bending cast aluminum
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Elkhart IN
bending cast aluminum
At work weve got a a mold that somehow got bent pretty good. Its a lip about an inch thick, and twisted down. We need to bend it back up, but wastnt sure how to do it best. Heat it, press it, hit it, or what?
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 986
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From: Gulf Shores, AL
If you heat it and hit it it will damage it. I would heat cautiously and very carefully try and bend it with a pipe wrench but there is no promises that it will work. Cast, in my opinion, is chaep and flemsey.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,587
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From: Virginia Beach
Cast aluminum. . .the stuff I'm experienced (term used loosely, lol) with doesn't really bend back. Once it "bends" it develops micro fractures where the side being bent away from is stretched and the aluminum literally tears.
I would, but this is just me. . .
-bend it back cold, grind out a portion of the upper area where it bent and weld it full. Then grind out a portion of the lower area and fill it with weld. machine if necessary.
- knock it off, clean it up and weld it back on and machine if necessary.
-Knock it off, and build it back up with aluminum weld and machine it.
Thats just my experience, mostly with outboard motor mounts and brackets
I would, but this is just me. . .
-bend it back cold, grind out a portion of the upper area where it bent and weld it full. Then grind out a portion of the lower area and fill it with weld. machine if necessary.
- knock it off, clean it up and weld it back on and machine if necessary.
-Knock it off, and build it back up with aluminum weld and machine it.
Thats just my experience, mostly with outboard motor mounts and brackets
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: in the adirondack mts
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 327
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From: Midwest
Isn't there a way to soften it and allow bending by using a carbuerizing flame (heavy actylene)? Or is that on a different form of aluminum?
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