My lesson on bending Tee molding on a 4" radius

[halfdome, Danny]

I aneled the Tee molding and did it again and again and then tried to bend it around my door with three 4" radius. The first one was very difficult and not successful . The second one took less than a minute and I'm happy with it , the third one was a failure like the first. I'll do it over again and this time I'll leave about 10" extra on each end so that the aluminum won't cave in on me and I'll be able to get the tail ends by the hinge nice and tight and in alignment. Live and learn. Danny

[Classic Finn]

Hey Danny

That looks very good to me... practice makes perfect they say..
nothing wrong with that progress..

Classic Finn

[halfdome, Danny]

Thanks Classic Finn, I thought my learning experience may help someone who hasn't done it yet like myself. It's good to learn from others mistakes. Danny

[Classic Finn]

Hey there..

Im yet to do some annealing myself, that also I can say Ive never done..
so you are definitely ahead of me....

I,ll be learning as well..

Also I checked out your build photos....man that looks great...
you can come over and help us any time...


Classic Finn

[Mightydog]

You have experience now, Danny.

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

Experience is the practical application of one's own mistakes.

[schreimaster]

Looks good to me . I also spent part of the day bending t-molding, I'm putting mine on the inside door opening, not sure if it's right or wrong. But I figured I'd give it a try.

One thing I did learn, that works for me is, I turn off the lights in the shop when I'm heating the molding, gives me a better look at the flame and can tell when it changes to orange.

[halfdome, Danny]

Classic Finn, Yes this my first experience aneling and bending aluminum. The wood part is easy and I'm happy you enjoyed my build photos. As far as going to Finland, it makes me shutter, it's too cold here in the Pacific North West, I have Southern California blood.

Mightydog, you are so right about experience, it's hard to do almost anything without some type of experience.

schreimaster, I never saw any orange flame and I even tried to melt a piece. The long cylinder of propane ran out so I'm using a camping propane bottle and I don't think it would make a difference. I did notice the flame sounded less intense though. I'll buy a long cylinder tomorrow. Danny

[exminnesotaboy]

with the T moulding, I didn't get a orange flame either; I had to just guess at it and it bent fine. The orange flame/lights off trick worked perfectly with all my 1/16" aluminum angle - I was always a little puzzled by this.

[halfdome, Danny]

A friend that has done extensive metal work says the orange flame comes from oxidizing basis material, and means the aluminum is very
close to melting. He would rather use a rosebud tip to spread out the flame. I have one, now where did I put it so many years ago . Danny

[schreimaster]

halfdome

I use NAP gas instead of propane, it always worked faster on copper plumbing, so I figured it would spead up the process. I have used just over 1 tank and I'm almost finished bending.

You might want to give it a try.

[schreimaster]

That would be MAPP gas, head must be in the clouds today, who knows