Opposite Aesthetic for Metal Shrinker Stretcher Stand

My original Upcycle project is a work stand for a sheet metal shrinker/stretcher tool. A metal shrinker/stretcher is a popular tool to use when working sheet metal into complex shapes as it allows for a worker to form compound curvatures in the thin metal. I decided to build a work stand for this shrinker/stretcher as I had no way of securing the tool in place while I feed sheet metal through the jaws and actuate the operating lever. An alternative to a work stand is to secure the shrinker/stretcher in a bench vise. However, this affects the functionality of the machine when working with large sheet metal panels that require clearance.

Since my Upcycle design purpose is primarily centered around proper functionality of the machine, I decided to build this project around a utilitarian aesthetic. The utilitarian aesthetic focuses primarily on the functionality and practicality of a design rather than decorative/ornamental aspects. Projects with a utilitarian aesthetic are often minimalistic and offer a rugged design to ensure that the design can work properly and have an extensive service life.

An opposite aesthetic to my current Upcycle design would be a decorative aesthetic. This aesthetic focuses more on the beauty of a design and visual appeal rather than functionality to the operator.

The new opposite work stand is designed with a decorative aesthetic. The main aspect of the design that has changed is the structure of the work stand. The original utilitarian design consisted of 2″ x 2″ cold rolled steel square tube which is an easily workable material that can be widely found in 6-foot or 12-foot lengths and cut down to size with saws or cutoff wheels. Additionally, the square tube is easily weldable using standard MIG or TIG processes making for an easy assembly. However, the new work stand is made from a single decorative cast iron frame. The use of cast iron doesn’t majorly change the functionality of the machine. However, the cast iron material is much more challenging to cast and manufacture into a completed work stand which makes the new design mainly focused on ornamentation over practicality. Additionally, the cast iron webbing that is ornamental also requires custom molds which can be incredibly time intensive to make.

The image shown below illustrates the new work stand design surrounding a decorative aesthetic which is opposite to the utilitarian aesthetic. The frame is shown to be made from a single piece of cast iron which contains pockets and webs to add to the ornamentation of the design.

The machine shown below is the sheet metal shrinker/stretcher which can be operated using a hand lever. The thin sheet metal is fed between the jaws of the machine which either stretch or shrink the material depending on the chosen dies.

The original Upcycle design is shown in the image below. The frame is crafted from steel tubing which can easily be cut to size and is weldable using standard MIG or TIG processes.