Guy in calif

[guyr]

Hello all, my name is Guy and I am in the Central Valley of California. I found this forum while looking for information on a DFS shrinker I just picked up at a swap meet and thought I would join and look around. I have been doing metal fab and bodywork on hot rods and race cars for over 40 years but there's always more to learn, looking forward to checking out your projects!

[DavidB]

That has travelled a good distance from Oldham UK if you've picked it up in the USA. Can you post a pic or 2 so we can see which one you have. I've posted some information in the past here https://allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=21151 . Unfortunately the forum doesn't seem to like short search terms like 'DFS' making it hard to find other information here but I saw one other thread by a guy here in the UK that had bought an older cast frame DFS shrinker.

[guyr]

Hello David, Thanks for the reply and the link, that is the thread that came up from my Google search but of course I could not see pictures until I was a member - some good information there. The main reason for wanting information about this shrinker is that it doesn't shrink! It grips the metal hard, leaving imprints of the serrations but the wedges don't retract with a piece of sheet metal in it but with out anything or a piece of paper ( as demonstrated by
the seller ) the wedges retract and the jaws come together. I'm hoping to find someone with experience on these, it's a fantastic tool that I would love put to use. I am attempting to attach a couple of pictures, if it fails I will make more attempts LOL



image1.jpeg

[guyr]

another one


image0.jpeg

[DavidB]

Guy,


That's an older one and I'm not familiar with the detailed operation as I've never seen one in the flesh but have a few images.


IMG_20220223_194420.jpg

IMG_20220223_194448.jpg

1955 shrinker.jpg


The patent that I think covers that one is here https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publ...&locale=en_EP# . I have the file but at 1.7MB is too large to upload to the forum. Maybe it needs a strip and clean. Probably need to check the patent against what you have to understand the detailed operation and assembly. The patent may have more or different information to what you have. The later jaws I have match the patent spot on in the angle details and other detail, only really differing in the oil grooves which are larger and in the underside of the jaws.

[DavidB]

Here is one from the Westland helicopter auction a few years ago, most of the DFS equipment they had was newer but they had an older one.
DFS 2022-02-24 older shrinker 1.jpg

DFS 2022-02-24 older shrinker 2.jpg

[dwmh]

They certainly look strong enough. Great find

[guyr]

Thanks for those pictures, interestingly although they are similar there are some differences - mine has spring loaded plungers that push the wedges forward when the pressure is released. I agree that it needs to be taken apart, cleaned and lubed and that may be all it needs. When I get time to do that I will post in the shrinker stretcher section. And yes it is very heavy duty, my back can attest to that!