Can't afford these tools, but I want to learn to use them

[Trevor Jessie]

I've always done metal shaping with much noise ... beating, pinching, planishing, etc.

But this guys system and tools are very nice. Traditional type tools, shrinkers, stretchers, bead rollers, english wheel that have been modified to his system. (why don't all bead rollers have adjustable shafts? It just makes sense)

He also seems to be a natural at giving instructions.

I'd like to take his classes even though I could not afford the machines ... it just seems like a unique system.

Oh ... the link https://www.youtube.com/feed/UCoFFG4DutpKz5ouqWdMbv1w

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Trevor, this stuff interest me greatly as well. I have a few things and am pretty good at using the tools I have and doing project with them.

I definately a amateur at sheetmetal working, but I try hard to make what ever I do look as professional as I can. I also find this work very enjoyable, and satisfying. I think that it is creative part of it all that draws me to it.

I have a few sheetmatal tools to work with.

3' foot brake, actually it is prototype for the ones like you see in HF now, one could look at this one and make for themselves with not that much effort.

Manual bead roller, I bought the HF model , it is as good as any of the other economy models and comes will all the die, yo'll ever need, at no addtional cost.

Of course I have all different shapes of dollies, my sand bag is stool cushion shaping hammers and leather hammer (i love leather hammer, everyone should have one.

Clecos for test fitting panels.

The next thing I would love to have is shrinker/stretcher.

I also noticed that HF now sells a English wheel with dies, not much can wrong with this type of tool, and probably not as good as high dollar unit, but probably more than good enough for aspiring amateurs like me.


Here's the custom dash I made for the MGB vintage race car, it's all made out of .030" aluminum, that is stress mounted, with the stress mounting and brake work in this, it become quite rigid for such a thin and light material. The hardest part was to make the double compound curve to fit the MGB's cowl, and since I didn't have a shrinker/stretcher, or a English wheel, I used the actual MGB cowl and clecoed the initial piece of it to the MGB cowl, then use my leather hammer to make the compound curving. It all work all pretty well in the end.

 

[tlthorne]

Trevor,
You are about 4-5 hours east of me, I have a fairly well equipped shop, Lazze has some slightly different techniques, a couple of the guys who swing by on occasion have take his classes. Got a 30's Ford pickup/panel week end coming up, need to have a LBC weekend sometime. tt