Sheet Metal Tools

[pajoube]

Does anyone know where I can purchase sheet metal tools?
I have need for a hand tool that will bend a thin sheet metal tab over a 3/16 wire. Would like to search the web but so far nothing has come up.
PJ

 

[scott_vt]

It sounds like you need electrical crimping pliers, more than sheetmetal equipment. If thats the case you might try Radio Shack or one of your local electrical warehouses locally.

scotty

 

[Birdhunter1]

Ebay is a good place to look fo rharder to find stuff.
Otherwise try Malco, Tennsmith or Pexto in google and see if you find anything from those companies that may be f use. Those are three of the bigger tool companies for alot of HVAC and sheetmetal fabricating tools.

 

[tawilson]

Your friendly neighborhood plumbing supply house should have a few racks of tools for you to look over. I've got a few folding tools, which is two pieces of steel stamped together with a slot down each side. The slot is a different depth on each side, mine have 3/8", 1/2" and 1" slots, and the amount of metal bent is determined by the depth of the slot. The length varies. I've got 12" and 18". You could use these to bend the metal over the wire and then use a set of seamers, or tongs to squeeze the metal tight. If I'm not being clear, let me know, I'll look up some pics. Oh, me tinknocker.

 

[MadReferee]

The absolute best place for metal shaping information is www.metalmeet.com, which according to the site, is the largest metal shaping community of Enthusiasts & Professionals in the WORLD.

The discussion forum there is second to none. If you like to bend metal or learn how to bend metal or learn about tools for metal bending, then go visit there.

An exerpt from their site's home page:

For those aspiring to learn the craft, this is the place to learn how to use an English Wheel, or E-wheel, a power hammer, get welding tips, make bucks and hammerforms, learn coachbuilding or sheetmetal sculpture. There are tips and commentaries on building and modifying tools. It is a very diverse group, and a friendly one. Reading the forums and exploring the gallery will answer most any question, and if you need more help feel free to ask. We encourage new members to participate.

 

[pajoube]

Thanks Guys,
I looked in the sites you mentioned but still have not found anything that seems to work.
I have attached somoe pictures to give you a better idea of what I am looking to do.
First picture is of the two pieces that need to be put together.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

The next picture shows the tin flap over the wire - hs yet to be crimped.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

Crimped over the wire. This is the part that I am looking for, a tool that will do the crimping around the wire.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

Final picture of finished product. This is used for attaching (velcro) a lamanated plant sign.
PJ

 

[PILOON]

What sort of volume is involved?

Production, or just a few dozen?

 

[PILOON]

MadReferee

Thanks for that link!

Looks like a great site from what little I saw.

I am an ex aircraft sheetmetal guy so it is full of what I didn't know and always wanted to! LOL

Also very similar to TBN format, which I like.
Guess I'll spend a lot of time there.

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the pictures. I always said a picture is worth a thousand words /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Many years ago I made a hinge forming die to make some rather crude hinges. It consisted of a steel block with a hole through it, and a slot tangent to the hole, that was the same size as the thickness of the hinge material. I clamped the hinge material between two thicker pieces of stock and then pressed that material into the die to create the loop. I guess thats as clear as mud /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Anyway it worked OK for what I was trying to accomplish /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The only drawback that you would face with that kind of arrangement, is that you would need to put the final bend in the wire after that particular operation!

Hope this helps!

scotty

Paul,
One more thing, you can also file a slight chamfer on the back side of the material you are bending prior to putting it into that die, to obtain a tighter wrap on your loop.

 

[pajoube]

Would be doing around 200 in the first run. After that I really don't know.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

Right now it is two clamps in the vise and manual pull to make the bends. It may be the best way based on cost.
PJ

 

[JaySilber]

You might try the crimping tool for making wire cages. They have premade pieces of sheet metal that fit in the tool and it wraps around both pieces of hardware cloth or welded wire. Used for traps, rabbit cages, chicken cages, etc.

 

[pajoube]

Thats a very good idea - will try that this coming weekend.
Thanks
PJ

 

[Birdhunter1]

Scott's got a good idea going, take a drill bit the size of your wire (was it 3/16") and drill a hoel through a steel block. Cut you block in half with the cut centered on the hole and see if you can make a die that will crimp them tighter on the wire and make it look more uniform.

It shouldn't be that hard to just bend that flap of shetmetal with a piar of linmen's pliers or handseamers.