Bodywork - dolly, hamer, and torch - How to shrink ???

[maddddog]

I am at the point of putting on the sheetmetal on the front end of my 46. I broke out my dads dollys and hamers, for the first time ever. I have not attempted body work before, but am somewhat familar with the process.

I am amazed what you can do with those tools and a little understanding. I have read some stuff, and have had great sucsess.

The only thing I have not tried, but need to, is shrinking an area. I have a couple flat areas that have a bow.

Can someone explain how this is done?
How do you determine where to start?
If it shrinks too much, can you hamer on dolly, and stretch it again? duh.

I have found a new favorite thing. I have straightened some nasty stuff, and its not that hard. It does take some time.

Thanks Jim

[pat mccarthy]

it takes time to know how and were to start i would tell you not to work on any thing that is a good panel to get the shrinking down with time and knowing where to hit and how hard keeps from having to shrink the metal in the first place. i never had to do much heat shinking with a torch more for my freind that like to over work the steel if i had to move steel i used a slapping file or a shinking hammer and would kink or used the washer welder / stud/ pin gun and cool with a wet rag

[42K3]

With an acetylene torch, heat in spots, about as big as a dime, heat the circle until the middle just gets cherry red, cool it slowly with a damp rag. Heat three spots at a time in a triangle for larger areas. Use slap hammer and dolly to metal finish and keep it flat, do not overwork the panel.

[Bob Parmenter]

You may learn some things by looking through this when you have time; Metalshaping Class Room

[maddddog]

You may learn some things by looking through this when you have time; Metalshaping Class Room

fantastic site. I will spend much time there, thank you.

Jim

[maddddog]

Thanks everyone. I will try my hand (and torch) at shrinking a couple spots tomorrow. Wish me luck. (or remind me its not luck I need.)

Jim