i want to change the shape of this stainless trim piece so its just slightly straighter (i'm chopping the roof soon and want this roof line to be slightly straighter). The trim piece is flat, slightly less than 1/8" thick. Is heating the piece then bending an option? Small pie cuts then welding & grinding smooth? Thanks.
there was a good article on reshaping trim to frame out a cove in a paint job in one of the more recent magazines. i wanna say rod and custom? someone will remember im sure. i believe they made wood or mdf bucks with the radius they wanted and bent the trim abound them. i wouldn't heat and bend the stainless, maybe the pie cut method if your handy with a tig and file. Hopefully someone will remember the article for ya!
my roof is getting chopped this weekend. Anyone have some firsthand advice on reshaping this cadillac stainless trim piece? Are pie cuts the only way? Thanks ~Haywire
I wouldn't be afraid to try it with a little heat. Just be carfull not to get it to hot and go slow, rush it and it will kink. Cutting and welding enough cuts to make a smooth radious bend would be a lot of work.
see if maybe someone you know has a copy of the how to chop a mercury that was produces by tommy steadman out of tennessee, on this video he shows how to recontour stainless mouldings by heating and bending them. very informative and also not a bad chop on a 49-51 merc either. hope this helps hot rust
Check the hood trim on the Salinas Olympic 36 Coupe. Made from a piece of stock trim, I remember Cole talking about filling it with lead, carefully reshaping it then melting the lead out.
Can you take some pictures of the stainless steel trim from all angles. Inside, outside, top and bottom. Also how much and where do you want the change in shape. To straighten out the bend will require shrinking. I need to know more about the shape and structure to determine how to reshape it.
A trick that has worked for me when you are not moving the metal too far. Fill the backside of the trim piece with lead. Melt lead into it. lay it on a table and gently bend it by hand. when you get to the curve you want melt the lead back out. Just melt it out carefully or you can make the trim move around from the heat. What Kevin Lee said.
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