Oldgas.com Home  

Click here for Petro Porcelain Sign auction listings


Home | Help | Events | Auctions | Parts | Pictures | Links | Contact
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#693980 Thu Sep 07 2017 06:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
5
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
5
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
I picked up another Tokheim 36B a few months back. It was leaning over and a tree had grown into the top. It pretty much looked like a lost cause and was bent inward and downward.

This is the second 36B top that I have straightened. I thought I would take a few pics. and share here on oldgas. I hope this will help and encourage someone else to try and save their top. They can be straightened with heat, pressure, and a lot of patience!

1) Build a heavy duty steel support jig.
2) Have lots of clamps, angle, channel, flat bar, etc. on hand
3) Slowly heat the pot metal top. (I used a Reddy Heater)
4) Slowly apply pressure with each carefully placed clamp a little at a time. Don't go too fast. I would move the bent section a little and place back in front of the heat. I was heating it hot enough that it would almost burn you with gloves on. A lot of the car guys say you can work pot metal at about 300 degrees or so.
5) Once straightened, turn off heat and let it cool on its own. I didn't take the jigs or clamps off until a couple days later. The end result speaks for itself, perfect top again! And NO cracks!

Before:




IMG_0845.JPG IMG_0847.JPG IMG_0848.JPG IMG_0846.JPG
During:

Last edited by 57-Chevy; Thu Sep 07 2017 07:23 PM.

KJV Psalms 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Please use For Sale forums to sell

Please - NO offers to Buy or Sell in this forum category

Statements such as, "I'm thinking about selling this." are considered an offer to sell.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
5
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
5
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
During:

IMG_0849.JPG IMG_0850.JPG IMG_0851.JPG
After:

IMG_0852.JPG

KJV Psalms 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 17
P
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
P
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 17
That's amazing. Had no idea you could do that with pot metal.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,979
Likes: 24
C
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,979
Likes: 24
Good job


Craig
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 106
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 106
Very, very nice job. Good save.


-Steve B. (WTB: 48" Flying A button, 48" black/org Phillips 66, White Star, and Chevrolet Signs. Also looking for a Wayne 866. Send a PM. Thanks.)
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 391
Likes: 31
R
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
R
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 391
Likes: 31
NOW! That is a great post. Thank you for sharing.


Randy
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 34
S
Active Member
Offline
Active Member
S
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 34
Thank you for posting that. I'm a newbie

IMG_20170908_3463.jpg
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
5
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
5
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
Ron, that one can be straightened! Just remember patience!


KJV Psalms 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
T
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
T
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
Can I just send you mine -- what you charge-- ruben


looking for spanish gas signs
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 584
Likes: 35
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 584
Likes: 35
That is nice work. Good job on straightening out the original part without cracking it!

BrianH


Brian H
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 34
S
Active Member
Offline
Active Member
S
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 34
I haven't got mine apart, but it should fit into an oven and set it to 300 deg.

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 48
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 48
Did you get flight control approval on the oven thing? The


Have gas all the time
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 34
S
Active Member
Offline
Active Member
S
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 34
We'll see, I'll keep you posted.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,979
Likes: 24
C
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,979
Likes: 24
Could this work also on a Bennett top ? What kind of heater did you use ?


Craig
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
5
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
5
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,669
Likes: 13
Possibly? I placed the 36b top right in front of my shop reddy heater. You can put it in an oven too. I got it pretty hot, so hot it would almost burn me with leather work gloves on.


KJV Psalms 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:
in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Oldgas, Ryan Underthun 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Click here for Gas Pump auction listings

Copyright © 2023 Primarily Petroliana Interactive, All Rights Reserved

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5