Warbird Information Exchange

We need run off a couple of pressings for a small ish part - is there a hardening paste that can be poured into a part which once set creates a tool upon which a small run of parts can be formed?

I'm certain that I've heard of something in the past, but cannot remember the details. Anyone know what I'm ranting on about?

Many thanks

Hi Yak,I have used a product here in Aust called chockfast orange which is a 2 pack system for molds,its used in the marine industry for setting up mounts for propellor drives & prop shafts in small boats/ships. It gives off a fair amount of heat but the mold is very strong,cheers,Pete

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What is the part made from? You could maybe use Kirksite. There are also other options in the Tim Barton metal shaping books.

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Made from 2024 sheet - I guess pressed in O and then treated up from there. It's a flat sheet containing various lumps and bumps.

If your contours are not too severe, do up a 3D CAD package and have someone with a 3 axis CNC router cut you a male out of MDF and then you can urethane press your parts. Depending on the profiles, you could probably anneal some T3, press the part and let it come up to the T4 state on it's own. If you do it out of O material and heat treat, you will have to deal with some reforming work when you get the parts back.

Check out the Hint's For Homebuilding on the EAA website and find the video on hydroforming. He's actually doing urethane forming in the hydraulic press.

If the part is basically flat it may behoove you to roll the part before heat treat and then roll back out flat to form.Forming in the W state is a little harder but can be done with very nice results.This eliminates the warping.Good luck on the part.

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