Metalcraft kit anyone used it

[BillJ]

I was talking to Barry Wood, the son of the guy who started the whole business.

I was given a set of "Wirecraft" tools, made in 1967 by J & C R Wood in Hull. Are these the same people?

The set consists of a bender/ring-roller, a punch/shear and a couple of scroll benders. It also came with rivets (of which there was only one left by the time I got it). It sounds like this would be the sort of thing they developed for the ex-servicemen. They aren't very big and I haven't tried using them yet.

 

[chunkolini]

The same indeed, can you post some pictures and maybe some stuff made with them.

Chunko'.

 

[BillJ]

Photo of the kit.

Having found the MetalCraft web site, it looks as though the modern equivalent to this kit is the "Practical Workshop". It also looks as though some of these tools have changed little in at least 44 years (and, I suspect, even longer). Likewise for the accessories that are available.

I imagine the tool you have, Chunko, is from the "Master" or "Industrial" range. I can't find a spec. for mine but it looks like it could roll a strip 17mm wide and there was some 3mm strip in the box that just fits in the punch and has obviously been bent and scrolled. The shear could manage a 20mm strip but a 20x3mm strip would not fit in (I guess 20x2mm might).

I was given this by a neighbour I did some odds and ends of metalwork for. I think he found it in a garage or got it with a job lot of stuff and he gave it to me because he would never use it and reckoned I would. Then I moved house and haven't had time to play with it. I had bought a small ring roller not long before. Pity, as this kit could have saved me some dosh.

 

[chunkolini]

Thats great.
I love those old instruction books with the formal dress and Mum and Dad beavering away at home in classic BBC style. That is a lovely slice of modern history, make sure you keep it together as a set.
The tools look good, slightly dated but exactly the same as now, and they are in great condition.
Chunko'.

 

[ghound]

I have mine on a kind of quick mount, that is interchangable with other hand operated tools. You can see it on the corner of my work bench. It's held in place by 3 or 4 bolts threaded into the bench.

 

[Andy from Workshopshed]

A more detailed history of Metalcraft (thanks to Barry Wood) is now up on the workshopshed blog

http://www.workshopshed.com/2011/02/metalcraft-metal-forming-tools.html

Thanks again to all who helped with the article.

 

[Windy Miller]

A more detailed history of Metalcraft (thanks to Barry Wood) is now up on the workshopshed blog

http://www.workshopshed.com/2011/02/metalcraft-metal-forming-tools.html

Thanks again to all who helped with the article.

A very nice write up, and a really nice story. Sort of heart warming!

 

[chunkolini]

It is good to hear more of the story, proper Northern Grit.
I love the idea of the garden being gradually shedded over.
Would that happen anywhere else but Yorkshire.

If I had a garden I have always vowed that is what I would do.
Great tools as well.

One for the users of the Master Strip Worker. I had been using mine for about 9 years muttering about the work piece needing support as it moves off the bed of the machine. So one day I made this out of a chunk of marine ply.

No pics of it fitted sadly, basically the gap in it goes around the base plate, open end towards the workbench, and there were two strips across the gap, top and bottom clamping it onto the base. Used in the horizontal mode it extends the workbase of the machine, making life a lot easier. A good example of a picture being worth a thousand words.
A job for Ghound, make one and show us how it works.

Chunko'.

 

[MalcB]

Finally made my first project with the metalcraft kit, did have an error in that I only have the 5mm punch and 3mm rivets came with the kit so had to get the welder out, that proved to be awkward as the assembly needed to be revised a bit but with more practice it will get better. getting to understand the spring back and holding the smaller bits was difficult. I had to rush it a bit because it is for her anniversary gift tomorrow Still she likes it because its the first thing I have made. Obviously if I had more time I would have squared it up better and the welds could be better as my clarke's settings are strange to get used to after the Millars at college

 

[bendy]

hi Billj, I have one of there kits but not the instructions would you be able to copy them for me thank you

 

[Maker]

I've used their scroll former at school and it seemed all right (15x3mm, cold, steel). All their other tools look great and I wouldn't hesitate to buy them if I ever need anything like that.

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

They have their late summer clearance sale on at the moment, some ex demo kit up for grabs at discount.

 

[chunkolini]

Get in there.

 

[Maker]

I've just seen their videos, the power bender is amazing.

 

[chunkolini]

It is,
20mm solid bar.

30x5mm strip

Crackers.

 

[Maker]

It is,
20mm solid bar.
View attachment 45845

30x5mm strip
View attachment 45846
Crackers.

Was the 30x5mm rolled or "progressively bent"

 

[chunkolini]

You slip it through a few mm at a time and bend it with the round thingy at the bottom. I was very sceptical of this working but the lip machined in it stop the metal kinking as you bend it. 3mm lip at top in photo, 5mm lip at the bottom.
A curve is in effect a series of bends close to each other.
I made this using it. 30x5mm flat strip, bent to the shape then then welded to strips bent in the other plane to make the angle sections.

 

[Maker]

I saw the video of the progressive bending and it didn't look very even, I was thinking you would have to prog' bend it then roll it to neaten it up a bit.

That piano is truly amazing, how long did it take you?

 

[chunkolini]

Ages. Maybe a week or two.
Progressive bending?
I was worried when I made this that the curves were not identical then realised that rough them out first, then choose a master one and tweak the others to match.

All made out of 30x5mm fixed together in pairs

So I roughed out 12, than chose one and used that to adjust the others. So six pairs of ribs that fix together. A massive relief when it worked out.

 

[citman]

I drive past their (Metalcraft) premises everyday and was totally unaware of what they did ! I feel a visit coming on this week :-)
Dean.