Metal Ace

[benupton]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone has had any experience with a metal ace, Metal Working Machinery - For Use With Wrought Iron, Balustrades & Steel (http://www.metalace.com.au/)

Thanks Ben

[Grahame Collins]

I am sure there is something about this way back in the archives. I believe that I may well have commented on it years ago.

A few years back at a former school I taught at,we did look at this company from the Gold Coast and also the Chevington Metal Craft brand.This particular company at that particular time was using the similar name and logo yellow and black color scheme =Chevington's was orange and black but the logo,name and layout was essentially the same as Chevington and both were apparently involved in some heavy duty legal unpleasantness .


I see their name and color scheme has been changed. I am not at all impressed much by their current website as the photos are poor quality and my opinion is that it would not take a long stretch of the imagination to see them putting the same lack of effort into their products. Compare the opposition and judge for yourself.

See link below
Metalcraft Australia - The official Metalcraft Tools (http://www.chevingtonmetaltools.com/metalcraft_products_tube_formers.shtml)

Have a real good look at the companies products and compare each one to something similar on the net. All can be duplicated dependent on what level of tooling you have at home.Not copied mind ,you but with slight changes,to suit the stock that you can comfortably obtain and could make the equipment from.

Print the sheets out and sit down with a note book and what you can come up with may well t surprise you.Basic ideas and methods of construction are what you are looking for,not blatant breaking of copyright or patents etc!

To me, for both companies the tooling is way over what I would be prepared to pay.

If you the slightest bit handy I would say you could probably fab up some similar (goodness ! not the same) stuff your self for roughly a 1/3rd of what these blokes are overcharging.

If you have not got some of the gear required you might consider farming some of the work to fellows in this forum as is a common request.

If I were doing such a thing it would be by by PM (not on this public forum) and would be a way of avoiding the attention by legal sticky beaks who may want to cause trouble.

I have left some space between the lines to read between.


Grahame

[Ueee]

Hi
I agree with Grahame In that they are over priced. It comes down to what you want to do with it. If you producing furniture with scrollwork on an everyday basis, sure, but if not then i would do as Grahame suggested.

Ewan

[Grahame Collins]

If you are about to start ironwork /scroll-work etc, you are probably fairly handy already.
The saw horse arrangement is a good place to start and doing it your self would allow a custom built height to match your personal physique .

The saw horse box frame could then have removable sections - of the next size up- tube dropped over it as the base for the scroll tools or what ever you want to put there. Make the saw horse with fold up or removable legs and it can be stored away if you do not have much room.

If you give us an idea of what you want to do with this stuff it might make it easier to help you.It will also make a good resource for the other blokes that may also want to build similar tools.

If you have a welder, angle grinder and drill you are a lot of the way there already.

There a ship load of the these designs/plans /instructions on how to build out there on the net and I am sure if there's an interest the lads here will probably share links information and outright good suggestions.

Wello is a regular poster ,I am sure his benders and scroll are home made and hopefully he can comment.

Grahame

[Mikedow]

Hi,
Wondering if anyone has had any experience with a metal ace, Metal Working Machinery - For Use With Wrought Iron, Balustrades & Steel (http://www.metalace.com.au/)

Thanks Ben

Hi Ben, Did you purchase any equipment from Metalace? If you did, are you happy with the product?

Thanks Mike

[benupton]

Hey Mike,
Nope, my dad and I have started to make out own jigs.

Thanks