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

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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

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

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

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