Hammering and Dollying

[Popeye]

Hi all,

Where is the best place to gain knowledge on metal (hammer and dolly) work? Any neat web sites or books?

Working on my TR4A, I have a gentle crease in the door. About 1/4" deep. I can push it out from inside, then it is about 1/4" out. Do I work it with on-dolly to shrink the metal, do I need a shrinking hammer... etc.

Any general pointers?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Carlos]

Shrinking is best done with a torch. Before you can shrink with a torch the crease needs to be beaten out.

It's a lot of fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JamesWilson]

Whatever you do FIRST get some old beaten up panels from a junk yard to practice on.

Useful books:

Panel Beating & Paint Refinishing
Publisher: Kelsey Publishing (A UK company but you may be able to get it in the USA)
Author: Unattributed (but it seems to be Chris Graham)
Date: 2001 (Reprint)
ISBN: 1 873098 29 4

The beginner's guide to bodywork and painting. Seems to be an excellent introduction for the complete neophyte. I read it and understood it all but, as always, a book can only go so far... then its out to the garage to experiment.

Car Bodywork Repair Manual
Publisher: Haynes
Author: Lindsey Porter
Date: 2000 3rd Ed.
ISBN: 1 85960 657 1

This is rather more oriented towards more modern cars than "classics". But it does discuss in fair detail techniques that are widely useful: panel beating, body work tools, fillers, fiberglass, paint preparation, painting, etc. Its has numerous photographs and illustrations.

How to Restore Classic Car Bodywork
Publisher: Veloce
Authors: Martin Thaddeus
Date: 2004
ISBN: 1 903706 62 9

This looks like the best of the three and it will be really useful.....

Here's a link to the books Table of Contents FYI:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/19037066...006#reader-link

Could I also suggest you look at my website:
https://www.healeyjournal.com/pages/linkspages/books.html#Bodywork
and
https://www.healeyjournal.com/pages/linkspages/techsites.html#Bodywork

 

[Popeye]

Absolutely fantastic web site! I have been there before.

Thanks for the pointers.

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi,

[ QUOTE ]
Shrinking is best done with a torch.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's certainly one approach on our "old steel". Just don't try it on any modern car!

There are also shrinking dollys, along with the shrinking hammers already noted.

Great info on those books (and nicely illustrated, too)!

Some other good sources of information:

www.eastwoodco.com has some good instructional videos/DVDs. They tend to be a bit pricey, so I suggest to watch for used ones on eBay or for a sale.

A real bargain might be right down the street from you: at your local community college. Check if they have auto body repair classes, welding, etc. That can be a great way to learn, with someone knowledgeable looking over your shoulder. You'll often end up doing a class project or two and might be able to bring in the parts off your car and work on them.

Also, many schools have lots of tools and supplies in their shop for students to use, that will certainly improve your work, but would generally cost too much to go out and buy for yourself all at once. After getting the basic necessities, even my ex-brother-in-law (who ended up owning and operating a car dealership that included a large, complete auto body shop) had to slowly acquire tools for his work. He would typically buy one or two items with each new paid project, sort of as a way of "reinvesting" in his business. A gradual approach like this is also probably the most practical for most hobbyists, but can take half a lifetime! So, a local trade school or community college might be a big help!

A website you might want to check out is the Auto Body Store where you will find a pretty active discussion forum.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[JamesWilson]

There are shrinking hammers that could be used. These are hammers with patterned grooved faces so that the metal when struck forms itself into ridges where the grooves are. This might not be he effect you want on an exterior panel.

Panels can be heated and then hammered against a softer material to create a slightly thickened (and shrunk) area.

Or Panels can be heated and then rapidly cooled with water and it is the cooling process that should cause the metal to shirk.

One approach I've seen offered is discussed:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...p;page=0#205332

I've now got one but haven't yet tried it out. The demo DVD looks like it be useful for the final stages, but I'll need to go and play with it before I know what it really can do (or whether its worth bothering with at all....)

A good practice on some junk-yard scrap- its easily distorted with a hot torch or stretched with a BFH....

 

[Bugeye58]

One common mistake is to hammer the panel with too much force. Gentle love taps are usually all that is required.
I won't go into "On Dolly" and "Off Dolly" work. It's an art that can only be mastered with lots of practice.
As mentioned, get some old steel panels, trying to get as close to the thickness of the metal you will be ultimately be working with as possible. Duplicate your existing crease if you can, and then just practice, practice, practice. I started learning at Dads knee, many years ago. Metal finishing is rapidly becoming a lost art. I'm fortunate in that I had the opportunity to learn from a master.
Jeff

 

[jessebogan]

Google tm technologies. This guy is a really good metalworker, sells tools, and has videos, and classes. Worth a look.

 

[JamesWilson]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif

There are a number of sites out there concerned with metal working more generally:

tm technologies: https://www.tinmantech.com/
(has a particular interest in Aluminium)

https://www.fournierenterprises.com/
for metal working tools and information.

A metal working forum:
https://www.metalmeet.com/

And articles on dent removal:

https://www.jag-lovers.org/xk-lovers/library/removing_dents.html

and tools:
https://www.jag-lovers.org/xk-lovers/library/dent_tools.html