Bending Aluminium moulding

[Alkaz]

Hi There,
I'm a newbie from the UK and my Teardrop is on the final straight to being completed. Everything has run fairly smoothly until now. I'm planning to edge the meeting of the roof and sides with aluminium trim for a neater finish. I'm having great problems bending the trim. I've heated it and allowed it to cool with no luck. I've then tried bending it while it is still hot and still without any luck. During my research prior to building one I came across a website with pictures and explanations of their build and this issue was shown in great detail and I just can't find the web address anywhere. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Alkaz

[madjack]

...click the "search" button in the top index and enter "annealing"...it will return much info...you could also have tried "sdtripper2's index"...doing some basic research is your friend.....................
madjack

[Alkaz]

Will do further reading from your suggestion tonight and will have another go tomorrow!
Many thanks for your help
Alkaz

[mikeschn]

If annealing doesn't work for you, you could either get some dead soft angle, or some camper molding...

Mike...

[len19070]

I built this gadget a few years back for bending Alum Angle.





3

4



Though the photos show a piece of RV molding, it works well on a Home Depot style 3/4X1/2" angle.

There is a slot shown in the 3ed & 4th photo that is the thickness of the side leg.

While bending, the side leg has no room to go side to side and will only go straight with no ripples.

Bending must be done S-L-O-W-L-Y

On large radius's



I just bend slightly and slide the molding forward a bit then bend, then slide, bend, slide etc.

Doing a bit of Over bending is good.

Happy Trails

Len

[starleen2]

HUMMMM - I think I know what's gonna be the next tool I build!

[glassice]

Len your the man I try to up load pic from my lotus7 book that show that set up but your pic are much better

[Toytaco2]

I can personally attest to Len's bending gadget. I made one using his pics to bend the insert molding for my TD. It worked great, especially for the wider legged molding I used on my hatch.

An otherwise difficult job made very, very easy.

Mike

[chorizon]

I did the search and read about annealing aluminum. I thought I would never need to know that information and if I did, it would be a no-brainer.

I will admit I was wrong. I did need that info, and it took a little bit of skill on my part.

When I went to put the 6063 Aluminum angle on my TD I thought it would go easy.

It didn't. The material wanted to twist and pretty much not cooperate at all.

I then attempted to remedy that situation with my propane torch. I hit on the following foolproof method, culled from the vast amount of info here on this site.

I'm color-blind. I anneal aluminum at night only, because that is when I can see the distinct orange glow off the metal.

I used MAPP gas, that was my 2nd trick. The MAPP canisters will fit on your propane torch and will heat the material very quickly.

If you've read any of the threads on this, you'd remember the torch casts a blu-ish flame off the metal when first making contact.

When the aluminum reaches the sweet annealing temp the flame cast off the metal will glow orange, you'll then move down a little.

It goes pretty quick with MAPP gas. I annealed a 10-foot long piece of 1 X 1 X 1/8" thick 6063 Architectural Aluminum Angle in about 40 minutes with this method.

When you're finished the metal literally bends "like butter."

Good luck!

[Dirran]

Even though the question has been asked a hundred times and someone keeps referring to the 'search' function and advised to read 'old posts', rather than engage a newbie in conversation, someone comes up with a solution that has not been listed before.

I asked a question under another name, which I had forgotten so was not able to log in again after I had decided to rejoin this forum, and was given the same response, "Use the search function at the top of the page as it has already been asked before."

I'm so pleased someone came to the rescue with that information because it has helped me also and no doubt, a lot of others will have just learned something new.

Thanks Len from me as well.
Errol.

[Alkaz]

Many Thanks for the replies - can't believe so many after just one day of posting. I can let you's all know that after searching 'annealing' I got lots of info and tips and can proudly say that it is now bent and fixed in place!!! The end is now in sight! Will upload some pics when complete.
Many Thanks once again to everyone
Alkaz