"SteveB" wrote in message
...
Northern Tools has one for $189. I was thinking of getting one for yard
art that I wanted to make rounded, like ladybug bodies and geckos. God I
hate those little ****ers since Geico's oversaturation of the airwaves
with them, and his faggotty English accent.

Anyway, anyone use these? Do the air parts last? Is there a cheaper more
reliable mechanical substitute that's easy to use for and old fart? Could
one build one that worked on the gold stamp principle that just uses
gravity mainly?

Steve



years ago i saw a website where a guy was making two stroke engine expansion
chambers by cutting out the shape in two sheets of sheet metal welding them
together at the edges and and inflating them using a pressure washer. it
seemed like a whole lot easier than working the sheet metal on a planishing
hammer. the parts came out SURPRISINGLY round and well formed.
surprisingly few wrinkles, etc. i couldn't find that webpage but here's a
guy doing the same thing on youtube....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Z3AIFSd60

there are other "hydroform" videos at youtube.

b.w.