Bent Trim Piece

[mikkyle]

Anyone know how to straighten a bent aluminum trim piece? It's about 1" wide X 3/16" or so thick,and 10ft long, and is the trim that the screws go thru to hold the port side Deck/Hull seam on my old fiberglass beater together. It got caught in the garage door spring, and when I opened the door, it put an nice 60 deg bend in it. Its bent on a screw hole, and just wondering if anyone else had to bend back aluminum before. Should I heat it, I have propane and oxy/ace torch, or just try to hammer it gently back? Should I take to a metal shop?
Thanks
Mike

[gonzo]

If you have the patience it is possible to bend it back cold. I assume it doesn't have a deep crease or is cracked. You'll have to make a jig to bend it on. Sometimes a U channel and a vise can do it . The trick is not to crush the molding. It has a place for a vinyl molding doesn't it?

[mikkyle]

Gonzo, no it is just aluminum and no vinyl. There is a straight piece on each side from where the bow stops curving, back to the transom. Older glass boat made in 1957.

[gonzo]

Heating up aluminum is tricky because it doesn't change color. As soon as the surface gets shiny it is about to melt. I suppose that if you heat enough to soften it without getting to the shiny point it may help too.