Tuck Shrinking by Kris Pinkerton

Tuck shrinking is a manual method of shrinking sheet metal. There are many ways to do it and once mastered is fast and easy. Kris Pinkerton demonstrated one way that is easy to learn and teach.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Metal
• shaping
• metalmeet
• tuck
• shrinking
• imperial

[hazyn123]

that simple?

[pinkertonk]

@hazyn123

Yes.

[berrija]

hey pinkertonk, still wondering where you got the hammer? Let me know, thanks again

[pinkertonk]

@berrija

Tom Lipton no longer makes them. You'll have to make something yourself using UHMW and screw on tip hammer.  Some folks have made them using Plumbing TEES. Good Luck.

[laurajdahl]

I'm thinking about welding a steel or aluminum half hard top for my Jeep Wrangler TJ... Could you recommend a metal and its gauge? Should I weld a frame first or can I just weld the sheets of metal together?

I've never welded before, however, I have soldered some. My brother has a welder and I'm hoping to use it. :)

[pinkertonk]

@laurajdahl

I'd use .063 thickness 3003 aluminum. Depending on the shape of the roof and how you plan on attaching it to the body, you may or may not need an inner structure.

Good luck

[mand0123]

Does the tuck have to be on the inside of the curve?... If the makes sense. I mean say that it was a fender, could the tuck have pointed outwards?

[pinkertonk]

@comicfan21

Yes, it drives the metal into itself making it thicker. Where you put the tucks and what size you make them, determines the final shape of the piece.

[comicfan21]

so does tuck shrinking thicken the metal at the tuck? or what happens?