What tool makes the dished holes in sand ladders and baja racer sheet metal?

[guido666]

Sheet metal fabricators often put a beveled hole in sand traction ladders and in sheet metal body/frame parts, like gussets. What tool makes these, and is there a hand/manual version available?

Here are some pics of the holes, in use:

A battery box with the beveled holes...

 

[USSkoval]

I believe they are done in a press... for lighter weight, but retaining strength.

 

[onetonbb74]

dimple dies....

 

[guido666]

But where do you buy the die set to press them like this? I've seen them done on builds that suggest there is a version of the tool available for home use (maybe it screws together, or can be used in a hydraulic shop press?). I think I also once read an article in Four Wheeler or Four Wheel and Off Road where they mentioned using such a tool, but I can't find the article any more (partly because I don't know what they called it, so my search efforts are failing).

 

[Babaganoosh]

They are called dimple dies, here is a link to a portable unit.

http://vansantent.com/sheet_metal_machines/portable_dimple_dies.htm

 

[guido666]

dimple dies....

HAZAA! "Dimple die" was the ticket; that's the name I was looking for. Thank you!

 

[howdiy]

http://stores.ebay.com/Barbed-Wire-Off-Road

 

[docjake]

Bump for barbed wire that lady runs a great shop in Texas and she really supports the offroad industry she even sells the press hole kits.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=841511
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=796323&highlight=
Barbed wire sells a kit that has a bolt that runs through the die so you can tighten it and make the press that way. Don't mean to bump the other sites vendor's but she sells a great product if the mods don't like it they can delete this.

 

[toomany]

I don't rember where I saw it, but I have seen pictures of people using a bolt/nut and a combination of sockets to get the same results. Looked decent for the ammount of $ spent.

 

[rdn2blazer]

There was a die shoot out on another board. Most liked the Light Racing dies. The JMR dies have alot of complaints. I bought the Light Racing dies.

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

I have a seven piece 1018 set from Barbed Wire.I have done several hundred dimples with them and they work great

My roof rack that I just got back from powder coat

The entire rack including floor panels has close to 200 holes.

Sweet light bar I made a couple weeks ago

I like dimples

 

[desertrat67]

How thick of a material can these dimple?

 

[FRIZZLEFRY]

1/8" or thinner.But I have seen people do 3/16" .

 

[rdn2blazer]

I have a seven piece 1018 set from Barbed Wire.I have done several hundred dimples with them and they work great

My roof rack that I just got back from powder coat

The entire rack including floor panels has close to 200 holes.

Sweet light bar I made a couple weeks ago

I like dimples

BAD ASS rack, very nicely done. I have not used my dies since I bought them, had them for about two years now. Just have not come up with anything to use them on. Wouldn't mind making a rack like yours though

 

[rdn2blazer]

http://www.lightracing.com/lightracingFlaredHoleDies.html

 

[desertrat67]

1/8" or thinner.But I have seen people do 3/16" .

Thanks.

 

[blazin_blazer]

tagged, so i can find this thread at later date..

 

[protechk5]

Heres one my buddy made with a bottle jack. You can see it in the 3rd pic a little better. It think its starting to bend, but it seems to work good for him.