Bending Metal?

[Javachip]

Hey yall, I recently got 2 old metal minis, 3rd edition metal vindicator armor, and a ROC era Khorne Juggernaut. I was easily able to bent the poles for the flags, but I seriously cant fix this warped pewter top piece on my tank. How do I fix a large flat metal piece into being correct?

 

[Brother Meredith]

Have you got a pic of the offending item? 🤔
There has been some threads elsewhere discussing this kinda issue.

 

[ManicMan]

yeah, while you need to be a bit careful with small old bits, leaded metal bends very easy, white metal still has a fair amount but not as good. Being pewter on a 3ed edition citadel? odd.. a picture would help but heating up the metal a bit should be able to help.

 

[Fimm McCool]

Because shrinkage rate depends on thickness (metal that cools faster shrinks more causing warping) there's not much you can do to rectify distortion in complex parts apart from grinding out sections and using a gentle heat to manipulate it.

 

[Javachip]

picture would help

Have you got a pic of the offending item

Here is a picture of the parts that need fixing, it's bent a lot upwards and there's not really a way to push it down so it's flat against the hull. Any suggestions? I thought about drilling holes into it and attaching teeny tiny nails or screws but I'm not sure if that'd help.

 

[ManicMan]

okay, Don't think pewter (but can't really tell).. doesn't look too thick so should bend. I take it there isn't a flat enough top surface where you could just heat it and push it down. Don't want too hot of course, but I don't think you'll really get it hot enough to melt.

if you got good enough pilers, possible to try to put some force, but without heating, I think it'll more likely just mark the metal. But get a second opinion more before listening to me ^_^

 

[Javachip]

okay, Don't think pewter (but can't really tell).. doesn't look too thick so should bend. I take it there isn't a flat enough top surface where you could just heat it and push it down. Don't want too hot of course, but I don't think you'll really get it hot enough to melt.

if you got good enough pilers, possible to try to put some force, but without heating, I think it'll more likely just mark the metal. But get a second opinion more before listening to me ^_^

I was able to hold the metal down for around a minute really hard, like my thumb hurt afterwards but it was fixed! Did it on 2 other pieces and it worked then.

 

[Eric]

if you got good enough pilers, possible to try to put some force, but without heating, I think it'll more likely just mark the metal. But get a second opinion more before listening to me ^_^

With anything like that assuming you wrap the jaws sufficiently you can use them - I'd not suggest normal combination pliers (linesman pliers if your from the US) really, you want something with a slip joint or something like mole grips so they had better purchase. Ideally a nice vice you can pad the jaws of so any loading is distributed over the whole width. Anyhow something that thin will bend fine.
If I were going to do it I'd pop it in a vice clamped with some felt and use a bit of wood and felt to apply pressure over the whole surface until I got it flat.

But

I was able to hold the metal down for around a minute really hard, like my thumb hurt afterwards but it was fixed! Did it on 2 other pieces and it worked then.

Since you've already done it that hardly matters! Well done!