How To Shrink Sheet Metal With A Torch

The bulge can then be tapped down flat with a hammer and dolly to thicken the metal in that spot.

How to shrink sheet metal with a torch.

If you ve done it right this action will cause the metal to pucker on the edge and give you a little ripple or ridge. A common recommended fix is to use oxy acetylene heat to create a localized hot spot that bulges the metal above the mean surface of the panel. Do not over heat the steel. Get used to this idea and your abilities will grow.

Start by placing the sheet metal over the bowl so it covers the bowl and lays as flat as you can hold it. Propane can do the same thing although it is a much more. Heat to blue only and shrink that much. Once red hot quickly work the area with hammer and dolly to gather the metal into the centre of the cherry then deliver a swift blow to the centre of the heat shrink to push the metal back into itself.

This works the other doesn t. Then take your teardrop mallet and make one hard blow on the metal driving down and towards the outside of the bowl. I use a jack stand with a trim panel pry tool clamped to it to hold my torch. Heating up metal and throwing cold water on it may shrink it a tiny bit but it makes distortion and hard steel.

Device to hold your torch safely while you re doing the hammering operation.