10-01-2019, 07:55 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-01-2019, 08:04 PM by Greig Smith.
Edit Reason: Spelling
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I made a bulge for the side panel of our new single seater, took about 3 hours from start to the rough finish. Add about another 2 to 3 hours to final finish ready for paint. I used 1.2mm ductile aluminum sheeting. I shaped mine using my planishing hammer, but a sand bag and bossing mallet would have done the same job with a bit more sweat equity.
My single seater is offset so a really tight fit with 3 pedals on the RHS of the motor. The bulge was critical as the throttle pedal is actually in the curve. Even so with standard shoes there are only 2 pedals down there, with my skinny little racing shoes... Voila... 3 pedals.
I've found that heating the aluminum with a propane torch prior to working it makes it much easier to shape, especially when doing tight bends like wire beading edges etc.
Agree on annealing copper to make it soft, the action of bending it will work-harden it again. Fuel lines should have a loop or better still, a double loop in them to absorb vibration and prevent cracks. I made a double loop for the top of the one single seater radiator cap, (primitive condenser but it looks very 'period') it's a very tight curl, about 1" in the inside, I bent it around schedule water pipe. Annealed the copper pipe very well and then filled it with dry building sand and plugged the ends before bending it.
In your shoes, I'd take Cardiffrob up on his offer and let him fabricate exactly what you need....
Aye
Greig
My single seater is offset so a really tight fit with 3 pedals on the RHS of the motor. The bulge was critical as the throttle pedal is actually in the curve. Even so with standard shoes there are only 2 pedals down there, with my skinny little racing shoes... Voila... 3 pedals.
I've found that heating the aluminum with a propane torch prior to working it makes it much easier to shape, especially when doing tight bends like wire beading edges etc.
Agree on annealing copper to make it soft, the action of bending it will work-harden it again. Fuel lines should have a loop or better still, a double loop in them to absorb vibration and prevent cracks. I made a double loop for the top of the one single seater radiator cap, (primitive condenser but it looks very 'period') it's a very tight curl, about 1" in the inside, I bent it around schedule water pipe. Annealed the copper pipe very well and then filled it with dry building sand and plugged the ends before bending it.
In your shoes, I'd take Cardiffrob up on his offer and let him fabricate exactly what you need....
Aye
Greig