Portable Shrinker/Stretcher.

Wanted a set of portable shrinker/stretchers for a while for when the job is too big or you want to do it in situ for the best or quicker result. But they start around $700US which was more than I could justify and you have to keep switching the jaws between shrink and stretch. So waited for a bench mounted set to come on special with the EOFY sales and got a pair for only a 1/3rd of the cost! I needed to make a set of handles to support the body of the shrinker/stretchers. I just cut some 1/4" thick flat and welded it to some old 3/4" water pipe a foot long to match the handles they come with.

I used the flat under the body to keep the profile as minimal as possible so I can get into more places. I wanted to use counter sink bolts as well but didn't have any to match the 10mmx1.5 pitch threaded holes. Also notice that the pipe is hard against the back of the body to act as a brace so it doesn't bend the flat in use. I was worried there wouldn't be enough leverage but it works well enough on 0.9mm-20g bonnet.

Thought I would show its uses. Notice the dip in the top of the guard. This often happens when using a tipping wheel as the fold line gets stretched. So to lift the dip you need to stretch the top half of the flange to match. You only stretch the top 25-50% of the flange, otherwise you are just lengthening the whole flange and not achieving anything. So don't use it like pictured!

Now with the thicker 1.2-18g steel I had to really muscle the levers and I could not get a feel for what was happening. So threaded the end of the lower one and added another foot to the length and made a new upper one. I have unscrewed the extension and used the original upper when working in tight areas, so it is good to be able to do that when needed. Can see the guard is now perfectly flat until the far right where it starts to drop down to meet the grille.

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