has anyone been successful at bending aluminum for a chassis? what type of machinery/tools do you use?
I like the cost of the hammond chassis and the dimensions available but I really HATE trying to mount to head boxes with those little inward flaps or putting hardware all the way through the center... I'm ready to figure out a better solution.
This type of work requires a "sheet metal break". These range from a simple clamp-like device sold in home improvement stores, to professional grade tools that cost hundreds or possibly over $1000. That is why, if you don't do a lot of this stuff and you purchase the chassis already bent. If you want a good job done, the required tool isn't so cheap. If you've got a friend who is a building contractor, he probably has one that he uses to bend metal to wrap window sills or for roofing related work.
If you are feeling adventurous, go to Home Depot or Lowes and take a look at the simple, inexpensive clamp-type break they sell. I think you will find in the roofing materials section near the flashing. It might work for you.
this year I found a sheet metal brake at tractor supply
it will handle up to 36" and 16 gauge steel
this is not a box and pan.... no removable fingers
but for a simple chassis with wooden ends or a separate end piece
thats tack welded in ...... its the cats meow
its not a huge machine it weighs less that 300lbs
i dont yet have the shop space or the buget to justify
anything bigger.... i was glad to find it a tractor supply
didnt have to pay freight
My free advice (usually worth every penny) on the subject is to look in the Yellow Pages for "sheet metal fabricators" and find a small one near your house. Go there on a Friday afternoon and show them a good dimensioned picture of what you want. You might have to buy the thick alu. from McMaster's or a sheet metal dealer.
I discovered when I began building guitars, having virtually no tools, that guys in boring jobs love to get involved with interesting ones. If you find the right place and have all your prep work done, they might not even charge. The thing is they know the trade, have the right equipment, will do fast, accurate work and you might even make some new friends. Win-win as they say.
Dave
The denunciation of the young is a necessary part of the hygiene of older people, and greatly assists in the circulation of the blood. - Logan Pearsall Smith (1865 - 1946)
I had the same issue, really like the cost and workability of the hammond chassy...so since I build my own head cabs I now build them with a standardized sliding slot channel for a 17x10x3 chassy. Then I screw in a back panel that holds the amp in tight.
The slot for the amp to slide in and out must be very tight tolerance, just get it very close, then use stick on felt to adjust the spacing exactly. Takes a bit of time, but the cool thing is I can also switch and swap any amp in the house with any head cab. Took a little to design a simple slide in system, but just remember to keep it simple if you do it, just the front and back panel holding the amp, 2 rails along the sides, and a front and back lip to hold the amp tight.
Anyways, different perspective to solving the problem.
it really is a journey, and you just cant farm out the battle wounds
Yeah, a good sheetmetal guy is worth his weight in gold.
I have a number of choices in my area ranging from an old timer with a very well equipped shop right through several larger shops that do aerospace assemblies. The aerospace shops are great if you can give them a blueprint and if you need a hundred chassis.
The local sheetmetal guy has an 8' brake that will bend damn near anything, a 6' box brake that will bend anything else, a couple large shears and I don't mean handheld snips, several rollers in case you're in the mood for curves plus all sorts of Roper-Whitney and Pexto implements for tormenting unsuspecting sheetmetal.
Last time I was over there he had the most beautiful piece of industrial art, fit for a museum it was. All Tig welded food grade stainless steel. My pressing question was WTF's that for? Turns out it's a finishing still for a local distillery. Now that I've seen it I want one...
those are all really great suggestions, thank you so much.
that was exactly what i was looking for... a brain jumpstart.
I think that going to a fabricator with a plan drawn up real well on a friday sounds like a great idea. I'm looking forward to it. I just looked and there are tons of them here in Columbus.
soberskipper wrote: what type of machinery/tools do you use?
Don't forget Harbor Freight Tools: http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisear ... geBottom=0
The have a whole range of sizes and prices. Look for a Harbor Freight store in your area. The cheapest can be flimsy, but it doesn't take a lot of stamina to bend aluminum. Search the internet for DIY sheet metal brakes, as well.
I'm in the same boat with Briane, I have a head cab that I can easily pop a Hammond 16x8x2 (the perfect chassis size, imo) in and out of, so all my homebuilt amps are interchangeable in it.
Life is a tale told by an idiot -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
