METZ SHRINKER STRETCHER TOOL REVIEW - Tuesday tool review

[@niallsommerville9941]

Very good review, to the point, no waffle, only informative chat that is absolutely necessary and real hand's on demos that show clearly what you're talking about, well done.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍

[@Joe.Doucette]

Hi Tom. Great video to show folks how useful these machines are. The extra depth of throat on the Metz would be very useful. Feel free to delete this comment if you wish, since I reference videos from other folks. While I don't have a Metz, I do have seperate dedicated shrinker and stretcher machines of a different brand with the Lancaster style jaws. I find you have to be quite careful while stretching because too much force and you can rip 20 gauge steel apart with very little effort. 18 gauge takes a little more effort but still possible. I have very little experience with aluminum/aluminium but stretching is still easy to rip the part. I mounted my units on a home-built stand and had to use different lever adjustments for each. Also.. I have found that those types of jaws do better with some adjusting and certainly maintenance (cleaning, oiling and adjusting). There are a bunch of videos online about this. A video entitled "Everything wrong with import shrinker/stretcher machines" was very useful to me in fine tuning and understanding the units. Even with higher quality machines I would think there is enough info to warrant watching that. It may be worth mentioning to folks that you must be careful putting your jaws back in the same way as they came out (notice the upper and lower shrinker jaw-set gaps are not in line while the stretcher set are aligned). Ron Covell makes a Shrinker/Stretcher Backstop which helps for keeping consistent depth of shrink/stretch. It may not work on the Metz but the concept is sound. Just my input based on limited experience. Take care, Joe

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hi joe 👋 thanks for taking the time to write this. Hopefully others will read it too! It’s great to share the knowledge and that’s what I really like about KZbin! I’ll definitely look up some of the things you have mentioned 👍

[@Joe.Doucette]

Thanks Tom. Some folks don't like to reference other channels. Personally, if info is useful I think it's wrong to hide stuff. As you well know…good maintenance and setup of a tool is time and money saved. Cheers!

[@Freebird67]

Just built a two unit stand to operate my Shrinker and stretcher by foot will be selling on eBay shortly thanks for the Great video Tom

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Good idea wade I’ll keep a look out for that!

[@dougwernham5209]

Thanks for the video Tom.

[@RR-mt2wp]

Great tool,Tom.

[@geoffcollins6332]

Great video Tom.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Geoff 👨‍🏭

[@volkerdorr8537]

Hi Tom! First at all, congrats on your channel. I really learned some new tricks there. Just do the shrinking a bit further away from the bend. This will make the stretching much easier and efficient. Thät close as you did in the video will try to shrink the section perpendicular to the area you want to work at. With stretching it works better that close, but isn't very effective either. What is your experience with the long-term performance of the jaws? I found the cheap ones to wear down within some minutes of use. Greetings from the most western edge of Germany! Volker

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you volker 👍

[@DGRetroCustoms]

nice review, they are a great bit of kit, I would love to see a comparison between the square jaw and the round to see if there are any advantages or disadvantages from either one, I would assume the round would be superior for large compound curves but is there any difference for basic arches or window frames etc ect

[@TK42138]

I need to invest in one of these. I've been trying to fabricate a wheel arch using hand tools but it's proving to be an utter pain because the metal wants to bend into all sorts of unwanted directions.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Highly recommend a the foot pedal adaptor from stakesy’s.

[@Defender110SLO]

Nice lil tool but I d use it once a 100 years. 😉 Cheers. 🍻

[@keel23345]

Thanks, good video, i presume it will work on galvanised steel??

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Yes it’ll work fine on galvanised 👍

[@msampson1949]

hi Tom takes great timing just got a shrinker/stretcher delivered today £179 it's 9" depth and has 6" depth in the middle l was wondering could you shrink the corners to form a dish for a cab roof thanks

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH6VYXqYeMaWnJo

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Check this video out. I do that kind of thing on one of the examples in this video 👍

[@mosaditsi9722]

which site did you buy it from? Where did you buy the foot operated stretcher/shrinker from? Great Vid!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Both from eBay

[@michaelhallas6450]

Is the foot shrinker stretcher from MetZTools also ?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Yes it is . That’s really good for the price

[@kenc4104]

Since it has a deep throat, you should have tested it in that fashion. The flanges you shrank could have been done on a Lancaster. I have read that these type of deep throat machines that use Lancaster jaws just don't have the beans to actually use the deep throat.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Good point . Any stretcher with a deep throat would struggle to pull in a flange that deep so this with a short handle would have no chance. It’s probably best used if you have a bit of distortion deeper in a panel rather on the edge.

[@biryaniofbodyhair]

I just got one of the metz foot pedal deep throat ones, it's so good! I can't get over it, I had bought a yoke from vevor that was just awful, had to do some much to it to make it work at all and even then it was still awful 😂 Brexit had stopped me buying from the UK for the most part but found a black Friday sale on eBay that thankfully made it affordable, I've been shrinking metal for no reason since it's so satisfying! Soon have a few bits to actually make with it, is gonna be so much easier than doing it by hand 👌

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

😂😂 i know the feeling! It work’s really well with them better jaws!! Thanks for the comment 👍