Tractor exhaust cap continued.

Did a little more work on the exhaust cap for the tractor today.
Made a shaping form to bend the metal strapping for the clamp.

This is the form I cut out of a single 2x4 piece.

I cut the strapping to size and placed it in the form.  I had to pre-bend it by hand, pressing on the form to get it small enough to fit in my vice.

Strap in the form.

Once in the vice I just started closing the vice to force the form together like a press.

Time to squeeze.

As tight as I can get it.

Once I had it as tight as it would go, I waited a couple of minutes to let the metal settle into it's new shape before removing it.

Strap is formed to the shape I want.

After I had both sides shaped, I used the bench grinder to round off the corners to both make it look nice and take off the sharp bits.

Clamp straps are done.

I test fitted the pieces to the exhaust pipe and they fit perfect.

Now I have to just figure out how I am going to make the hinge saddle and put it all together.

😼