Someone that's wanting to do some DIY tin work, like tubs and basic paneling in the interior. Would would be some basic methods without using high dollaw tooling?

How to make basic bends to make tubs would be great. I get straight beds and getting a brake and all that. But making uniform bends is what I would like to know about.

Also, once the tin is tacked together. What type of sealer to use?

Also, what's a good cheap way to cut tin or aluminum sheet?

 

Well, for basic metal working...and I mean bottom of the barrel its all you can afford...here is my list

Body hammers; High and crown...the picks on the back end can be helpful...but they arent necessary

Dollies; heel, toe, funky shape one They can start, or finish a curve, help smoothe things out, or be used as a hammer themselves.

Vise; It doesnt have to be the biggest best Wilton out there...but something that will hold your parts, and not flex. I like 6" wide jaws...but thats just me. They can also be used in conjuction with dollies, to help you form a panel.

The sealer...I would go with something out of napa or kragen...something designed as a seam sealer. If you can find it Dum Dum works pretty good. Its like tar...except not. If that makes any sense. You roll it between your hands, and then press it into the seam, and then kinda wipe off the rest. You COULD use RTV...but the results may not be what you are looking for.

As for the tubs...I would recomend the shrinker for that. You could roll the top edge really easy with that...itd take some work, and some finesse, but definitely possible.

Basic walk through...You cut out the two pieces that will make the tub, you create the curve you want in the top piece...top piece done.

The side piece, you make slightly oversize (you can always cut it down later...)
You mark on it where you want the bend to start, here is where the dollies are useful. Start to create the curve with the hammers and dollies...the metal will pucker...but dont worry about it. Dont let the puckers get too big though, and not just one. Make sure they are spread out.

Now comes the pain in the ***. You need to compress that metal into itself where it has ruffles. Start to work that area. In the process, it will unbend a little bit. Bend it more. Repeat.

You could make a simple dollie to mount in the vise to help this...just a piece of round stock, welded to a piece of 1/8th or 1/4" stock, with the round stock cleaned up...doesnt have to be polished but if theres a giant burr...well you can see what that would do.

the easiest way on your wallet is hammers and dollies...the easiest way on you, is the shrinker. with the shrinker, you would need the hammers + dollies as well, but it would go much faster. When you create those puckers with access to a shrinker...you start very slowly shrinking that metal into itself. Van Sant enterprises sells just the shrinker for 185. You could mount that in a vise to use it.

That would be how id do it.

 

Uniform bends? What do you mean by this.
Just make sure when you make your measurements be within 1mm.
Take your time drafting and taking measurements.
Plan your bends and assembely on paper before you do it.
I worked on sheet metal and made all sorts of things and got a Custom Enclosed Fuel tub in the rear of my FC.
Bead rollers to put some stiffness into the metal.
If you have good hands and know how to properly use Sheet metal shears you can cut your sheet metal with them or i suggest buying yourself a 4 ft stomp shear or finding a shop with one. Here is a picture of some things I used to make with sheet metal.
Below are some pictures of stuff I made like skylights ect but having the right fabrication tools always helps.=)
I sold all my tools but still can drop by and use them anytime.
Custom Underbody all sorts of stuff can be made from sheet metal.I had 8/4 ft air shears and 10/6/4 ft benders, roll formers and bead rollers. Even a circular hole cutter which made my life 100 times easier then scribing circles then punching them and cutting with shears.

 

Cut out your half-moon side pieces first in the radius you want. Then bend the long top piece around your torso to give it the basic curve. Tack onto your half moon and then slowly bend it around the shape, tacking as you go.

Seam sealer.

Jigsaw.

 

+1

Napa Sells seam sealer btw, saw it there the other day.

Think Aaron has the easiest way by far.