I just picked up a new Mitler Bros. Shrinker and Stretcher jigs. I did a search looking for differant pics and didnt come up with to many. I will admit .. that the threads that had 50 pages ... I didnt go beyond the first page. Are smooth dies ( or ?? ) available so you dont get the gripper marks on the part ? I'm interested in any info or pics that anyone is interested in sharing. TIA
http://allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=58&highlight=gitzit Check out this thread Gitzit might be able to help. http://Gogitzit.com
Yes I will be using them on Alum. at times, right now for Dragster Dashes. I have a couple of friends who have some ideas with pieces that they want made. I just joined " Allmetalshaping.com " today. There are 2 tools that I have always wanted these and had plans for pieces to make. Ran into a deal on a local craigslist for both units brand new at a real good price so I picked them up ... have never used them before so I am currently being self taught. And now I cant hink of anything to make. I was getting crinkles in the first piece I did ... seem to have that problem corrected now. Any hints / tips/ thoughts or opinions will be appreciated. DCarr
Like most metalshaping, it's just practice. Usually I use them for things like race car panels and such where the marks aren't a problem or are hidden. Most of my brothers body panels only last until next weekend anyway. If you are stretching or shrinking finish panels that show, you probably wouldn't be using this type of machine anyway. There's no way to avoid the marks that I know of just by virtue of how they work. There are of course alternatives to this type of device but they're not near as fast. Just practice and use them in the right places! A hint is they work well on certain alloys of aluminum only and very well on most AK steels.
Stippled dies are available from a couple sources. Some people cover their jaws with Emery Paper, grit side against the work piece.
If using with aluminum there will be a point were the grippers will load up with aluminum and you will need to clean them. The quickest way I have found to clean them is to use duct tape, folded in half (with the glue side out) insert it into the dies and work the handle
The most cost effective shrinker/stretchers are the Lancaster style units. The problem with these unit is that they mark the metal very badly. If you use them on steel the grooves that the unit make in the metal cause stress risers and give a place for rust to start. Stippled jaws for these unit work well and don't mark the metal very much. The marking that the stippled jaws leave can be easily removed with minimum work. The stippled jaws work well on steel and aluminum but the jaws require some additional work other than just putting stippling on the jaws. Neil Dunder at Gitzit has developed stippled jaws that work well. Here is his web site. http://gogitzit.com/ He can supply new jaw sets, modify your old jaws or supply complete units, bodies and jaws. They do work very well. I have several sets of them and really enjoying being able to shrink and stretch without marking the metal like the original jaws do.
We offer aluminum shrinker / stretcher jaws that have a less aggresive jaw for not marking up aluminum.
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