Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Brake Bent Skins

I've been away for awhile dealing with life. I actually didn't think I would still be here, but thankfully I am and am going to get back to the pumps. I have a Clearvision 263 which was made with the brake bent skins. This pump doesn't have any rot but it does have dents and what not. My question is how in the world do you make all the bent lines straight again if you're not an experienced sheet metal guy? I can make round go back to round fairly well, but all those lines has me scratching my head.

Hey Dave, glad you’re back at this. Post a picture of what you’re explaining, if you can please. Might be easier for us to give advice.

Instead of being rolled out round, some were bent a little at a time.

Those are factory and supposed to be there. I had a Clearvision 777. Just leave them. There’s a ton of smooth round pumps out there. It’s cool that it’s something different.

Yep, I knew that was how they were produced originally. My problem now is how to make them look good again before painting. The 100 years worth of accumulated dents, drops, pitting, etc will make it a challenge to have them look good.

Oh I see what you’re getting at. Tough fix. Body filler and skimming would help the pitting.

Dave, Not sure I would attempt making crisp creases in the panel. I don't think they were that defined from the factory. If I was restoring this pump, I'd just go with what you have. I think the bends as is will be fine and distinctive for the project. You can do a lot of defining when you do the sanding of the primer. Good luck. This thing is going to be killer. What is the gas brand you are doing?

Gas brand? you're way ahead of me! I'm still in the soaking all the fasteners in Aero-Kroil disassembling mode.

A little progress, probably all until next summer. I did finally get the mechanism apart and it’s just about freed up for movement.

I know a guy that straightened out a set of these skins, I’m not exactly sure but I believe he used a press brake. The creases looked perfect when he was finished with it. Unfortunately I can’t ask him how he did it as he passed away several years ago.

My brother in law just suggested the same thing! I will have to look and see if there are any metal shops close to me that could maybe do it.

My buddy owns an air duct cleaning and heating cooling business. He has a large break/bending press. They form and bend all of their own duct parts. Maybe try one of those type of companies. (Sorry I didn’t get what you were getting at in the original post).

No worries! I’ve got some investigating to do around here to see if I can find someone to do it.