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Loren Richards Thumbnail dies
We have reached an agreement with Loren to manufactured his thumbnail dies. We currently have them in stock. They sell for $395 for the toolsteel dies with 5/8" or 3/4" shanks. The 7/8" and 1" shanks are $405. The plastic dies (for aluminum) are $90 for the dies and $75 for the shanks in 5/8" and 3/4" or $85 for 7/8" and 1". Plus postage ($15 most places). The dies are hardened toolsteel with the shanks made of coldrolled steel in true metric sizes machined after welding that bolt together.
Fulton Metal Works (217) 476-8223 Ashland, Il. 62612 Here's a youtube video of the plastic dies in action on aluminum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jekGIDpbZpk Last edited by Stan Fulton; 03-23-2011 at 06:46 PM. |
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Awesome, thanks Stan.
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Pm Sent.
Thanks Stan! Great product. Stan, I edited this to ask a question about your dies being used on 304 s.s. (19-24 gauge). Do you think they would hold up to doing this kind of work? Im very interested. Thanks, BH Last edited by heidesign; 07-22-2009 at 09:49 AM. |
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Shrinking stainless steel
The thumbnail dies will hold up to the S.S. the problem is getting the S.S. to shrink. I know of several including myself who have tried and had some success. You have to make your shrinks as quickly as possible as work hardening begins immediately! I'm not sure of the annealing process for S.S. but I'm sure it can be done and would need to be done if you are changing a lot of shape.
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I made the mistake of paying twice what Loren/Stan charges for another persons dies. I've seen and used Loren/Stans dies and actually prefer them to mine. I do own the phenolic dies for aluminum and absolutely LOVE them.
In my opinion, these dies are at the top of the store bought thumbnails food chain in terms of price/performance. I'm not saying that other vendors don't make quality products but rather that these are at least equal quality for less cost. I'll also admit that I have not used EVERY commercially available thumbnail on the market.
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Kerry Pinkerton |
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I haven't tried them but have been told by a few friends that I really respect,that they are the best choice hands down.
I have one item that I have my eye on after that I will be ordering a set. Thanks for posting the add.
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Johnny Arial This forum is dedicated to Metal Shaping. Please stay on topic. |
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shrinking SS with thumb-nail dies
In 1981 I learned how to torch shrink on stainless steel. This wasn't a short process, as I worked at a locomotive refurbishing shop. We'd gotten a contract to modify about 40 self-propelled railcars built in the 1950's. They were a part of the rapid-transit system back east.
If you've ever seen what a cinder-block dropped from a bridge does to the top of a rail-car, you have a good idea of what we were faced with. The fact that they were stainless steel just made the straightening more of a challenge. I was partnered up with a guy who'd been doing hotrod/restoration type bodywork. We did all of the reshaping by hand, using a torch, hammers and dollies and water to quench. We had to reform everything hot, and then quench if it needed shrinking. Sometimes the shrinking process was repeated many times before we got the stretched metal back to form. The point I'm trying to make is, have you tried using thumb-nail dies on hot stainless? I haven't tried it myself, it's just a suggestion. Dan Stevens dba, Steelsmith |
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Here is the video.
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Johnny Arial This forum is dedicated to Metal Shaping. Please stay on topic. |
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Steel shrinking dies
Is there a website I can buy these from ? Or anywhere in Australia ... I know the last question is wishful thinking but you never know
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Wayne |
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Kerry Pinkerton |
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