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Hi
Here is a tool for you off the road guys. A dimple tool used to flare holes in your panels on your ride. Made from a hydraulic punch from HF adding the parts to make the dimples after the holes are punched.
made by Jim Stabe from San Diego.
Have fun
Tom
Hey, Tom- Is punching holes a weight reduction technique? I can see where the inward flare reduces the sharp edges, but for a newbie, what's the rationale for that?
It so when you roll your ride over and you tumble around inside you don’t end up looking like you were attacked by a giant octopus (sucker marks)!!!
I have a set of these I made from the piston on an old hyd. cylinder, but I never thought to pair it with the punch.
Can you punch and flare all at the same time? or 2 operations?
I stiffens your large flat surfaces of sheet metal, much like rolling a bead. So you get the benefit of weight reduction and a stronger sheet metal part, all while moving the sharp edges away from you. Tom is right, looking like an octopus attacked is not a good thing...LOLQuote:
Hey, Tom- Is punching holes a weight reduction technique? I can see where the inward flare reduces the sharp edges, but for a newbie, what's the rationale for that?
not to mention it looks cool!
its a two step operation I would take a deep female portion to have it work with one step.
I don't think the hydraulic ram has enough distance to do that. I saw a video with a guy using an electric powered pump and that made it fast to do either operation.
did you radius your dies? or are they angled? Angled is certainly easier on the lathe (especially since I don't have a raduis cutter). but will it provide more strength if they are raduised?
I was thinking about using something like this... I've already got one for the porta power, and I use it on my shop press (though sometimes I don't feel it puts out enough on the press)Quote:
Originally Posted by acourtjester
this one is from northern tool, mine is a cheaper chineese nock-off... but I bet it'll work. Next time I can get a little lathe time I'll build a set of dimple dies that fit the old Hydraulic punch, and try it out.
http://www.northerntool.com/images/p.../156824_lg.jpg
What is the thickest metal you can punch?
That's pretty sweet... I have a project I could use this on right now.
The punch is rated at 11 ga mild steel, They have an optional 3" punch that can be bought separately.
trick tools sells a commercial version: http://www.vansantent.com/sheet_meta...lare_tools.htm
spendy, but they're a 1-step cut/flare and they are very well made. grade 8 draw stud, thrust bearing, hardened cutters.
I was able to make some pretty decent dimples in i think 18ga steel by drilling holes and then using two sockets. One that is similar to the hole size but a bit bigger and one that will fit into the hole size and then using a hammer just hit the two sockets together and forms a decent dimple for no cost if u have sockets. I will post up a picture of what Im talking about this weekend.
(been preoccupied with work, otherwise I'dve replied earlier)
the 2-socket trick works pretty well. i found if you want radiused corners, you use a socket larger than your cutout (the OD will be your hole diameter) on the inside and a larger socket to define the edge of the radius. it takes a fair bit of hammering, but you can get a pretty deep draw in 18ga. it also cleans up an out-of-round hole. the boss got a set of 1" drive sockets at HF on clearance because someone nicked the ratchet. I use them mostly for pressing out seals and stuff, but they're handy to have around for larger holes. I think the biggest OD is a bit over 2".