Mittler Bros. Machine and Tool is teaming up with Kevin Masson, who’s been specializing in traditional metal shaping techniques for over 30 years, to bring you a brand new Metal Shaping Class!
Join Mittler Bros. for 2 full course days, where students will fabricate a fully shaped steel panel(s) for a motorcycle gas tank fitted to a wooden buck. The class will focus on the use of the English wheel and other machinery used to shape panels using the roadmap to success. With detailed demonstrations and complete hands on training, students will have the confidence and ability to take a flat piece of metal and produce the desired shape and curvature needed to complete their project. The machinery and tools to be used in this class will consist of bench size English wheels, shrinker-stretchers, bead rollers, beater bag stations with shot bags and mallets.
Enter as any level of metal shaper, and leave with a broader knowledge of how metal moves and is shaped, using the information given on the machinery and the hands-on lessons to build your metal shaping skills. The goal is to accomplish a complete side panel (for beginners) or 2 panels, left and right side (for advanced) fitted to the wooden motorcycle gas tank buck. For the more advanced metal shaper, the focus will be more on perfecting the shaped panels from 80% to 100% with instruction on getting a perfect fit to the buck.
COURSE SCHEDULE
DAY 1
SESSION 1
OVERVIEW OF MACHINERY
ENGLISH WHEEL
• English Wheel Set-Up- Test true tracking
• Anvil Types and Purposes
• Pressure Required for Shaping and Smoothing
• Full Radius and Flat Top Wheels – Linear Stretching
• The Use of a Top Wheel Rubber band
• Techniques in Using the English Wheel
• Shape Blending
• When to Cross Wheel/When not to Cross Wheel
• Types of Metal
• Student exercise with test pieces of aluminum .050 aluminum sheet 10×12 (checking the set-up for lower anvil)
SHRINKER/STRETCHER
• Set up/ Use / Difference Between Jaws
• Foot Operated versus Hand Operated
• Deep Throat versus Shallow Throat
• Student Exercise- Shrink the edge of test piece panel ready to wheel and blend shape across panel
BEAD ROLLER
• Standard Motor versus Heavy Duty Motor
• Adjustable Shaft versus Non-Adjustable
• Variable Speed Dial Coordinated with Foot Pedal
• 24 in throat versus 36 in throat
• Dies and Uses of Including Soft Rubber and Nylon Dies
• Student Exercise – Sharpie with ¾ in tape -Flange Tipping using opposite side of test piece
LEATHER SHOT BAG AND MALLET
• Hollowing the metal by hand
• Hammering and rotating
LUNCH BREAK- QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME
CLASS PROJECT
MAKING PANELS FOR A MOTORCYCLE GAS TANK USING A WOODEN BUCK
METAL SHAPING TECHNIQUES
• Pass out project panels
• Plan of Shaping using the Road Map to Success
• Paper Pattern
• Radius Gauge Application with Lower Wheel Anvils
• Buck Making and the Materials Used
• Lead Shot Bags and Mallets to Pre-Shape Panels
• Panel Shaping (Students Begin to Make Their Projects)
• Class Exercise – Students Practice Techniques Discussed
• Shaping /Blending/Smoothing Panels
DAY 2
SESSION 2
• Overview of Session 1 – Questions and Answer Time
• Students Continue to Make Panel(s)
LUNCH BREAK- QUESTION AND ANSWER TIME
• Completion of Panel Projects- 80% to 100% Fit and Finish
• Critiquing Metal Shaping Techniques
TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION OR A REGISTRATION FORM, PLEASE EMAIL:
REGISTRATION@MITTLERBROS.COM
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