Kev, on the eye, did you just crank the top die down and then release it to make the bump, or did you actually spin the panel 360 degrees with the dies closed to make the eye round? Looks good!
Looks like I have a few questions to answer...... Q..how long did something like that take? A..Start to finish, that is about a 3-4 hour job. Q..Did you also do the woodpecker I saw actioned some time back? A... Yes, here it is again. Hydro Man was very basic compared to the woodpecker. Q..do you always start at the outside edge of the panel A..Not always. You could start anywhere really. Q.. Why do your panels stay so flat? A.. My panels don't stay flat but they don't warp too bad either. Too much pressure on the wheels will cause warping. Only use enough to get a clean line. After the panel is done I usualy muscle it into shape a little. Door panels etc will always lay flat when rivited into place. Q..Kevin, do you work by yourself on a panel like that, or do you have someone cranking the wheel? A..I have a power roller. I can't imagine doing this by hand. My roller is a triple decker, someone gave me a H.F. roller so I stacked it on my power roller and them added a little hand roller on top. Q..How do you roll your beads into an intersecting point without flattening the first of two beads at that point? A..For sharp points I find it really difficult so on something like flame tips I don't even try. I will start one line way back from the end of the other and the eye is fooled. For regular corners you can make nice connections by taking your time, You get a feel for it after a while. Her is a pic of some flames so you can see what I mean. <!-- / message --> Q..Kev, on the eye, did you just crank the top die down and then release it to make the bump, or did you actually spin the panel 360 degrees with the dies closed to make the eye round? A. I got kinda lazy on the eye. I was going to use some kind of round punch but took the easy way out. I just wound the die down. It didn't look too good, had lines on the top and bottom edges from the dies and kinda flared sideways so I used a small piece of wood and tapped the sides down to kinda match the top and bottom. If you study my panels there are always flaws that I am not happy with but they are usually lost in the big picture. I usually go over the panel when I'm dome and find a few spots that need a little hammer work. <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
Just for $hits and giggles,, heres some nice stepped pinstripes for you,, the top one is pushed up, the bottom one is pushed down
Kiwi Kev, Your panels amaze me everytime I see them on here. Iv'e been doin machine work & some sheetmetal work, for 35+ yrs. and I can really appreciate your craftsmanship. That louver press is priceless, keep on postin your work and I'll keep drooling, thanks for the tech. Later, Billy
Thanx for the response. Like your pinstripes, Tinman! Did a 7/8 scale of a Model A tailgate. Rolled in the rectangular bead in the center of the t-gate. Ran into a problem at the intersecting corners - could not roll right into the corner without flattening the tip of the previous bead. Ended up fabbing male/female corner dies, indexing them on a long hinge and pressing them out on a hydraulic press. Yep! Four tries to get it right. Found out the "side mount" rollers won't bead hollow structures like fuel tanks. Wanted to raise beads to position stainless straps on a gas tank. So I made a bead roller similar to your Perry - used modified Chrysler torsion bars for drive axles. Its done miles of ribbing on aluminum panels on IMCA Modifieds.
Amazing! I am just starting to bead roll and sometimes it is hard just to get straight lines let alone any art work. At the rate I'm learning I'll be dead before I can get things straight or out of money screwing up sheet metal. LOL BOBBY FORD
And Kevin's woodpecker panel looks simple compared to the Old Crow He did for us...Lucky I don't have a picture...Anyone have one?
The Mr. Horsepower is f'n cool. Thanks for making me realize that there is now one more thing I will never be able to do.
Kev,the true sign of a master is his ability to teach his craft as well as he can perform it.you have done that well as usual.You make prodjects that seem out of reach you show are doable to a nitwit like myself.Your posts are always enjoyed as well as looked foward to.I have never been shy to try a new skill,but right now my beadroller is shaking in its shoes.Thanks again.
I want to start out by saying "Thank You" for the inspiration! Im building a Altered to come out to Bakersfield this winter and play. I ran across this thread and said to myself "What the heck, order some tools and give it a try". So....here is what I have been up to.... Can you guess the logo? small garage=make crap fit under bench...... I know its not perfect but it was fun!!!! Thanks! Chad
Thanks! I know its nothing compared to what you guys are doing.....but at least im trying. what is a tie fighter? Its a must have in any garage.....This thing is a great "starter". It was $150.
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