shrinker stretchers. whos is best?

[Dez]

ive always done this job the old fashioned way, but ive got a fair few bits of window channel and the like to make up soon, so i was considering investing in a set.

but whos is best? the frost ones look ok for 175 quid with two bodies, it also appears the metz ones have a good rep too. or is there other brands i should be looking at?

more than anything I'm worried about servicability as I'm sure i'll use it quite a lot once i have it. i notice they sell replacement jaws for them, but I'm not sure why, i didnt think theyd be a wearing part? but how long are a set expected to last?

[RetroMat]

I've just purchase the Metz one, seem pretty good quality. I've only been playing with it so far but i've got a few camper window channels to make up. The metz ones look pretty similar to the frost ones, getting the 2 separate bodies would be beneficial as jaws changing is a bit of a pain.
We've got a much older shinker (like 50years old)at work and the teeth have pretty much worn away, so they are defiantly a wearing part! I've read a few articles about keeping the jaws oiled and put a piece of card in between the jaws when no in use to preserve their life.

[drpete]

I brought one from frost about 6 years ago and the jaws lose there bite but still work I do use them alot more valuable to me that my English wheel, I think there all made the same the ones I've seen if you can get deep throated one really handy

[drpete]

Oh forgot to say ally can clog the teeth so keep them clean

[DavidB]

What do they do?

[RetroMat]

They shrink or stretch metal, very usefull for making curves (wheel arch lips, window channel repairs etc)

Youtube explains much better than I can!

[nomad]

Recommended!

I used a combined shrinker/strecher at our local car club, NERC @ Tyneside. Very useful and I expect theirs gets semi-regular use as it's in their machine shop - it seems to last well.
Not 100% sure but think it was Clarke / Machine Mart.
Can any NERC locals confirm the make for us?

Theirs is foot operated, worked well for me as you have both hands free to work the piece.
Expect bench/vice mounted to be more clumsy to use.

[saabsled]

I've just bought one of the Metz ones. Not used it yet, but looking at that vid, it'll be a useful tool.
Wish I'd had one when I did my windscreen pillar!

[adamwatson]

Eckold are the best. A lot of money but you get what you pay for

Sent from my GT-I9505 using proboards

[nomad]

Nov 25, 2014 22:05:03 GMT saabsled said:

Wish I'd had one when I did my windscreen pillar!

Yep, very handy! retrorides.proboards.com/thread/88892?page=6

[jrevillug]

It's a LOT of money - and they take up loads of space - but these are amazing:

www.baileighindustrial.co.uk/shrinker-stretcher-floor-stand-mss-16f-1

The pedal is about a billion times easier than a hand-lever to operate, as you've more strength and leverage, while having both hands free to position the work is a boon. Quick-change jaws help a lot too.

[optima21]

some of the videos by lazze metal shaping are good for learning how to use them and tweak them to work properly

[chevyman]

We use the frost one in our bodyshop it's a quality item which works well .the jaws are a wearable part keep a piece of cardboard between the jaws when not in use .

[drdick]

Just got the Metz one from eBay and it seems to work well although i have nothing to compare with. The real advantage is that if you are patient you can win an auction one for about 80 quid.

[hairymel]

best budget option is to wait for a unit buddy to buy one....  thanks dr.rich

[retroandproud]

Been planning on getting one of these, but I might just copy Mel and get a helpful unit buddy instead....

[MrSpeedy]

We bought one a couple of years ago. Same one Frost sell, but about 40% cheaper. I'll see if I can find the invoice cos I can't remember who it was.

If you're looking to do a lot I seriously recommend getting a combined shrinker stretcher, cos I constantly changing jaws gets very tedious very quickly! (I can do it in less than 30 seconds now)

We got the hands operated one, but made a replacement handle fitted with a 'stirrup' on a chain to make it foot operated.

[oli8925]

Bringing this back to the top, I have a fair bit of panel making to do on the van and need a shrinker/stretcher. It will no doubt be useful on numerous other projects too so I'd like to future proof a bit but don't have the budget to buy a 'proper' one nor the floor space for a standing one.

I was originally planning to buy the Frost/Eastwood ones with the bench vice mount
www.frost.co.uk/shrinker-stretcher-set-2b-2j/
www.frost.co.uk/eastwood-shrinker-stretcher-base-plate/
so let's say a budget of £250, but I'm concerned that the limited (assume 1") throat might get in the way for some projects. Has anyone bought this style and found this to be a problem for general low-level DIY restoration?

The Metz ones are the same price but have a 3" throat, no idea if they're the same mounting for the base plate but presumably £20 will be enough to make a base plate.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metz-Tools-Pair-Shrinker-Stretcher-metal-working-tool-classic-car/254226678609?hash=item3b31174351:g:9JQAAOSwyQVc1XQC

Or I can buy one with an 8" throat, but would have to swap the jaws over to change between shrinking and stretching.
Ebay Shrinker Stretcher

Would the advantage of a deeper throat outweigh the tedium of constantly changing the jaws? Or by the time a deeper throat becomes an advantage are you at the stage of needing an English Wheel anyway?

[droopsnoot]

I bought a pair of Eastwood ones, I dropped on an eBay sale for a good price. They've been very good. I'd say they're a 1" jaw, and I haven't had a major issue with that for the jobs I've been doing.

I think I would have found it annoying to have to keep switching jaws if I only had the single body version. For example today I've been making a repair for the edge of a door pillar, and it's handy to be able to easily and quickly shrink something if you've over-stretched it, like I keep doing. One of the parts I make is like a double-L shape, and to get a curve in it means shrinking the top while stretching the bottom, and vice versa. Having to switch the jaws about would make that a real pain.

I don't really have a problem doing the stretch operation just using a cross-pein hammer as described in TonyBMWs "making panels" thread, but I never mastered the shrinking job. The shrinker part of this is ideal.

[Deleted]

Pretty sure most are badge engineered in the same factory in China. As already stated, look at Lazze’s video on them. Common sense really,but a bit of a tweak improves them considerably. I still long for the day I find some Muppet selling his recently deceased Grandad’s Eckold for a tenner 🤣🤣