patching

I thought this might be a good topic for board here , and may become useful in the future for others. When making a patch panel somtimes it is very easy when the area is flat like a truck bed or a minor curve like a trunk lid. But what about those hard to make compound curves that seem to the target for rust , such as around a windshield . Its easy if you can buy the replacement panel but if you have to make it and don't have an english wheel or the other high dollar tools what then. I don't have those tools and have had to resort to the old vise grips and torch. By clamping a peace of stock to the area in question for repair and heating it , then tapping it into shape or at least close enough to get the correct shape. Then use this patch as a template to cut out the panel to be repaired ( remember to consider the width of the cut off tools blade or the gap will be to big to weld). Once the panel has a few tack welds in it can be formed. Are there any other kool tricks to making patch panels

I usually start with a posterboard template then copy it on to the sheet metal. I cut outside the lines and trim to fit. On small pieces with curves, angles, or compound curves I do the preliminary shaping with a plastic hammer, then ping and ding it to it's final shape and smooth it with a body hammer and body dowel.

what i did when i patched the quarters on my camaro i started with the bottom edge of the quarter beating in the shape with a body hammer and a anvil/dolly then you have to cut some releif cuts so you can bend the panal around the wheel well and bending these over with pair of pliers or what ever works then cutting the exice of with some tin snips. once you have the basic shape of your corners. then just trim around the rust and instead of trying to make the panel fit into the whole make the hole fit the panel by just marking it with a marker and cuting it out with a die grinder makes the patch fit nice an tight. thats just kinda a run by but maybe found something helpful