Struggling with fuel tank skins
My first attempt at bending this skins didn't work.... and neither did my second. The first attempt put a nice bend on the ends but the middle portion of the skin didn't bend well due to flexing of my wood jig. Second attempt failed for same reason.. to much flex in the wood.

I'll try again for the 3rd time tomorrow. This time I'll do it exactly as was suggested, which I probably should have done in the first place. If it doesn't work I don't know what I'll do then!

First Try - Image 1
First Try - Image 2
Result of First Try

2nd Jig - Image 1
2nd Jig - Image 2
2nd Jig - Image 3

After looking at the pics, this may require some 'splaining. Basically you bolt two 2x4's to the floor about 2" apart or so. Then you drill holes in the floor and put some thread anchors in and install the threaded rod. Get yourself a straight 2x8 and attach a 1" pipe along the edge. Drills holes in each end for the threaded rod to go into.

The theory is that you place your skin in the middle and start tightning the nuts on each end. The vertical 2x8 forces the skin down into the slot created by the 2x4's on the floor. Actually this works REALLY well on small pieces.

(Time: 4 hours)

- posted by Matthew @ 9/30/2003 02:24:34 PM