Need advice about heating and bending (rounding) aluminum heat sink

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I just want to see if this is possible and will work with a gas torch to heat the aluminum. Maybe some of you with heating aluminum experience knows if this is possible.They do not sell heat sinks that are convex, so I have to make my own. If I heat one of these flat aluminum heat sinks up with a torch, like a butane torch.And then press it on the inside of this electric motor, will the aluminum be soft enough from the heat to shape (rounded) to the inside of the round motor?Thanks.
Reply:really depends on the size of the heat sink and ifyou are bending parallel or perpendicular to the fins.  Obviously parallel to the fins will be very hard, but the other way should be fine. I'd just put it on the gas stove for about 10 minutes depending on size of the thing and it that will anneal it for sure
Reply:I need to do the same thing here to create some heat sinks for a dc motor.  Have you had success on this?  If so, some description of what you did would be great.  Thanks in advance.  RH
Reply:Headrc, actually I didn't do it yet but I do have the heat sink. What I plan on doing is cutting small groves in the bottom of the heat sink so that it bends circular.I guess you could try and heat it but I find it easier to just cut slits in the bottom so that it is easier to bend in a circle. I also just ordered artic alumina thermal adhesive to epoxy them to the motor.You see it doesn't have to be a perfect job here because we are not trying to cool a tiny CPU. As long as you get it to be as flush as possible it will easily transfer the heat to the heat sink.I'll let you know more when I finally get around to doing the job. If you do decide to heat the heat sinks and then try and bend them into the circle let me know how that works out.
Reply:I have a new idea on this.  Since copper is even better at heat transfer ( and from what I understand a lot of computer heat sinks actually have a copper base), I am going to try a copper she that I will bend around the motor, and attach 1"x4" heat sinks to it in some way (maybe small screws) and wrap the copper around the motor, attaching with clamps of some sort.  At least that is going to be my first attempt at this.  So we will see.  Keep me posted on how yours developes.  Originally Posted by DredHeadrc, actually I didn't do it yet but I do have the heat sink. What I plan on doing is cutting small groves in the bottom of the heat sink so that it bends circular.I guess you could try and heat it but I find it easier to just cut slits in the bottom so that it is easier to bend in a circle. I also just ordered artic alumina thermal adhesive to epoxy them to the motor.You see it doesn't have to be a perfect job here because we are not trying to cool a tiny CPU. As long as you get it to be as flush as possible it will easily transfer the heat to the heat sink.I'll let you know more when I finally get around to doing the job. If you do decide to heat the heat sinks and then try and bend them into the circle let me know how that works out.
Reply:Yea...I'd go with copper. Softer and less likely to crack. You might be able to adapt one of these.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zalman-ZD122...item2c9d9a814a