Skid plates - Straighten out?

RomeoEJ · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:22 pm

After years my skids are pretty beat up. I was wondering how you guys have straightened them back out? Use a torch and heat them up? Sledge?

A while back i tried just using a sledge but it was ineffective other then making my ears ring. Im thinking if i use a torch and heat it up it might make it easier...

Ideally would be bring them to a machine shop with a large press and press them flat... Or even buying a shop press for cheap at harbor freight, which can be used for other things as well...

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-sho ... 33497.html

Any thoughts? Thanks

NUKEhead · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:37 pm

Curious because this is also something I have to do, was just planning on using a sledgehammer but I guess if that's inefficient, there's got to be some way to do it.

My only concern with using a torch is you'll (might) change the properties of the steel, possibly causing it to become brittle after you reshape it.

Bklyn.X · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:05 am

I used a big ass sledge hammer and ear protection on gravel with a 4x4 block of wood. Worked for me...twice so far...

daggerdoggie · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:11 pm

The best way to do it is find someplace with a hydraulic press large enough to fit you skid.

Faster and easier.

Find a shop and bring them a case of beer and you're all set.

NUKEhead · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:47 pm

How does that work out for some of the interesting shapes the Shrock skids have?

Inurteeth2 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:19 am

stop hitting big rocks! :woohoo:

Bklyn.X · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:05 am

daggerdoggie wrote:

The best way to do it is find someplace with a hydraulic press large enough to fit you skid.

Faster and easier.

Find a shop and bring them a case of beer and you're all set.

So how would you find this? What type of shop has this type of press?

daggerdoggie · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 5:07 pm

Our bus garage has one, so I would imagine and large truck shop would have one as well.

We have a large, 30 ton press used for axles and stuff like that. Plenty large enough to fit skids in.

mainechick · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:48 pm

I was thinking the same thing... I might try the press route at work since we have a mechanic garage for our equipment...

Bklyn.X · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:56 pm

Well how nice that you have those options. I sell cat litter at work so I used a sledge hammer and ear protection...

mixxali4 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 8:08 pm

Bklyn.X wrote:

Well how nice that you have those options. I sell cat litter at work so I used a sledge hammer and ear protection...

good one Tom

Inurteeth2 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:53 am

Bklyn.X wrote:

Well how nice that you have those options. I sell cat litter at work so I used a sledge hammer and ear protection...

Fcking... Tom. haha

mainechick · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:40 pm

Bklyn.X wrote:

Well how nice that you have those options. I sell cat litter at work so I used a sledge hammer and ear protection...

Well atleast you have kitty litter to soak up the leaks :wink:

k_enn · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:22 am

^^^^^^^
Well played, Tiffany.

theplasticone · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2012 3:21 pm

Actually, a few bags of kitty litter under the skid will do wonders for your eardrums (and arms). Flip it so the dent is convex (curving up) and hammer it that way.

Skid plates - Straighten out?

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