Hi Dave, one thing you have to make sure of with these, is that the offset jaw gaps are staggered and not opposite each other, otherwise they just wont work. It looks like your fettling did the trick.
Great little fix there Dave, that polishing really freed up it's movement. I have 2x smaller ones where one is mounted to the rotisserie with foot operated pedal . I'm going to give the polish the blocks a try as mine kind of binds when using it. Keep up the good work 👍
Good morning Dave from a chilly 🥶 Huddersfield 🤣 So nothing better with a brew watching you mess about in your man cave lol 😆 I don’t know what it is but I just love watching you mess about tinkering in the garage entertaining us all on UA-cam 👍🏻
Ive just bought the exact same one off ebay. The stretcher works a treat im well pleased with that but the shrinker is useless. I was about to contact the seller to complain it does not do what its supposed to do but while searching for an answer i find this video. Tomorrow ill have the jaws in pieces and machine polish them to a mirror finish. Apart from that im well pleased with the results using it. If the shrinker works as well as the stretcher im going to be more than happy with it :)
I've had a smaller one for a couple of years, could never get it working, after watching this I attacked it with a sander, and got a saw blade between the teeth to clean and sharpen them and i finally shaped my first bit of metal. Well chuffed 👍
@@DavesGarageuk That thing was nearly useless right out of the box. I have the stretcher dies working well, but still trying to get the shrinker dies to do their job correctly. Uugh...
Fantastic tool for the workshop it will be even better with the foot pedal operation it's surprising how much power it has in comparison to hand operation 😀 👍
You shouldn't have to, but anyway, nice fettling! I think you'll find that tool is a game changer. Have you seen those domed compressed gas cylinder protection caps, they take up a lot less room than an english wheel and with a polished up dome and a panel beating hammer can begin to imitate the effects of an english wheel. Love the new intro - it showcases your brilliant skills!
Hi Dave, just ploughed through the comments, it certainly is bloody cold in Huddersfield at the moment! It amazes me how people can sell products that just were never going to work from day one. Full marks to you for sorting it out, but you really shouldn't have to. I would call that sort of price budget end, but definitely not cheap. If you have the space, lengthening the handle, even just by a small amount would probably give you more mechanical effort until you can sort out a foot pedal arrangement. I've often thought that you can get pneumatic rams pretty reasonably priced, it wouldn't be that hard to come up with a spring and ram design that you could operate with some sort of foot pedal valve perhaps? Or, maybe, I have actually gone insane!
@@DavesGarageuk not had problem with them blocking up just the welding you got to really clean the spot to weld. If not pops and farts and stops the weld plus they only had two on the shelf in store every time its like everyone is going to overdose on it lol 😆
I started using shrinker / stretchers in the 90's....then when i went on my own i bought a set..mine are the more common shallow depth ones and i bought the one base unit with both dies....most times your doing one operation ( shrink or stretch )..but sometimes you go back and forth... changing it is slow but the price was better so i took that option... mine are a much better quality than your setup... the dies are very hard and were perfect when bought...it worked as good as the name brand i used before i got mine ( can't recall that brand but mine was a knockoff...not sure if china or taiwan ? ) ..it is alot alike regardless to the more expensive brand .. it was under $400 cdn about 25 years ago..which was 50% cheaper...now similar ( but rougher looking ) ones are about $200 cdn on sale...i never really looked at them closely...but they look chinesium and. less refined for sure....you get what you pay in the end... they are rare used around here... bend some sheetmetal angles to practice on... they work great on less deep material... 3/4 " is my max depth... even 1.5" would be enough to give radius edges...on projects... i doubt the extreme depth on that unit will be as good as a English Wheel and pretty hard to work .... they sure are handy on metalwork..... keeping the teeth clean is about all i have to do on my unit...i use a satin finish metal that is great for staying rust free but can plug up the fine teeth on the dies... those dies were very rough finished..lol ..
If your planning on going live for the first time youtube needs 24 hours notice. Someone else I watch went to go live and they were all set up and clicked to go live and said they had to wait
Yours seems to have a much stronger frame than mine did straight out of the box. (Another copy of the same machine by a different manufacturer, probably.) I had the same problem with the top jaw and the hanger, but took a drastically different path to make it work. I have videos of the process on my channel. I've been watching through your Escort playlist over the last couple weeks. Cool cars we never got here in the US.
Best way to go foot operated is to attach an air brake diaphragm unit with an air foot switch…. Saves those arms… if you need a link I can probably find the info you need etc…..Where are you from in Wales?…. My family are from the Valleys
@@DavesGarageuk my family are from Blackwood, Fluer De Lys, Tredegar etc etc …. As for your air valve this is the link I liked, there is more on the Homemade tools site, if you can’t access this I am a member… just ask
Hello😊 My name is Thomas. I bought the same machine as you. I have problem with the shrinker. The lower jaws does not work when i put the metal in the shrinker. I have done the small fix to make it work but this is really a problem. Do you have any idea of a solution? Thomas⚒😎
Hi Dave, watching the action of the jaws it almost seems at some points it could do with a stronger compression spring to keep the jaws apart until the very last minute before it grips the metal, at the moment it seems to be closing the jaws together before getting purchase on the metal ? Great video as always, the wife has bought me the shallower depth version to this for Christmas so waiting to see when it arrives if I need to make the same modifications as yours ! Very interested to see a floor mounted stand with foot pedal made as I have the same idea for mine, it seems rather difficult to be able to pull enough force down on the handle while working it at the same time.
Found your video very helpful in getting the machine to work, cos out of the box it didn't... Is there any chance you could scan me a copy of the instructions? I've been in touch with the supplier and no joy. Mine didn't come with any. I would like to make stand, so the pictures would be helpful.. I could send you my email if you can help... Thanks so much for the video.
Hi Dave, one thing you have to make sure of with these, is that the offset jaw gaps are staggered and not opposite each other, otherwise they just wont work.
It looks like your fettling did the trick.
Great little fix there Dave, that polishing really freed up it's movement. I have 2x smaller ones where one is mounted to the rotisserie with foot operated pedal . I'm going to give the polish the blocks a try as mine kind of binds when using it. Keep up the good work 👍
Great tool you’ve Dave lovely addition to the garage. Have fun practising. Can’t wait to see you you create with that weapon!
Thank you Mick, I can forecast a lot of scrap being created 🤣
Nice piece of kit Dave , I’m sure you’ll be giving that a good work out mate 👍
Thanks for sharing your findings and showing us how to make it work better 👍
Cheers John, I've since found that the jaws are too soft, after a bit of use the teeth have worn flat. Don't waste your money on it mate.
Good morning Dave from a chilly 🥶 Huddersfield 🤣 So nothing better with a brew watching you mess about in your man cave lol 😆 I don’t know what it is but I just love watching you mess about tinkering in the garage entertaining us all on UA-cam 👍🏻
Thanks Stevie, I don't get what it is either 🤣🤣
Ive just bought the exact same one off ebay.
The stretcher works a treat im well pleased with that but the shrinker is useless.
I was about to contact the seller to complain it does not do what its supposed to do but while searching for an answer i find this video.
Tomorrow ill have the jaws in pieces and machine polish them to a mirror finish.
Apart from that im well pleased with the results using it. If the shrinker works as well as the stretcher im going to be more than happy with it :)
I've found that the jaws wear quickly, so it's a machine with potential, but poor quality
I've had a smaller one for a couple of years, could never get it working, after watching this I attacked it with a sander, and got a saw blade between the teeth to clean and sharpen them and i finally shaped my first bit of metal. Well chuffed 👍
Excellent 😊
The one I just bought needed every bit of "fetteling" that you showed here. But it works now. Thank you for showing what to do.
Glad I could help!
@@DavesGarageuk That thing was nearly useless right out of the box. I have the stretcher dies working well, but still trying to get the shrinker dies to do their job correctly. Uugh...
Fantastic tool for the workshop it will be even better with the foot pedal operation it's surprising how much power it has in comparison to hand operation 😀 👍
Good to know, I guess the extra weight helps, positives of getting fatter as I get older 🤣
You shouldn't have to, but anyway, nice fettling! I think you'll find that tool is a game changer. Have you seen those domed compressed gas cylinder protection caps, they take up a lot less room than an english wheel and with a polished up dome and a panel beating hammer can begin to imitate the effects of an english wheel. Love the new intro - it showcases your brilliant skills!
Thanks Neil, I've seen the dome caps on other people's channels, on the look out for one. 😊
A different video, very helpful and enjoyable
Great tip
Great video Dave, I’ve just bought one myself but the next size down from yours. Can’t wait to try it out.👍
Hi Dave, just ploughed through the comments, it certainly is bloody cold in Huddersfield at the moment! It amazes me how people can sell products that just were never going to work from day one. Full marks to you for sorting it out, but you really shouldn't have to. I would call that sort of price budget end, but definitely not cheap. If you have the space, lengthening the handle, even just by a small amount would probably give you more mechanical effort until you can sort out a foot pedal arrangement. I've often thought that you can get pneumatic rams pretty reasonably priced, it wouldn't be that hard to come up with a spring and ram design that you could operate with some sort of foot pedal valve perhaps? Or, maybe, I have actually gone insane!
Hmm rams a good idea 💡
thanks dave
I've got a bench just like yours, several actually. 'Stuff' behaves like a gas; it expands to fill the available space.
Ha ha 😂 so true
looks a good tool now you've made it work properly,perhaps vevor should see your improvements and reward you for the upgrades.
Thanks, and yes, I agree 🤣
Thank you Dave for the tips had the same problem with my tool👍 it will be getting the Dave's garage mod now 👌
Ha brilliant thank you 😊
How are you finding the Halfords weld through primer lately? The last few tins I've had have been blocking up the nozzle horribly.
@@DavesGarageuk not had problem with them blocking up just the welding you got to really clean the spot to weld. If not pops and farts and stops the weld plus they only had two on the shelf in store every time its like everyone is going to overdose on it lol 😆
I started using shrinker / stretchers in the 90's....then when i went on my own i bought a set..mine are the more common shallow depth ones and i bought the one base unit with both dies....most times your doing one operation ( shrink or stretch )..but sometimes you go back and forth... changing it is slow but the price was better so i took that option... mine are a much better quality than your setup... the dies are very hard and were perfect when bought...it worked as good as the name brand i used before i got mine ( can't recall that brand but mine was a knockoff...not sure if china or taiwan ? ) ..it is alot alike regardless to the more expensive brand .. it was under $400 cdn about 25 years ago..which was 50% cheaper...now similar ( but rougher looking ) ones are about $200 cdn on sale...i never really looked at them closely...but they look chinesium and. less refined for sure....you get what you pay in the end... they are rare used around here... bend some sheetmetal angles to practice on... they work great on less deep material... 3/4 " is my max depth... even 1.5" would be enough to give radius edges...on projects... i doubt the extreme depth on that unit will be as good as a English Wheel and pretty hard to work .... they sure are handy on metalwork..... keeping the teeth clean is about all i have to do on my unit...i use a satin finish metal that is great for staying rust free but can plug up the fine teeth on the dies... those dies were very rough finished..lol ..
Thanks Gary, very helpful info there 👍
If your planning on going live for the first time youtube needs 24 hours notice. Someone else I watch went to go live and they were all set up and clicked to go live and said they had to wait
Ah, thanks for the heads up on that 👍
Yours seems to have a much stronger frame than mine did straight out of the box. (Another copy of the same machine by a different manufacturer, probably.) I had the same problem with the top jaw and the hanger, but took a drastically different path to make it work. I have videos of the process on my channel.
I've been watching through your Escort playlist over the last couple weeks. Cool cars we never got here in the US.
Ta, I'll have a peek at your channel later 😊
Best way to go foot operated is to attach an air brake diaphragm unit with an air foot switch…. Saves those arms… if you need a link I can probably find the info you need etc…..Where are you from in Wales?…. My family are from the Valleys
Thanks, I was thinking along those lines after watching a few other guys. We're in the Swansea Valley.
@@DavesGarageuk my family are from Blackwood, Fluer De Lys, Tredegar etc etc …. As for your air valve this is the link I liked, there is more on the Homemade tools site, if you can’t access this I am a member… just ask
Hello😊
My name is Thomas.
I bought the same machine as you.
I have problem with the shrinker.
The lower jaws does not work when i put the metal in the shrinker.
I have done the small fix to make it work but this is really a problem.
Do you have any idea of a solution?
Thomas⚒😎
I'm not sure how to help you sorry. There are lots of other videos on UA-cam on this same subject, perhaps one covers the problem you're having?
@@DavesGarageuk Hi Dave and thanks for the answer👍
I will struggle on with the trubbel😊🤔⚒ at least the strecher works.🤣
Thomas😎
Hi Dave, watching the action of the jaws it almost seems at some points it could do with a stronger compression spring to keep the jaws apart until the very last minute before it grips the metal, at the moment it seems to be closing the jaws together before getting purchase on the metal ?
Great video as always, the wife has bought me the shallower depth version to this for Christmas so waiting to see when it arrives if I need to make the same modifications as yours !
Very interested to see a floor mounted stand with foot pedal made as I have the same idea for mine, it seems rather difficult to be able to pull enough force down on the handle while working it at the same time.
Thanks Martin, yep it's a pain to use as is, I'll have a look at the spring action. Some sort of foot pedal arrangement is definitely on the cards.
Found your video very helpful in getting the machine to work, cos out of the box it didn't... Is there any chance you could scan me a copy of the instructions? I've been in touch with the supplier and no joy. Mine didn't come with any. I would like to make stand, so the pictures would be helpful.. I could send you my email if you can help... Thanks so much for the video.
I'll have to check I've still got
them