Re: Shrinking Dents

Posted by Glen Weilbaker on April 29, 1998 at 08:02:51

In Reply to: Shrinking Dents
posted by Bob Bidonde on April 29, 1998 at 05:03:34

Bob,
The term "Shrinking Dents" is often misunderstood, it means to bring a dent back to its original shape. Most of the time this can be done by bumping the dent with a hammer and dolly.
Heat is only used when the metal has become work hardened, sort of like forged from the bumping and initial hit and the metal is past the original shape, the heat is applied in small stratigic local areas within or around the damage that only years of experience can call judgement.
From your discription the dents can be bumped out. Best to practice on a "beat" something you don't care about. First you size up the dent, how are you going to bump it out.
2 common ways is the half half half and the work around method.
The work around would be good for the small shallow dent, it's done by working the outside edges first continueing around and around to the center.
The half half half method is for deeper /larger dents and it it bringnig shape the center first then there is 2 halves then the center of these halves and now half half half half. this is done till the dents is out.
A tip about how to hammer sheet metal, hit the metal just hard enough to move, not make a new dent with the hammer. Use the dolly on the opposite side of hammering on the high spot while hammering the low. It's the cantilevering that moves the metal. A big no no IS TO BACK THE HAMMER BLOW WITH THE DOLLY!!! This thins the metal and work hardens it.
This something I do without thinking about but it is hard to describe in words, a good reference is an article in, I think, the 2nd "How to Restore Your Model A". It's not is hard as the industry makes out especially if you're handy.
In fact there are some good books on body repair at your library, get the newer ones because they deal with stuff that is availble now.
If you were in my neck of the woods I could have done it quicker than typing this, ARGH. Anyway good luck,
GW

Follow Ups:
SOME WEB WORDS GW April 29, 1998 at 09:43:05(3)
Re: SOME WEB WORDS GW April 29, 1998 at 09:46:49(2)
Re: SOME WEB WORDS GW April 29, 1998 at 09:51:49(1)
Sorry GW April 29, 1998 at 10:26:24(0)
Re: Shrinking Dents Bob Johnson April 29, 1998 at 09:07:37(0)

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