Metalcraft Purchase Made !

[Premiershipman]

Well after seeing the numerous great makes by everyone on here and the unanimous praise of metalcraft tools, I have finally bitten the bullet and ordered their XL workshop and a few other items.

I had saved towards it and then got offered 12 months interest free purchases on the old credit card, so I thought, what the hell !

I am treating myself after being informed that I have about 12 months left at work before we get closed so if I get practicing I could change career !!

And If anyone else is looking at MetalCraft tools, they have an offer on the website that if you buy the XL workshop (like I have just done), you get the Practical Workshop (worth £300) free !!

Bargain !

Shady

 

[cumbriasteve]

Looking forward to the review:

I am a big fan of Metalcraft products, probably one of the most honest firms around when they state what capacity their tools will shape, in fact the tools I have will go beyond the stated capacity, although obviously that makes any warranty void.

I wonder if you will actually use the free practical workshop when the XL will do it all, perhaps handy for smaller scrolls, think I would have preferred a couple of hundred quid off as an alternative though.

 

[Premiershipman]

Hopefully should be here in a day or two, can't wait !

When I chatted to them about the offer, there was the suggestion that the practical workshop is good for small stuff - scrolls etc and can be more 'practical' than using the big daddy XL equipment for smaller items.

Either way, I will soon know !

No excuses for me now with a Portamig, Lorch Tig, Victor gas welding gear and now the MetalCraft equipment. If all goes well I could go for a career change when I get made redundant !

 

[Premiershipman]

Will probably start picking other users brains when I get the stuff delivered to start making a few items.

 

[chunkolini]

Nice one, you wont regret it.

 

[Premiershipman]

I know I won't, however I may be coming your way for advice and hints and tips if that's ok !?

 

[chunkolini]

You have wasted your money buying gimcrack cheap tools. I will give a tenner for the lot.
I can see having a smaller set alongside as a good idea when switching form job to job. Wish I had hung onto my old strip worker.
I know who has it and am biding my time.

 

[Premiershipman]

Well I had been planning on getting the XL workshop for a while and now that they have thrown the practical workshop in for free I couldn't resist !

 

[Premiershipman]

Got delivered yesterday and very pleased, even after watching the videos etc it doesn't quite prepare you for the size of some of the XL tools! They're massive !

 

[chunkolini]

I was impressed when mine was delivered, it is a very serious lump of tech.
Which accessories did you get with it?
The edge bender is amazing, so simple and so effective.

I had a bunch of primary school kids on a visit a while back.
They were all ooing and aaaing as I got the wimpier kids bending bits and bobs, then some cocky 9 year old said 'that all just levers and cams'. genius?
Top tip, take the orange washers off the tops of the rollers and replace them with some slotted ones, saves loads of faffing about.
You can see them in this picture.

 

[Premiershipman]

Cheers for the tip Chunkolini, I got the full caboodle, the XL workshop which includes :

• XL5+ Power Bender complete with all of its 5 Options Packs (Pedestal, Embossing Kit, Edge Bending Kit, Tube Rolling Kit, Micro Bending Kit)
  
  XL Twisting Tool complete with Basket Maker,
  
  Mk 3/4 Scroll Former complete with Tube Bending components
  
  plus User Guide and Design & Ideas Booklets.
  
  PLUS Practical Workshop Containing:
  
  Practical RBR Tool,
  
  Practical Punch/Shear Tool (with Spare Punch Pin),
  
  Mk 1/2 Scroll Former,
  
  Mk 2/2H Scroll Former
  
  Metalcraft User Guide & Design & Ideas booklets,
  
  Scroll Profile Drawings & Magnetic Markers,
  
  plus Tape Measure.
  

 

[chunkolini]

You are going to be busy then.
Keep us posted.

 

[Premiershipman]

Will do, the biggest problem I am going to have is fitting it all in with only a single garage !

Deciding whether to mount the items to wood for clamping in the vice due to restrictive space until I have more space to mount them permanently on the bench.

 

[chunkolini]

the problem with having them premounted is that the Powerbender does get some serious welly.

 

[Premiershipman]

This is what my main concern is, I can mount it to the welding table which is 1/2" thick and it wouldn't go anywhere but it's against the wall and my impinge on room for welding.

I may have to think up a quick way to mount and demount the xl5 to the bench as I don't have the space for the pedestal either.

 

[chunkolini]

I have had to move mine now and again. 3m bars move about a lot as you bend them. They specialise in destroying cups and slowly barging stuff over.
It has six bolts through the base, four does the job. A bit of a faff to move but no big deal.
If I have to move it I drill a new set of holes. I have three sets that seem to do the job.
Something that does my swede in is that it can be used both ways, push or pull on the lever according to which you have set it up.
Useful to be able to swap around, but confusing.
I met the guy who designed it.
I think his name was Alf. I was talking to Barry and described the designer, 'He wears a grey labcoat with three pens in the top pocket and sucks through his teeth as he thinks'.
Barry introduced me to him, I was spot on. I called him a genius and he was so embarrassed. But in my eyes he is a genius.

 

[Premiershipman]

British engineering at its best, brilliant design just need to rearrange my garage a bit to allow more clearance around the tools for use.