1498 replies to this topic

[Vinay-RS]

Is it possible to get it perfect without using any filler? 

[James_eaton_thewholething]

Possibly but would take a lot of time and a infinite amount of patience

[Carlos W]

Is it possible to get it perfect without using any filler? 

 

There isn't any filler in that 1/4 panel. Hammer and dolly and metal file and a lot of skill

[ger]

Great job as always.

 

Ger

[Ben_O]

Is it possible to get it perfect without using any filler? 

It certainly is mate. Like James said, it takes alot of time and you have to be VERY careful what you are doing as if you overwork the metal,it will stretch and then the only possible comeback is to shrink it and then you will no doubt need filler to get it right.

 

a body File is your friend with minor lows and highs as it skims the highs off and shows up the lows allowing you to gently work them up level using the file again to bring it all level

[Ben_O]

 

Is it possible to get it perfect without using any filler? 

 

There isn't any filler in that 1/4 panel. Hammer and dolly and metal file and a lot of skill

 

No filler yet... 

 

It's going to need a light skim though but rather that than a stretched over worked panel

[Ben_O]

Great job as always.

 

Ger

Thank you

[Ben_O]

I made a start sorting out the new found dents in the quarter panel.

 

The first job is to go over the area with a body file to identify the dent.

 

 

As you can see, the dent has shown up as a patch of primer and this is the low we need to bring up to level. For anyone who doesn't know, this is a body file

 

 

 

You can adjust the curve of the file but for jobs like this where the low spot is small, i like to use it with quite a bow on it.

 

The trick to picking up the low spot is to use the edge of a dolly from INSIDE the panel so that you can push the low spot up whilst gently tapping around the low spot with a flat bumping panel hammer from the outside. Doing these two things together raises the dent out.

 

It is common to assume the best way is to put the dolly on the outside and then knock the ow spot from inside with the hammer but you are more likely to miss and make more ripples.

 

With these dents, you need to aim to get the low spot a gnats whisper above the surface of the surrounding panel. Once you have that done, it's just a case of giving it another pass with the file to level it all off. Like this

 

 

one down, 7 to go 

Edited by Ben_O, 10 June 2015 - 01:26 PM.

[Vinay-RS]

This is really cool. Thanks for sharing all the details Ben. 

[Jared Mk3]

Ben's tip for the day. I'm glad you post up some of the finer detail items, certainly helps and can be put to use at some stage. Thank you 

[Ben_O]

No worries guys.

 

I know some may see my thread as a bit drawn out and i get that (71 pages and still not half way through just the bodywork  ) but i just like to go into detail hoping i can help out someone who either doesn't know how to approach certain tasks or might see my methods and think it's an easier way to do a certain job.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[ger]

A video of that process would be cool. Any chance? 

 

Ger

[Ben_O]

A video of that process would be cool. Any chance? 

 

Ger

maybe 

 

I'm not much of a presenter though so it might be a silent movie 

[Hendred]

Hi Ben, awesome as usual, only thing I don't understand is what is a dolly?

 

John

[Ben_O]

I managed to finish picking up the low spots on the quarter panel this evening.

 

Same drill as before, run over with the file to show the low spots

 

 

This makes the dents look really deep but they aren't, that's the beauty of the file is that it picks up any low spots no matter how shallow.

 

And then raise the low spots before going over again with the file to finish

 

 

And here they are all done

 

 

And then a quick buzz over to get rid of the horrible red paint and it's almost good to go.

 

 

Lots of work for a £110 saving but it was as much about the doing than the saving for me so all is good

 

Ben

 

Just need to remove the panel again now to clean back the inside and then it can finally be welded on for good after liberal doses of zinc everywhere