Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi All,

I am wanting to put an aluminium edge (L shaped) round the edge of my teardrop between the side walls and the roof. Please can you tell me the technique for bending the aluminium to the curved profile of the side walls??

The aluminium I am thinking of using is like this:


Thanks,

Adam

...my preference is take a piece like that and trim, what will be the down leg, 1/4-3/8th"s wide to facilitate bending...buy trim that is no more that 1/16th" thick...more than likely, the trim, will havvta be annealed...a de-tempering process in which a torch is used...if you use the "search" in the top index and enter "anneal" you will find a wealth of info on this technique and tips on bending...it is really not hard to do, a little practice and you will hve trim which will bend like buttah...........
madjack

I like this sticky for info.

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=15853&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Thanks for the responses . I have searched on Annealing and came across this video: http://web.mac.com/ramjim/TearDrop_3/Movies/Entries/2008/6/2_Annealing_metal.html. It seams to be a fairly straightforward process so I think that when the times comes i'll give it a go. Once I have curved the aluminium to shape will it have to be screwed on or could I just glue it?? I will be using it for looks, not strength.

Adz, the purpose...usually...for the trim, is sealing the edges...if you don't need or want the sealing capabilities, a product like 3M VHB tape, used for trim application in the auto industry will work...you could also use a panel adhesive like SikaFlex 252 but you would have to come up with a clamping arrangement...otherwise a sealant and stainless screws are called for...if you use screws, I would predrill and add a dab of sealant in each hole..........
madjack

Thanks for the advice madjack. I do want it to provide a seal so I think sealant and stainless screws are in order.

madjack wrote:...my preference is take a piece like that and trim, what will be the down leg, 1/4-3/8th"s wide to facilitate bending...buy trim that is no more that 1/16th" thick...more than likely, the trim, will havvta be annealed...a de-tempering process in which a torch is used...if you use the "search" in the top index and enter "anneal" you will find a wealth of info on this technique and tips on bending...it is really not hard to do, a little practice and you will hve trim which will bend like buttah...........
madjack

If you don't the down-standing leg will buckle

kennyrayandersen wrote:

madjack wrote:...my preference is take a piece like that and trim, what will be the down leg, 1/4-3/8th"s wide to facilitate bending...buy trim that is no more that 1/16th" thick...more than likely, the trim, will havvta be annealed...a de-tempering process in which a torch is used...if you use the "search" in the top index and enter "anneal" you will find a wealth of info on this technique and tips on bending...it is really not hard to do, a little practice and you will hve trim which will bend like buttah...........
madjack

If you don't the down-standing leg will buckle

...not necessarily...it depends on softness, degree of arc in curve...and of course, how big a mallet the bendor has...
madjack

yeah, true dat, but if you don't really work it, it will whang on you (of course the bent would be to have some mandrels to bend around... in the WELL equipped shop!)

Hard to justify (I'm not married so I don't have to justify anything) but the Harbor Freight Shrinker/Bender works great.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/ite ... egoryName=

I'm going to use regular angle aluminum.

Eric