- Joined
- Nov 23, 2014
- Messages
- 2,577
I do a fair amount of sheet metal work reproducing old Erector set parts. Most of them are small (around 5/16" x 1") and require some fine trimming. My Tennsmith 37" stomp shear works great, but I wanted something to do finer trimming. I've been looking at a 4-ton 6" x 6" sheet metal notcher for years, just never pulled the trigger. Fortunately for me, Woodward Fab is only about an hour away from me. They specialize in sheet metal working equipment; shears, notchers, brakes, stretcher/shrinkers, English wheels, etc. Took a vacation day Friday and went on a road trip.
I know, if you don't have photos it didn't happen . . . my phone battery died so no photos of their shop (yet). I didn't do a head count, but they have a staff of roughly 25 people. The shop has 4 or 5 Bridgeport or equivalent mills, a couple of CNC lathes, a Nardini 14 x 30 lathe and a Colchester 13" lathe. Many welders too.
The scariest thing about the shop is the demonstration area. You can play on an English wheel, work a shrinker/stretcher, use a throatless shear, etc. Scary because my intent was to ONLY buy the 4-ton notcher. Ended up buying an 8" metal shear also. What sold me (Woodward Fab's John Jones is a fantastic salesman . . .) was trimming less than 1/16" off some 18-gauge stock without any roll over on the edge.
I'm "afraid" there'll be another trip in my future, looking really hard at one of their throatless shears. The 8" one I bought works great, but it can only cut outside radii or straight lines. I have some projects that need some inside radius cuts also. I PROMISE next time to check the phone battery before I leave!
Bruce
I know, if you don't have photos it didn't happen . . . my phone battery died so no photos of their shop (yet). I didn't do a head count, but they have a staff of roughly 25 people. The shop has 4 or 5 Bridgeport or equivalent mills, a couple of CNC lathes, a Nardini 14 x 30 lathe and a Colchester 13" lathe. Many welders too.
The scariest thing about the shop is the demonstration area. You can play on an English wheel, work a shrinker/stretcher, use a throatless shear, etc. Scary because my intent was to ONLY buy the 4-ton notcher. Ended up buying an 8" metal shear also. What sold me (Woodward Fab's John Jones is a fantastic salesman . . .) was trimming less than 1/16" off some 18-gauge stock without any roll over on the edge.
I'm "afraid" there'll be another trip in my future, looking really hard at one of their throatless shears. The 8" one I bought works great, but it can only cut outside radii or straight lines. I have some projects that need some inside radius cuts also. I PROMISE next time to check the phone battery before I leave!
Bruce