg
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Old 11-09-2009, 07:07 AM
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The harbor freight shrinker stretcher are cheap but I still don't own one.So I am still making mine the way the cave man use to.

I get the profile right using poster board and then transfer the poster board cut out to the plywood.
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Old 11-09-2009, 01:30 PM
chris@whiterhino chris@whiterhino is offline
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great posts. I wasn't even thinking about HF shrinker because I thought I read a thread that they were not going to make them anymore. I als thought it was a few months ago when I read it so I figured I would be screwed now haha
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Old 11-09-2009, 03:04 PM
52pickup 52pickup is offline
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HF still sells the knock off landcasters, but they only sell them as a pair now, thus the higher price tag.
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Old 11-09-2009, 06:12 PM
route56wingnut route56wingnut is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chris@whiterhino View Post
As you guys know I am working on the model 29. I am having a personal conflict as to the best way to make the contour gauges without a shrinker or stretcher. Any ideas?
Chris,I see you have an E-Wheel already so find a straight cut gear from a transmition shop or such,that is the same diameter as your lower anvils.Rig it to accept bearings and you have a linear stretching device that works real well on angle type stretching.Of course that doesnt take care of your shrinking problem.I cant imagine doing alot of this work without a basic set of Lancasters though.It would be the recomended tool for this,and alot of other aplications.Good luck Dan
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