Hiya, can someone tell me the best way to deform a plain stainless
steel pot to make it non cylindrical, but still straight-sided? I
possess, in fact, a smokers ashtray pot, a straight sided cynlinder
about 6 inches tall, and 5 inches in diameter. I want transform this
into make a guitar side bending iron that has a large radius and a
small radius in terms of the curves on the sides. However I do not want
to cut the bottom end off to 'squash' it since I need end to keep the
heat in and heat the thing up.

I have read that you can fill an object with sand then squash it
somewhat and it may work? Anyone ever try this?

thanks

Ray