Hi Guys,
Thanks to the Viking prewelded parts and the Air Ryder engine mount,
I've had to do very little metal work for my Dragonfly. However, after
my first attempt at fabricating the motion changers I feel that I am
missing some basic knowledge wrt metal bending.
I've fabricated some 2024 .25" bending blocks per the Bengalis books'
advice. And I can eventually create a nice 90 degree bend in a piece of
aluminum, but the aluminum ends up unacceptably marred. Neither the
plans nor the Bengalis books address how to actually bend some aluminum
once you have it pressed between the bending blocks.
My procedure has been to clamp the piece between the bending blocks on a
vice. Then smack at the aluminum with a ball pein hammer. After
looking at the piece it is now apparent that this is not correct. How
do you folks generate enough force to cause aluminum to bend? Do you
use a press? Please walk me through how you have created good bends in
2024 or 4130.
Kevin
