Bending alluminium

[Transit80]

Im getting to the point of covering the trailer and was wondering how you bend alluminium angle etc around corners??, got to say that the front is a 12 inch radius and the door corners are around 4-5 inch radius. Have I got a chance of getting that done??

Chris

[zippy]

any pics?

[tony.latham]

Are you talking trim, or aluminum angle? Take a look at this stuff on Grant's website: http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/parts.html

If you are talking about the edge moulding, you can screw one end down, ease it into position by hand and then gently move it into place with a plasitc deadblow hammer. If you do this too aggressively, you'll dent it. Once you've got it bent, screwed down and trimmed to size, remove it and put your sealant down. Reapply.

I wouldn't want to attempt a 12" radius with 1/2" by 1/2" angle. And I wouldn't use the hammer on the RV moulding that is grooved for a plastic crown.

Tony

[Fyddler]

Google instructions (or search these forums) on annealing aluminum. You have to heat it up with a blowtorch to just the right temperature and let it cool. I'm no expert at it but I do remember it is much easier in low light because it involves heating it until the flame coming off the aluminum is orange and it's much easier to see. I also cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to the same arc as my trailer to form it around after annealing it using a rubber mallet.

[citylights]

Are you talking trim, or aluminum angle? Take a look at this stuff on Grant's website: http://www.lilbear.teardrops.net/parts.html

The stuff on grants website is advertised at "dead soft" and bends nicely.

I bent one inch angle aluminum by heating and rubber mallet bending around corners. It took a lot of effort and most of a day to do the trim around a door. I wasn't entirely thrilled with the results. So I did some research and found an article on "relieving" metals before you bend them.

Basically you cut down the straight leg that needs to bend through the curve. The leg flat through the bend is easy, the leg at 90 degrees to the bend is the one you have to cut down. On one inch angle, you would cut the leg that needs to bend down to 1/2 inch or maybe a little less. Then it bends like butter. My second door trim went in in about two hours using this technique.

Here is one picture of bent angle with one leg relieved



And a shot of the door trim. Notice the one inch leg cut down to about 1/2 inch or "relieved" through the curve.