Sheet Metal Shrinker Stretcher

I have finally summoned up the courage to buy a sheet metal shrinker stretcher. This is a tool that I have had my eye on for months, trying to work out if I needed one and if so which brand/model should I go for. Now that I have to try and fabricate some more subtle shapes to repair the likes of the rear wheel tubes and later the windscreen lip, the time seems right. I went for this one from Metz.

A sheet metal shrinker stretcher is a specialist tool that allows the fabrication os compound curves and the forming of curved lips such as wheel arch repairs. There are a number of options out there, but I chose this model for two reasons: firstly, it has a deeper throat than similarly priced models which I thought would give me more versatility in the long term. The second reason was price. I managed to get this for £120, the same or cheaper than comparable models, even those on eBay and the like. On the down side, it is little bigger and quite heavy, but this doesn't bother me.

Before I could have a bash at some shrinking and stretching, I needed to find a way to mount the tool in the vice. As luck would have it, my neighbour has been clearing out her garage and a few useful bits and pieces had come over the fence in the last week or so. On this occassionshe offered me this Nissan Cherry tow bar.

I cut off a section, drilled a couple of holes and gave it a quick coat of Hammerite... viola!

With the shrinker Stretcher firmly mounted in the vice, I have made some test pieces. This tool is surprisingly easy to get to grips with and as you can see, making complex curved and folded (using my DIY sheet metal brake) is entirely possible. In fact, I would go so far as to say that my shrinker stretcher is going to prove to be indispensable.

Crack On! No excuses now...

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