[Premium-Rx] How to straighten a bent front panel on a RF-590 without causing more damage

[Gary Mitchelson]

Well I used the "big adjustable wrench" method and it worked very well.
I had a Big Cresent wrench and used 2 pieces of plastic (like from
membership cards) to protect the finish. Other than the stress cracks in
the paint in one small area (covered up by the plastic protectors around
the rack mounting screws) it did very well.

Thanks for everyones input.

Gary


-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Hauser [mailto:barry at hausernet.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 14:48
To: Carcia, Frank A. HS; 'Gary Mitchelson'; premium-rx at ml.skirrow.org
Subject: Re: [Premium-Rx] How to straighten a bent front panel on a
RF-590 without causing more damage


Another thing that often works for me is a very big adjustable wrench
with some dense cardboard -- more like pasteboard than corrugated -- to
prevent gouging or marking.  You have to study the bend and place the
wrench just so, then snug up on it with the cardboards in place.

Pounding can work also -- but requires complete removal of the panel.
Place it face down on a good piece of particleboard (dense) with a rag
in between. If the panel is thick and of the more "unmalleable" type of
aluminum or steel, a regular hammer won't work.  I use piece of tool
steel over more cardboard and a 15 lb. steel bar.  A barbell bar would
also work, or possibly a hand sledge.

If the bend is slight and in the corner as you describe, the wrench
method should work.  However, first make sure the hardware is tight and
the action won't twist the whole chassis.  A giant C-clamp can work
also, but I've found somewhat better control with the wrench. Use a
rocking motion to get the feel of it so you can see that it's bending
back at the right place and that you're not putting stress on anything
else.