Cylinder Cladding

Folk,

I am about to make some cladding for the cylinders shown in this shot. The outer diameter of the cylinder is 1 1/2" and I plan to use 25 thousands of an inch thick brass. I have 2 questions for the people with all the knowledge as follows;

1. What material can be used to fill the central 'void' to help support the finished brass sheeting?

2. I plan to make a simple wooden former to bend the sheet around. Do I need to reduce the diameter of the former slightly so that the finished sheet is a nice tight fit around the cylinder. If so, what 'spring back' allowance should I try?

Thanks in advance,

Phil H

I have used a broom handle to bend cleaning sheet around with great success, if you must fill the central void Balsa wood stuck in place with Araldite will offer support and a bit of insulation. Work out where any bends go and do those first and then roll it around a broom handle or bit of steel bar, size is not too important, make it a bit undersized and it will spring on, far easier to do than describe.

Phil

For your first question

I turned up some hardwood rings for my last engine. These were then split and jb welded to the casting and then levelled to the correct height with the rotary table set up shown in the second photo.

Geoff

Thanks for the information Geoff/ Baz.

The wood fixed with epoxy looks like a good plan. Also, I have just thought that I could also try a few trial bends with some narrow strips of brass first of all. That might help to position the sharp folds at both ends of the curved bit before I risk wasting the full width strips.

I will try to post the results over the next week or two.

Thanks.

Phil H