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Hello,I'm a Junior in high school (at a very very small school....average graduating class is under 30), and in one of my Ag classes we're restoring a John Deere styled model B. After we split it and pulled the head, block, and pistons, I was assigned to rebuild the battery box.On this tractor, the battery box is under the seat, and has rails for the seat to slide on. Because of battery acid leaking out over the years, basically the bottom 3" were rusted out. So, I took some 1/16"x6" sheet metal and started fabricating a new bottom for the box. 3 sides of it have squared-off corners, but the 4th side has a radius to it. So to make that side, I put a 15" length of the sheet metal in a vise with a piece of angle iron behind it to make it bend right, heated it with the cutting torch and hammered the curve out, then used some big tongs to even up the edge. Then, I cut a notch 2" in from the edges and bent the sides around to join up with the other 2 sides. I don't have any pictures of my work yet, but I did find a box on ebay so you can see what I'm talking about: http://cgi.ebay.com/john-deere-batte...QQcmdZViewItemSo, my question is, what would be an easier way to make that curve, other that beating it with a shop hammer? I thought about clamping a piece of steel pipe with the right size radius to it, but of course I didn't have any.Ideas? I'll take some pictures Monday of my work...I must say I'm pretty proud of it thanks!
Reply:What an awesome experience, being in high school and getting an opportunity to get real vocational training. That is something many high schooler don't have.As far as bending the radius: 1/16 is pretty stout for hand work. I would make a bending jig. The jig would consist of two round rods smaller than the radius. The rods are welded side by side with a slit between then wide enough for your metal to slide through. Tie the rods together by welding a piece of metal across them, though maintain the slit for your metal. To use the jig simply slide it into the slit and bend down or up. Make only slight bend then move your metal, then bend again, move, bend. Bends should be very small. If you don't have the bend you want the start again, add more bends on top of the ones you already have. I would also measure the with of the original radius so I could make chalk/scrib marks so tell you where to start and end binding. Make sure you mount the jig somewhere you will be able to complete the bending. Modify the jig as needed. Because of spring back you wouldn't want to use a round pipe or bar equal to the size of the radius
Reply:Hmm. That sounds like a good way to do it. Thanks for the input, I'll give that a shot on the next piece I have to bend. |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:39:54