Attempting to Hammer out a Front Fairing...

[DesmoBro]

so after lots of reading, and note taking on some builds I would call inspirational (thanks pattheswede & steve F) I have completely screwed up my last piece of flat 18gauge....Anyone know how I should continue? Cutting maybe....Idk more hammering?

Either way it was fun beating this steel at one point my g/f came down and yelled at me for waking her up...Haha

pictures go from inspiration to F***up

 

[DesmoBro]

then a little English on there

 

[Steve F]

I had to reply, I've never been inspirational before

Cant help with this though, I can weld and cut but beating out a fairing, way beyond my skills.

Cheers
Steve

 

[rockcitycafe]

a fairing like that involves a lot of shrinking, not as much stretching imo, it would actually be easier to do if you cut the headlight hole out first and made it in two halves

 

[DesmoBro]

a fairing like that involves a lot of shrinking, not as much stretching imo, it would actually be easier to do if you cut the headlight hole out first and made it in two halves

hmmm.....gonna have to bone up on my shrinking skills.... I was thinking of cutting the hole first too.... should I cut the hole out now? or is it too Late....I suppose I could just let my frustrations out and stretch it til it won't stretch no more.

Thanks for chiming in Roc

 

[teazer]

Are you trying to beat a fairing out of single sheet of steel? I don't think it's possible to stretch it that far without a press and molds and a few cuts and welds.

I have seen an aluminum fairing and that was a work of art and weeks of work. Way beyond my skill level for sure.

I'd just buy one - or if that's not an option, borrow one and take a mold off it. ;-)

If you absolutely must do it, think about cutting it into smaller pieces so there is less stretching to be done.

 

[Nebr_Rex]

Are you trying to beat a fairing out of single sheet of steel? I don't think it's possible to stretch it that far without a press and molds and a few cuts and welds.

I have seen an aluminum fairing and that was a work of art and weeks of work. Way beyond my skill level for sure.

I'd just buy one - or if that's not an option, borrow one and take a mold off it. ;-)

If you absolutely must do it, think about cutting it into smaller pieces so there is less stretching to be done.

+1
I'd use aluminum sheet with several different size and shape hammer and dollys.
The old bal peen hammer is a little bit to pronounced.
Maybe you could pick up a few more and grind different radiuses on the heads?

 

[rockcitycafe]

don't need all that, need a tuck shrinker or stump, shot bag and a wooden and plastic mallet, english wheel is a good way to planish it out

 

[johnu]

First off I admire you for having a go at making your own fairing, if you pull it off the grin factor will be a "10". Listen to RocCity he knows what he is talking about, I listened to him when I made my gas tank and his tips saved me time and money.

Personally I'd make the fairing out of aluminum to be honest, that mild steel will weigh a ton. Also as others have mentioned making it out of more than one piece would be a ton easier.

My advice is to practice shrinking on some scrap first to get a feel for it, that way you don't keep messing up the actual part.

Keep posting pics it's a great project!

 

[socalmike_cb72]

Excited to see this being done. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress!

 

[Toast]

Good luck on the project, I just bought my half fairing... Making one by hand is gonna be a really difficult project. If you need any measurements for a Ducati 900S single's fairing lemme know and I can get you those.

 

[DesmoBro]

Thanks for the offer toast but I have a feeling it's not gonna be even close when i'm done. I'd be happy if it's even somewhat fairing shaped....
Since I have No Clue...I did a bit of practice Shrinking...not sure if it's working I did 5 so far then it was too late to keep hammering away so I stopped

 

[DesmoBro]

then the "Home Made" shrinking forks

 

[DesmoBro]

still wondering if it even shrank ...either way i'm gonna beat the hell out of it some more tomorrow

 

[RustyStuff]

I almost think It would be better to make 4 " quarters" then Braze/weld/Bolt/rivit them together. It would be simpler to do?

Thats how I was thinking of makeing one, if I make one, not sure If I can come up with the $$$ to buy one any time soon.

 

[rockcitycafe]

what are you hammering your tucks out against? they won't shrink unless you hammer them into a dolly or anvil, if you're mashing them back against a shot bag, they're just moving around, you really need to compress the metal

 

[Bert Jan]

what are you hammering your tucks out against? they won't shrink unless you hammer them into a dolly or anvil, if you're mashing them back against a shot bag, they're just moving around, you really need to compress the metal

And a wooden hammer? or not?

 

[DesmoBro]

ahhh Ok so put the sand bag away for the tucking....I must have missed that step....I dont have a wooden hammer I don't think or a plastic just using this Big Old ball pein

 

[lingo]

I picked up a plastic hammer at harbor freight.

 

[johnu]

Hey Desmo if you search metal shrinking or tuck shrinking on youtube you might get a better feel for shrinking. Keep at it.