For an interesting article on these interesting devices click on the link:

Kirby's Canopy

ddg14@msn.com

Your madrel and collar are truly beautifull to behold. One question however. In the process of spinning, do you use a flat sheet of brass then wrap it around the mandrel, spin it into form , and then somehow join it, (solder and polish, say?) or do you sonehow start with a fully closed circle, say a cylindrical piece?
Sincerely,
David Ackerman
P.S. keep up the good work. Your restored cars truly look spit and polish.

david_ackerman@yahoo.com

I'm not actually involved with the project - Just passing on the info about it to all who might be interested. But, the info I have on the metal spinning process is as follows:
A piece of sheet metal cut to the required diameter is mounted to the front of a mandrel that duplicates the inside contour of the required finished part. This mandrel, with the sheet stock attached to the front, is mounted in a lathe. While spinning, the sheet stock is continuously formed around the pattern mandrel by using a small roller or hand tool to force the sheet metal against the pattern mandrel.

Allan

ddg14@msn.com

My experience at metal spinning is limited, but I suspect the "globe" shape (open st both ends) is first spun as a "cup" shape, then the bottom is cut out with a parting tool as the last step of the spining process. The segemented mandrel is then removed by first taking out the center core, then the individual rounded segments.

> I'm not actually involved with the project -
> Just passing on the info about it to all who
> might be interested. But, the info I have on
> the metal spinning process is as follows:
> A piece of sheet metal cut to the required
> diameter is mounted to the front of a
> mandrel that duplicates the inside contour
> of the required finished part. This mandrel,
> with the sheet stock attached to the front,
> is mounted in a lathe. While spinning, the
> sheet stock is continuously formed around
> the pattern mandrel by using a small roller
> or hand tool to force the sheet metal
> against the pattern mandrel.

> Allan


ryarger@rypn.org