KAKA INDUSTRIAL SS-18 Shrinker Stretcher, 18-Gauge Mild Steel Capacity, Solid Construction for Metal Forming

The media could not be loaded.  Yes it will handle 16ga. I wouldn’t rely on it to last forever beating it up with 16. However if you take your time and have some patience it does work great. A lot of the problems with the China blue and yellow kits is from fitment of the internal components and jaw line up. This doesn’t have either for those issues. Both sets of jaws are well made, especially at this price. They are easy to change. I needed to make window channels for a car from the 60’s. I wanted 16ga steel to patch where it’s needed. Only miner metal distortion, but I did apply a good amount of pressure to the material. It will clean up fine, and it didn’t cause any tearing, besides your never going to see it in the car after paint and the windows installed. Outer radius maintained original thickness with a .015-.025 increase on the inside radius, as to be expected, the metal has to go somewhere. Great budget tool. I think it feels like it would hold up to production quantities if using 20ga or lighter. Don’t waste your money on the $160 kits, spend a little more for this tool. If your running a custom metal shop, go ahead and expense the $1,200 big name guys stuff. But, for the home shop this is more than adequate, just take your time, mount it securely, and keep the mating surfaces lubricated. Seems like they are importing a decent product currently.

I bought this Metal Shrinker Stretcher as a birthday present for my husband. This is the second KAKA INDUSTRIAL product that we have purchased and have been very happy with both. Professional and yet affordable.