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How to Make Sheet Metal Molds

The technique of making a sheet metal mold is called metal forming. This process uses force to mold the sheet of metal into a specific shape. A common type of shape for sheet metal is a "V" using a die and punch. You can make a die and punch to shape a thin piece of sheet metal by using a block of wood. The punch is struck with a hammer or other object to form the sheet of metal to the shape of the die.

Things You'll Need

4-by-4-inch block of wood
Tape measure
Pencil
Protractor
Straight edge
Miter saw
Screws
Power drill
Wood glue

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the steel that you need to mold with the tape measure. An example to use is 4 inches.
- 2
  Measure the height on one side of the 4-by-4 block of wood. Make a mark on the wood with the pencil. Repeat this step on the other side of the wood. This will be the die.
- 3
  Place the protractor on this mark at the center of wood. Make a mark for "0" on the protractor and then mark an angle, such as 45 degrees. Repeat this step on the other side of the wood.
- 4
  Connect the mark for "0" with the mark for the angle by using a straight edge.
- 5
  Set the blade of the miter saw to the angle of the sheet metal for a right side cut. Align the blade and the line marks and make a cut in the wood.
- 6
  Set the miter saw blade to a left side cut at the same angle. Align the saw blade with the line marks that are on the wood and then make another cut. Remove the cut piece of wood; it will be used for the punch.
- 7
  Measure the width and length of the piece of wood you removed in step 6. Cut a piece of 4-by-4 to a size of 2 inches by 2 inches. Place the 2-by-4 piece of wood along the top of the piece removed in step 6. Secure with screws using the power drill or use wood glue. This will be the completed punch, which will fit within the V-shaped die.
- 8
  Place sheet metal on the V-shaped die. Hold your punch over the metal. Strike it with a hammer until the metal takes the shape of the die.

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