Dimple Die Questions [Archive] - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board

coilcj

01-09-2008, 07:06 PM

Maybe a stupid question, but I am looking to get a set of dimple dies and don't feel like dropping 7bills on a large set, most of which I will probably never use. So my question is, what are the most common sizes used when dimpling (is that even a word) sheet metal inserts for added strength? 1", 1.5", 2"? I searched but couldn't find any threads referencing what sizes people use, but plenty of threads on who to buy them from:smokin:!

AthlonAJ

01-09-2008, 09:05 PM

That really is a personal preference and what application you're going to use them for. I've got 1", 1.5 and 2", very happy with that.

maxyedor

01-10-2008, 12:19 AM

I have a 1" and a 1.5" seems to do everything I need them to. The actual effected area of a 1.5" die is around 2.5" of the sheet metal, I haven't found many aplicatiosn where I have room for something bigger.

b4wscrambler

01-10-2008, 04:47 AM

I got the 5 piece set from Xtreme Crawlers, I new if I only bought 1 or 2 I would always need a different size.
http://www.xtremecrawlers.com/catalog/toolsbenders-c-1.html

ROXROES

01-10-2008, 05:44 AM

I got the 5 piece set from Xtreme Crawlers, I new if I only bought 1 or 2 I would always need a different size.
http://www.xtremecrawlers.com/catalog/toolsbenders-c-1.html

They only do up to an 1/8" thick? Maybe this is normal, been wanting a set of these for awhile just haven't looked into the specifics. Think that 5 piece set would be all the typical guy would ever need!

SPEEDCRAVIN

01-10-2008, 05:49 AM

Mine do 1/8th inch and I love mine. I find all kinds of shit ti dimple. Mine are 1/2, 1, 1.5 and 2inch. I find myself using the 1/2 inch more than I thought I would. Its great...

Here is something I found out. If you get the dimple tool from Jegs or Summit for Dzus fasteners they are the right size to use for your toggle switch holes so they countersink them into the dash or console. They are cheap too... Just a nice little trick...

JOSH

pipehitter155

01-10-2008, 06:06 AM

i just got my dimple dies for xmas and i've already dimpled have the shit on my project xj...i love those damn things.....i think i have the same set as speedcravin...i got my from trick-tools...i find myself using the 1 and 2 inch constantly alternating them...

AthlonAJ

01-10-2008, 07:15 AM

.

Here is something I found out. If you get the dimple tool from Jegs or Summit for Dzus fasteners they are the right size to use for your toggle switch holes so they countersink them into the dash or console. They are cheap too... Just a nice little trick...

JOSH

Cool, have to remember that.:smokin:

Tech Tim

01-10-2008, 07:48 AM

We bought the Light Racing dimple dies in 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2". We use the 3/4", the 1" and 1-1/2" dies most, the 2" has probably only been used a couple dozen times and that was mostly on plates used to stiffen up our cheap press.

As far as material thickness, they are reccomended for 1/8" but can be used with 3/16", we were warned though they'll wear out faster. We flare 3/16"s way more than 1/8", probably 80%/20%. We smooth the sharp edges out of the hole and use a little WD40 on them and so far are holding up great.

SPEEDCRAVIN

01-10-2008, 08:19 AM

I have used up a set already so Im on my second set. I have learned that white lithium spray grease is awsome to lubing them up for extended wear. Its messy though...

I got mine from Trick-Tools...

JOSH

Like she says, lube is your friend...:D

ROXROES

01-10-2008, 08:37 AM

I have learned that white lithium spray grease is awsome to lubing them up for extended wear. Its messy though...

Oh and don't ask me how I know, but when your hi lift jack is sticking and doesn't want to release to go down. If you lube the pins up with white lithium, hold onto the handle really good. I almost required dental reconstruction last night. :shaking: :laughing:

I swear by that stuff, use it on everything for my tube bender, all my door hinges are white etc etc.

Do most of you guys just build a small press with a bottle jack in it?

SPEEDCRAVIN

01-10-2008, 10:00 AM

Oh and don't ask me how I know, but when your hi lift jack is sticking and doesn't want to release to go down. If you lube the pins up with white lithium, hold onto the handle really good. I almost required dental reconstruction last night. :shaking: :laughing:

I swear by that stuff, use it on everything for my tube bender, all my door hinges are white etc etc.

Do most of you guys just build a small press with a bottle jack in it?

HELL MAN. did you not read the safety instructions with that jack???:flipoff2: Yeah thats one I have witnessed many times... Glad your ok...

On the press, there are a lot of guys that have and I have though about it too but I usually just use my shop press rather than making one for just dimple dies. I guess maybe if you dont have a shop press or if its a small HF model that you cant get wide materials into making one would be better. I have thought about making one that is welding to the side of my shop press because since I have build my new shop and now setting everying up I am being very careful to save as much space as possible... I already wish I would have built a bigger shop and I am not all the way moved in yet...

Watch the teeth bro...:D

JOSH

ROXROES

01-10-2008, 10:07 AM

Instructions? Please define? :laughing:

Yah my buddy had been having a hell of a time with it, so I'm like "Oh, I'll spray some white lithium on the pins, that'll help!"

Him and his Dad show up and I jack the front of his truck up to show his Dad the 3 link, goto let it down not really paying attention because you always had to fight it and wham! Glad, very glad I was off to the side enough.

Yes, I would love to have a shop press. But its just not in my budget yet, thought about building one. But I've got a buddy who owns a marina down the road, and I can use theirs. Guess I'll just have to cross that road when I get there. Thanks for the tips!

Tech Tim

01-10-2008, 10:07 AM

Do most of you guys just build a small press with a bottle jack in it?

I've been wanting to build a small press that is used just for the dimple dies, but we do so much 3/16"s that we figured it'd be cheeeeper to buy one than build one strong enough. So we bought a cheepo Cummins press and then had to spend a few hours plating it up to hold the pressure and it still flexes some. Maybe it's time to build one... :shaking:

SPEEDCRAVIN

01-10-2008, 10:14 AM

Yes, I would love to have a shop press. But its just not in my budget yet, thought about building one.

Keep your eye out at the local pawn shops for a bottle jack. They can be had for 5 and 10 bucks at times and then hit the steel scrap yard and get you some small I-beam to weld together in a C form ad insert bottle jack and whala you not what a dimple die stand... I made one for a buddies shop a couple years ago and it cost about 25 bucks total and about an hours time...

Im betting your buddy that owns the marina has one laying around he would not mind letting you have either. Those seem to be a purpose bought item and them forgotten about. Or check with the local boat handyman. he might have one cheap too...

JOSH

ROXROES

01-10-2008, 10:22 AM

Keep your eye out at the local pawn shops for a bottle jack. They can be had for 5 and 10 bucks at times and then hit the steel scrap yard and get you some small I-beam to weld together in a C form ad insert bottle jack and whala you not what a dimple die stand... I made one for a buddies shop a couple years ago and it cost about 25 bucks total and about an hours time...

Im betting your buddy that owns the marina has one laying around he would not mind letting you have either. Those seem to be a purpose bought item and them forgotten about. Or check with the local boat handyman. he might have one cheap too...

JOSH

My Dad dairy farmed from the time he was born till I was 1. If I remember correctly he's got at least 3 or 4 of them back home in NY. Just gotta remember to grab one when I'm home for my sleddin' trip in a few weeks. 5 ton should be plenty for 3/16" I imagine? Or I'll just get a cheapo off of HF, my jack I bought works real slick from there. I would love to build a 100 ton press like we had at the metal shop I worked in during junior college. Had the winch table let down, and extendable push rod, very nice! I just dig dimple dieing cause of the added strength, looks etc. Think its going to be one of my next additions to the shop, well that and a press! :D

We have a local steel fab place thats real nice about letting you dig thru their scraps. Or I can have my buddies Dad order me some steel from ALRO.

Thanks!

TITANS

01-10-2008, 02:26 PM

Get in touch with Keith at Xtreme Crawlers. He sells the Light Racing style that are really some of the best one around and he sells them for a great price. I think a set of 5 is about $300.00 and he also sells them seperate. Not to mention he can probable give you some info on what alot of people say about them.

coilcj

01-10-2008, 02:32 PM

Thanks for all the info, the 5 pack from extreme seems like a stellar deal. Have any of you used an arbor press for dimpling? Not sure if this is even possible but would be a lot faster than a normal press.

b4wscrambler

01-10-2008, 02:53 PM

I made a simple press for mine.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/b4wscrambler/P1010161.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/b4wscrambler/P1010159.jpg

broncofreak2000

01-10-2008, 04:19 PM

Thats a cool press, I may have to steal that design when I get my dimple dies!!

fj40forlife

01-10-2008, 10:38 PM

I wish I could only offerd some dimple die.

2D EDGE

01-11-2008, 08:08 AM

Tech Tim

01-11-2008, 08:48 AM

With the thin stuff, you use a large nut, bolt and a couple wrenches and do 'em by hand.

Of course that's only if your male dies have a hole through them.

CRS

01-11-2008, 04:19 PM

I made a simple press for mine.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/b4wscrambler/P1010161.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/b4wscrambler/P1010159.jpg

Fuckin awsome this is just the greatest idea ever. Just the thing I needed I have a set of a few dies but I have to run down to my buddys shop when I want to use the press. Space is limited in the garage. I cant seem to convince the wife that we should put the washer and dryer in the family room:)

:beer: for a great idea

300sniper

01-11-2008, 09:38 PM

To add a little tech to this I found myself looking to dimple a sheet that would not fit in the press. What do you do? Look around for some thing that is big heavy and if possible Immobile. We ended up using a semi-truck from one of the neighbors or you can use a door way or some other piece of heavy equipment.

Geoff

i am going to build my own set with a hole inside to allow the use of a greenlee hydraulic knock out punch cylinder. i made a 1" dimple die out of mild steel already and it works fine. the greenlee knockout set can punch a 4" hole in sheet metal so i think it will have enough force to dimple sheet metal. using this pump/cylinder you can put the dimple anywhere on a sheet.

Chris

01-11-2008, 09:47 PM

I made a simple press for mine.
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/b4wscrambler/P1010161.jpg
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r69/b4wscrambler/P1010159.jpg

HOw badly does that flex? I'm guessing quite a bit?

For the other guy, a 12 ton HF jack will barely fully dimple 1/8"- 1 1/2" hole,to do 3/16" you need to have a 20 ton.

SPEEDCRAVIN

01-14-2008, 05:53 AM

Chris

01-14-2008, 07:05 AM

I think the above is build well and since its used to dimple and most dies are only good for 1/8th I dont think it will be much of a problem flexing. The material looks to be 1/4 and is braced pretty good... Nice design...

On a side note: When using the angle iron break what is the thickness that can be bend easy? Im thinking it cant be much but I am wanting to do the same thing so the question has come to mind...

JOSHI think you are mistaken. I would bet hard money that flexes a ton. BEsides, it's not just how much it flexes dimpling a 1/2" hole in 1/8", try doing a 2" hole in the same plate. I've built the same press and probably a little beefier than what's shown, it flexed a bunch.

TeenyCAR

01-14-2008, 05:05 PM

I use them all and wish I had more sizes.

b4wscrambler

01-15-2008, 05:34 AM

It does flex a bit more than I would like. I need to add another guset to the tall upright and I think that will help.

With the press brake I have only used it 3 or 4 times on small 1/4" plate brackets and it has been fine. Maybe bent the plate to a 45* but that is all I needed.

RCman

01-15-2008, 07:08 AM

I've been wanting to build a small press that is used just for the dimple dies, but we do so much 3/16"s that we figured it'd be cheeeeper to buy one than build one strong enough. So we bought a cheepo Cummins press and then had to spend a few hours plating it up to hold the pressure and it still flexes some. Maybe it's time to build one... :shaking:

Not to stray to far off topic, but you don't happen to have any pictures or advice to plating the Cummins 20T do you? I picked up one that was hardly used for $80 and it flexes some. I was thinking about just plating the C to make it a full box and then adding a little more floor support, is that what you did? Is yours bolted to the floor?

Back on topic, I just picked up a 3/4" Dimple Die from Keith @ Xtreme Crawlers (his last one on the shelf) when I ordered my bender die. I was going to also order a 1", but he didn't have any in stock and didn't know when anymore where coming in. I'll see how the 3/4" works and contact him later if I need another size.

Tech Tim

01-15-2008, 07:17 AM

Not to stray to far off topic, but you don't happen to have any pictures or advice to plating the Cummins 20T do you? I picked up one that was hardly used for $80 and it flexes some. I was thinking about just plating the C to make it a full box and then adding a little more floor support, is that what you did? Is yours bolted to the floor?

I'll take a couple for you and post them up.

I only plated up the working area C-channels as it was flexing really bad, now the top C-channels are flexing, so those will be next.

Haven't bolted it to the floor, no reason to....

RCman

01-15-2008, 07:22 AM

I'll take a couple for you and post them up.

I only plated up the working area C-channels as it was flexing really bad, now the top C-channels are flexing, so those will be next.

Haven't bolted it to the floor, no reason to....

Awesome! Thanks. :)
I wasn't sure if bolting it to the floor would do anything, mine isn't bolted down and I can't see why it would need to be as it doesn't flex or move down there. Maybe if using it on something long and heavy to prevent tipping. The thing I really do like about the Cummins is the separate ram/pump rather than using a bottle jack and springs.

kabuki

02-03-2008, 09:08 PM

what are you guys generally doing to put the holes in the sheet metal? Hole Saw, Knockout, Plasma/laser?

Also that press is pretty cool. I may build something similiar and drop in one of those 20ton HF air over hydraulic cylinders since they are cheap. Either that or widen my exisiting press.

Todd W

02-03-2008, 10:16 PM