face plate bent

ND13
ND13 Posts: 7,601
edited March 2006 in Electronics
The face plate on my PSound is bent a tad on one corner. It was this way when I got it and is just a cosmetic thing, but I'd like to try and straighten it out. It's a rack mount face and seems to be made out of billet aluminum. Am I right in that assumption? I was thinking that if I removed it and put it in a vice and SLOWLY turned the vice, it would be okay, but I know how fragile aluminum can be. Of course I'd wrap it so not to mar up the finish. It would probably be better if I could heat it up, but then the finish would most likely discolor.

I doubt that I could find a replacement.

Any advice???
"SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
Post edited by ND13 on
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Comments

  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2006
    If the bend is mild, the vise trick should work fine. I would not heat it up. Cover the finish in masking tape, then use some other form of smooth covering.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2006
    Yeah, I wasn't going to heat it. It's weird, you'd think that it would have cracked when it was bent, but it didn't. Do you know if I'm right about it being aluminum??
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited March 2006
    Aluminum is fairly soft, no? I would expect it to bend a bit before breaking/cracking. I would try the vise idea, but most definitely be sure you wrap that sucker up good! I bet the bend isn't too noticeable to those who don't know it's there. If the teeth on the vice come through a towel or something and scratch up that faceplate, it's going to be very noticeable. I'd hate to trade a mild bend for scratches!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2006
    ND13 wrote:
    Yeah, I wasn't going to heat it. It's weird, you'd think that it would have cracked when it was bent, but it didn't. Do you know if I'm right about it being aluminum??

    Don't know for sure brother, I would suspect it's aluminum...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2006
    call a local aluminum shop and see what they recommend. it would be sad if you somehow did more damage to it trying to fix the bend.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited March 2006
    Its Unique, a battle scar, be proud of it. Cover it with a Purple Heart or Forget about It.

    RT1
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited March 2006
    How thick is it?
    I don't think you will get it totally flat in a vice. There will be some spring back.
    If you can put part of it in a vice as close to the bend as possible then use something to push the other part in the direction you want it to go.
    You might want to use wood in the jaws of the vice after you put tape on the aluminimum, this will help keep the jaws from marring the surface through the tape.
    Also you might just smack it lightly with a rubber mallet.

    Definatley be careful to not make it more obvious than it is now.
    Skynut
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,513
    edited March 2006
    Heating the faceplate would add to your problems. Aside from discoloring, handling it at the temp you would need would be tricky since heat quickly travels through it.

    Here are some pics of a TFM-45 I repaired. I used some thin dense felt between some scrap, hardwood in a bench vice. Note that once you straighten it, the aluminum will buckle or may even crack/tear.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2006
    That's about the same as mine. Even in the same place. I'm not sure I even want to try it or not. Wanted some feedback before I decide.

    Edit-The bend in your's might be a little worse than mine the more that I look at it.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited March 2006
    I work with metal all the time and if it were me I would go for it however, I work with metal all the time and I also will not "freak out" too much if I blow it.
    If you are not comfortable working with metal then you might want to leave it rather than to chance doing damage.
    The aluminium on the face plate is probably hardened to some point and may not "want" to bend back without fracturing. Heating can cause discoloration as previously mentioned.
    If it bothers you that much go for it and if you really don't notice it that much now then leave it.

    It would be a bummer if it got all buggered up during the repair.
    I have buggered up metal trying to make it do something it did not want to do.
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
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    Sherbourn 7/2100
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    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited March 2006
    If it is aluminum, it is probably anodized. Scratch it and you are done. If you must try to bend it back, remove the plate from the unit, cover it with tape and use hardwood blocks in the vise. be sure you apply pressure ACROSS the bend. Trying to hold the bent corner only may bend the whole plate. Personally, I would just leave it if you can't see it from the road. Tell your grandkids about how the UPS lady dropped it from the truck.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited March 2006
    Polkersince85 wrote:
    Tell your grandkids about how the UPS lady dropped it from the truck.
    ...and how you dived from 13 feet away and caught it, only to trip on the cat walking up the stairs on the way inside. :D
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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