It has been a catalogue of disasters which would have made the captain of the Titanic look competent. I've learnt a lot.
1) Never by aluminium of unknown grades off Ebay. 3 Days wasted
2) Research which grade people who know what they are doing would use. No time at all
3) If you are going to beat aluminium over a former, dont make the former out of MDF. Easy to carve with a power file though.
So I might use it for simple shapes like an air dam. To much beating destroys the MDF.
4) If Former is made out of MDF, dont let it get wet. I have no workshop, so all this is taking place under a temporary Gazeebo on the Drive. MDF swells like a pregnant hippo when it's just damp out there. 2 days wasted.
5) Do not leave your former out in the sun cos all the laminated boards will split apart. 1 day wasted
6) take the workpiece of the former before annealing again. The heat transfered through the metal destroys MDF and smells of fishglue
7) Make the former from Marine Ply
8) Try and do this with a friend, no amount of tie down straps and claps are gonne help you keep a 5" piece of Ally under control.
Hour upon endless hour of beating the same bits over and over again cos you didnt see it move and now its screwed.
9) Find a college and do some night classes, 12 weeks Learnin stuff
10) Probable No1 DO NOT cut the back end of yer motorcycle until you have learned steps 1 to 9.
