defdes wrote:How are those round depressions made a the intersection of the "X"?
Thanks...tycot1 wrote:a press? maybe? ??? looks very nice.
Tycot1 is right you do need a press but everything else is easily made. You can make a stamp and die on a lathe for this or try the setup below that I used. I would have made something on our old lathe at work but for doing only two depressions it did the job. {A made up stamp and die would be more self centering and a better tool.}
1- Bottom die. Find a flat ring of metal that has an inside diameter of the top part of the depression to be stamped. This flat ring must also be the same depth as your stamping. {I used a speed sensor ring off a rear dif. axle but something like a cut down ring from a bearing would work as well.}
2- Top stamp. Find/make a circle of metal { round stock} with a flat bottom and top {hockey puck shaped} the size of the bottom of the stamping. Again the same depth as your stamping. If you want more of a funnel shape to the sides of your stamped depression go smaller on this piece.
3- Center punch the area on your sheet metal. Mount everything in press as follows starting at the bottom. –large flat plate- the large ring [centered under your center punch mark}-sheet metal – smaller stamp {centered over your mark} and another flat plate or block at least 2x as large as the large ring. Press everything just a little bit and check if everything looks to be centered {very hard to do} Adjust if needed.
4- Press away.
TIPS =stamp hole before bead rolling!
= experiment with different size rings etc... on scrap metal until you get good at it and know how your setup is going to work.
=Use sunroof rim sealer/ tar/? to glue/hold large ring centered under sheet metal.
=shim around lower ring under sheet metal if metal wants to deform too badly.
*= to make flared speed holes just drill large hole first and press top die or large socket through hole using a beeper lower ring on the bottom.
Chad