Hi xander18
Hope you are doing great buddy!
Sheet metal fabrication is the act of forming, shaping, and joining metal together to build and or repair a tangible part. There are many techniques and tools. It’s been done since the beginning of time when even the simplest tools were used. In this article we will share the most common and important tools, machines, and techniques for the DIY fabricator.
Metal Shaping
I have also recently completed my office renovation work. I did a lot of research on metal beating . I found that metal Shaping or forming can only change metal in four ways. You can bend, cut, shrink and stretch metal to form it. Like you , I also was worried about how I will do it. Then one of my friend told me about Clinton aluminium and he told me about Matt, he helped me lot in my renovation work and guided me about what type and how to use the aluminium. I think You too need a guide for your cafe work which you will get from the following sites-
http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/30/autos/ford-f-150-crash-test/
http://www.clintonaluminum.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium
Below are the common tools and techniques to perform these tasks.
Tucking Metal-
Tucking metal is one of the earliest methods of shrinking metal. In this method you’re literally bunching the metal together by forcing it between a crevice with a spade hammer or by folding the metal over at the edges with a homemade tucking fork. This method is one that has been used to form some of the earliest most valuable sports cars. A good hammer and a wooden stump with cleverly placed cuts and crevices formed can work wonders!
Shrinker-
A shrinker is a lever-operated tool (hand or foot) that has moving textured jaws that grasp sheet metal from the top and the bottom and force it together tightly. This method is much more precise than tucking with a hammer and form, but moves the metal much slower. You can carefully work particular areas to shrink them as desired. The shrinker leaves minimal marring on the metal, most of which can be removed or smoothed out with a sanding disc or file.
Heat Shrinking- This is a method that takes a lot of practice. The basic idea is that you heat a overstretched area (with a torch) almost red hot and then as the area cools it shrinks.
The type or amount of stretched metal or damage will determine how you shrink or smooth the area out. You may need to hammer and dolly the area or quench the area with a wet rag or compressed air to get the desired shrink.
Alternatively there are shrinking discs on the market that are attached to an angle grinder that use friction to create the heat. These are a bit more precise and avoid using a torch/flame to heat and shrink the metal.
I hope my ideas will help you. Thanks in advance buddy :00