Shrinker/Strecher

I have been looking for a shrinker/strecher. Did a search on this site for some info and someone said that the Woodward model was the same as the eastwood one. I checked it out and the Woodward one is just one body and you must change jaws, the eastwood one has two bodies and you don't have to change jaws. Question is are they the same body? are the jaws the same? I guess what I'm asking is is it worth the price difference in price 329.00 for the Eastwood or 180.00 for the Woodward?
Thanks

 

the woodward one works great..i have one and love it.it takes 2 sec to change the jaws.my opinion is its worth the savings to have to change the jaws.

 

I don't mind changing the jaws out in mine! I bolted a piece of angle iron on the bottom of mine and can slap it in a vise really quick.

 

Changing the jaws is no big deal. @ bodies is nice, but only if you like spending money. There are basically 2 models that all the venders sell. One is made in usa and one is made in china. The price difference isn't that much. There are different kits sold. 1 body, 2 bodies, usa, and china combos.

 

Thanks all, for the quick replies. Just what I was hoping to hear, guess I'll buy my Christmas present.

 

Hey,

I don't beleve that either the Eastwood or the Woodward model is the original "Lancaster" brand, but are copies! probably "Hecko in China".

I bought mine from Metalcrafters. Gulley's tools also sells the real deal.

S****ey Devils C.C.
"Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"

 

Where can you get the USA built one?

 

i was thinking about getting these:

http://www.lowbucktools.com/shr_str.html

 

Those look like the "real deal"!

You could get by with jus' the shrinker for a bit, adding the stretcher jaws later, when you're in tall cotton. I seldom use my stretcher jaws, but always need the shrinkers. To stretch metal in a radius, jus' strike the metal with a cross pein hammer on a hard surface i.e. dolly.

S****ey Devils C.c.
"Meanwhile, back aboard The Tainted Pork"

 

I got mine from mittler bros. They are made in the u.s. and there products are top notch.

 

The Eastwood IS made in the USA,,,I have been using them for about 6 years now,,,,both the shrinker and strecher,,, HRP

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1488&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1,2%

 

ask the guys a www.metalmeet.com killer metal site!

 

I have both a shrinker and a strecher and you really don't need both ......buy the one with the different jaws and save your money........

 

I'm one of those guys that have both and when I am shrinking the metal I get carried away and most times swing around to the strecher,,,back and forth,,,check the fit and go back again,,,way too much trouble to change the dies.

But then again,,,I'm somewhat of a hack and never professed to doing this for a living. HRP

 

If you buy from Williams Low Buck Tools, you'll get a shrinker that you will be able to buy replacement jaws for or other parts, if you ever need them. I'd worry about any replacement parts from the knock off copies.

 

Woodward Fab is US made too, and the jaws interchange with Eastwood.

 

The new speedway catalog has one in it too. Not sure if its worth a **** or not.

 

Anybody know anything about these?

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294637&highlight=shrinker+stretcher

 

Anybody checked out a balleigh, and there a alliance vender.

 

There getting a bunch of people together for a group build at Metal meet
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12011&highlight=Shrinker

I have the Eastwood type and an Erco kick shrinker. The MM build is based on the erco/eckhold type kick shrinker. These are the best bang for your buck upper grade shrinkers hands down.

The hand type shrinkers do the trick but if you have the time or extra money go with the MM build or a used erco.

Just my 2cents

Archie

 

and the 69cent question has any body here bought a pair of jaws and made there own body?

 

heres a set of plans to build your own body, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=233393&highlight=shrinker+plans

 

yea, kinda pricey. still a little cheaper then eastwood, but the main draw for me is shipping. even a hamb vender with a discount, shipping is going to **** (unless it's free) because those things aren't light. lowbuck is in norco, ca. (951)!!, close enough to drive to.