Working with 4x8 sheet 3/16 thick

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Like most of the folks that use this site, I like building things stout.  I am thinking of building my own snowplow for my tractor.  I d like to build everything including the plow itself.  Is there any method of forming a piece of 4x8x3/16'' into the general shape of a snowplow?  I know I could heat and clamp to an existing plow to form it but could I also use rollers to bend the sheet?  Does anyone have any plans to build one of the rolling outfits that roll steel?  Thanks for any help.  --Tye
Reply:You want to use a slip roll to form 3/16" plate?  Wow.I've seen manual slip rolls that'll do 50" of 16ga sheet.  The cheapo chinese ones are ~$600.  The decent ones are closer to $3k.  I suspect that any kind of slip roll that would work for 3/16 plate would be very, very expensive.  On the other hand, if I had a machine shop setup, I'd be willing to try to make something.-Heath
Reply:It is true, you could build a set of rolls that would roll 3/16" plate, 4 feet wide- but it would be a big job. Figure at least 6" diameter on the rolls. At 50" wide, that would be about 400lbs per roll, x 3. Then you need to build a frame that will support 1200lbs of rolls, and resist the forces the steel will be providing to resist bending. I would start with something like 2" plate for the end frames. Figure at least 5hp motor, geared down to about 10 rpm. Pretty hefty gear reducer.You will need to machine the rolls, of course, so you need a lathe capable of turning 6" round at 50" long- I would recommend something like a big 18" x 72" Monarch. Figure the whole thing will weigh in the ballpark of 3000lbs. At scrap price alone, that much steel will cost you close to a grand, plus running gear.So me, I would just pay somebody else to roll it- a few miles down the road from me, the fab shop has 3 rolls, each costing them $5000 to $35000, and they only charge me $75/hr to roll stuff on them.
Reply:You will enjoy your time with projects more if you take advantage of the extreme machines that are already out there. Many moons ago I had a piece of 3/16ths for a blade rolled by the local high school guys at their shop. Course that was when things were a lot more cordial. The steel supply and commercial fab shop where I buy my tid bits of iron has a sheet roller that makes me drool every time I see it. My shop floor would crumble under it's weight.  For thirty bucks and thirty minutes you could have a fine blade rolled out for ya. The only clamping and forming for blades you are likey to see are where they have a heck of a super structure, such as highway snow plows, then they put thin skins on them. Otherwise you'll need a roller.
Reply:Excellent assessment of what would be required.I would use hydraulic motors to avoid the necessity of the gearing down a motor and hydraulic actuators for the pinch roll.-Heath
Reply:I have been building a roller for my shop that will roll 1/4" plate 48 1/2" width.  I was working a job and found some 5ft long 8" shafts that were heading for the scrap bin and they let me have them.  I used 2 1/4" end plates that came from some scrap skidder arms, and the pinch roll is adjusted hydraulically.  I can tell you, this for the average person its not feasible to attempt this.  I've had some serious machine work and not to mention time and labor in this roller.  Handling the material is also a serious job.  To roll 3/16 you will need atleast 6 1/4" rolers for a 48" roll.  Good luck  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I've done a fair amount of machining, so that wouldn't be too much of an issue.  Of course, I'm without a machine shop at this moment, so building a monster slip roll like that is a pipe-dream (pun intended) for the future when I have my dream shop.Jackson, this thread won't be complete until you show us photographs of the slip roll you built.  If it takes a bribe, I will personally send you $10 via paypal to cover the cost of a six pack or two of beer to get it done.-Heath
Reply:Halbritt, I will be glad to post some pics.  as of right now I am kind of in the middle of it right now.  I have machined the rollers, and the end plates.  I have to build a stand to mount the end plates on, and that will take some time since it has to be heavy enough to handle the weight and I have to figure some way to attach the hydraulic cylinder to the stand to work the pinching roll.  I still have ALOT of work left to be done, and I only get to work on it when time permits.   I'll take some pics of the pieces I have worked on  so far and try to get them posted sometime soon.  Hopefully sometime in the near future I can get to put them together.  ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I assumed that it was probably a work-in-progress.  I'd still like to see photos of rolls and the end plates.  As I said, there's a six-pack in it for you.-Heath
Reply:The plows we built were 10 ga steel with 1/4" ribs.The bottom was 3"x6"x1/2" angle.The blade bolted onto the bottom angle and was replaceable and was hardened steel.
Reply:If you are going to purchase the steel plate you might enquire as to how much it would cost to custom cut a roll your blade piece.  Many steel suppliers have this service.  It might cost you a hundred or so extra but it would be done right.  The other alternative is to force the sheet into flame cut concave ribs set on the back.  It would be a lot of cussing with hydraulic jacks and comalongs.