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Bending F427 skin

tikicarver

Well Known Member
I'm installing a new F427 skin.
Anyone got some good tips on how to bend this skin?

I do have access to some sheet metal tools at work, but since this
skin has a cone shaped curve, I'm not sure how I would do that on a
roller bender and get the bends in the right place.
 
roll metal roll

Most rollers have adjustments at both sides so you can do cones.
Make some cardboard templates, of the end profile, and just go slow.
I've done cowls before and its not hard at all.
The closer or tighter the rollers are the smaller the radius.
Just make some marks on the metal were you want the curves.
the other way I've done it is to make a large press brake out of PVC pipe, and 4x4's. the pipe is used to press the metal between the 4x4's, you can spread out the 4x4's to create the cone shape. the 4x4's will need to be nailed to the bench so they wont move. you can always play with cardboard, its cheaper to scrap that al!!
 
Yes

That's it. You can bolt the pipe to a 4x4 to make it stronger. Just depends on the size of the material.
 
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