warpage..

[tbill]

hi all, I bought a 'vintage' moving van and the roof panel looks like the business end of a hockey stick

what's the best way to flatten this thing out??

[Thatswhatshesaid]

For a long flat piece the best way I know of is to clamp the piece down on a flat surface and use a hair dryer on a low setting to flatten it out.

I haven't tried it but I know some guys have had success with hot water on smaller parts.

Theres probably a better way to do this but thats the ways I know. Hope this helps or maybe somebody knows a different way.

[tbill]

thanks, I was thinking of laying it out with warp facing up, lay some weight on it, and hit it with a blow dryer until it warped in the other direction slightly, I thought maybe this way would bring it back straight after it 'relaxed'. my line of thought is it may react in a loose way to metal, I've had luck with bent metal by putting it in a press, going past 'straight', then letting it 'relax' back to a straight position. am I on the right track with this line of thought?

[Thatswhatshesaid]

Putting weight on it may cause it to crack if you put it on before the plastic has been 'warmed up'. I haven't tried it with weight on it or by going past straight and letting it relax. The plastic in these older kits can be brittle and could crack or break easily. One thing I forgot was that if you use the blow dryer method and get it to point where you are happy with it, hit it with some cool air to 'lock it in place'.

[37 caddy]

you could try placing it between 2 pieces of wood,like a couple of 2x4s,and let it sit out in the hot sun,if you have any where you live?leave it out for a few hours and let it cool off between the boards,might work,but I cant be sure if it will,but it is a easy way. Harvey