The Torus

The below tools and procedure is for those who want to create their torus using the shrinking method.

Tools

· Stump

· Vice

· Ruler

· Aluminium

· Plastic mallet

· Dolly

· Helpful partner OR ratchet strap

· Silvo

· Rags

Step 1, Approach the stump

Put the stump depression side-up into the vice, be sure to tighten the vice so to ensure that the stump doesn’t move as you strike it.

Stump tight in vice

Step 2, Shrinking the centre strip (depression) in your aluminium:

Taking your aluminium strip, place it across the stump, so that the length of the strip is parallel to the depression.

Holding the strip in one hand, and the plastic mallet in the other, I initially begun striking the aluminium strip with the pointy end of the mallet (in hind sight, this was a mistake). Aiming to keep the hammer strikes in a straight line, move the aluminium along with the stump with one hand while you continue to hammer with your other.

Initial central depression made using acute end of plastic mallet

Once I had a line of strikes working across the aluminium, I then changed to the obtuse side of the plastic hammer and started working along the same line as I had done with the pointy end of the hammer.

Second run over central depression made using obtuse end of plastic mallet

Step 3, Second bend

Now the aim is to bend the aluminium strip across the width of the strip, that is, bend the strip around stump. In order to do this, you will need either a friend to help you hold the aluminium tight to the stumps curvature, or employ a ratchet strap.

Tighten the ratchet strap along the middle length of the aluminium. Using the obtuse end of the mallet, you may need to strike the middle line of the aluminium down into the depression in the stump in order to be able to continue to tighten the aluminium to the point that it is sitting tight to the stump.

You may also need to strike the “wings” either side of the middle depression until they hug the stump tightly.

Ratchet strap down the central strip

Striking down the "wings"

Working to tightly wrap the aluminium around the stump

Step 4, Re-work the centre line

Using the acute end of the plastic mallet, re-work your centre line, striking through the ratchet strap. Follow by re-working with the obtuse end of the plastic mallet.

Re-working the centre line with the obtuse end of the mallet

Longitudinal bend achieved

Depth of central depression

Step 5, Outer edge work

Using the bow shaped dolly, line one of the long edges of the aluminium with the length of the dolly. Taking the plastic hammer, strike the aluminium with the obtuse end to curve the edges around the dolly.