Abstract: A helical baffle for shell and tube type heat exchangers is fabricated by stamp forming a plate in the form of a partial circular section into a helical section between opposed, mating helically-shaped faces of two forming dies. The plate contains a series of apertures in the form of a pattern for receiving heat exchanger tubes. The dies contain sleeves and opposed reaming rods which form lips on the apertures during stamping of the plate. Lips can also be formed on the outer edge of the plate and the edge of a central passage during stamping. The lips prevent the helical plate from twisting or returning to a flat configuration. The leading and trailing edge of the helical plates are then joined such as by riveting or welding into a continuous helical baffle with sets of heat exchanger tube apertures aligned along a common axis.