A little rust repair

[kyleholmes]

Hey All, I am 21 years old, and just starting the third year of a collision technician apprenticeship. I try to practice metal shaping and metal working as often as possible, but in a shop like mine, time is money, so it is usually just cave and pave. I had the opportunity to do a bit of metalwork today, so I though I might share.

I use only basic hand tools, a 4x6 piece of maple and a 12" piece of railroad track. The panel as a compound curve across its entirety.

Any BlackBerry owner will immediately recognize the poor photo quality.

 

[Stick Figure]

i know that feeling ... its hard to acquire new skills or even fine tune the old ones sometimes when everyone is so focused on the time/money ratio. Until of course they need you to use one of those skills. keep up the good work.

 

[beerbudget]

Not bad! Better than anything I could do.

 

[Bull]

I like your writing style. Stick around!

And oh yes, nice work. You made the fuel filler opening in the patch from scratch?

 

[lilredex]

That is nice forming. Guy down at our local bakery needs one of those for his early nineties Olds. He keeps his going with a yearly round of Bondo (which quickly shows through) and some aluminum paint. Like your solution much better. Show us other stuff you work on, please.............

 

[beee85]

awsome! keep the pictures coming when u weld it in! if you have time..

 

[CrashTestDummy]

Yep. That's good work. That type of work is mostly art, so keep up the practice. That'll take you far, IMHO.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

[z28snksknr]

Nice work there (from another beginner).

 

[930dreamer]

Nice work, metal working is a great skill to have.

 

[lilredex]

That is nice forming. Guy down at our local bakery needs one of those for his early nineties Olds. He keeps his going with a yearly round of Bondo (which quickly shows through) and some aluminum paint. Like your solution much better. Show us the other stuff you work on, please.............

This one........

 

[kyleholmes]

Thanks everyone!

Yes, I made the entire piece from scratch, by hand. Unfortunately, bossman was really crackin' the whip today, so I had it welded, planished and primed before I could snap a picture. I will definitely post a picture of the finished product, though.

I have had no training on metalworking at all, save two great forums I frequent, incase you may be interested in metalshaping, metalworking, restoration or custom fabrication they are:

http://allmetalshaping.com/

And

http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/index.php

Im sure they've been posted somewhere on here before, but I would hate for anyone to miss out on two invaluable resources. extremely talented, knowledgeable and friendly people.


Lilredex: Tell the ol' fella to apply some short-strand resin fibreglass or some SMC Panel Bond(a 3M product my trade swears by) before he puts on body filler. He should have a repair that will withstand the elements for a little longer!

I admit, due to the nature of working in a collision shop, I often have to just clean out and pave over rust with either/or, and I never see those repairs back after one winter.

Thanks again for the responses and positive feedback everyone!

 

[e-tek]

kyle - you have the gift (much of it being an interest!). I grew up in shops in the grind and fill days, but have gotten to prractice metalwork a lot now that it's just a hobby. You definitely don't need a oldtimer to learn this as it seems the young guns are doing all the great work now-a-days.
MP&C on here is a great metal worker and those sites you posted are awesome. All it really takes are a few good tools (shrinker/stretcher, english wheel, planisher), a lot of trial and error practice and a boss that's not such an A-HOLE!!!
Good luck with it and keep showing us the way!!

 

[e-tek]

This one........

Some POR15 under that would take care of the rust once and for all!!

 

[MP&C]

Kyle, good on you for taking the time to fabricate a repair piece.....careful...it's habit forming

Now that your boss has seen you do this you can expect him to send more such work your way..

Etek, thanks for the props. I should be building an Ewheel in a few weeks once all the parts are collected, so that should help out forming the compound curved stuff..

 

[lilredex]

Some POR15 under that would take care of the rust once and for all!!

I am only an observer (from a distance) on this one. Already have more projects than I can handle in this lifetime. Expect him to be driving something newer in the next year or two anyway, but it is interesting to see how a baker handles the situation.............

 

[thesilverone]

was that on a 97-04 chevy mailbu or 97-99 oldsmobile cutlass?

 

[kyleholmes]

Good eye thesilverone! It was on a 02' Malibu.

MP&C, I hold your work, and the work of a few select others on those boards in VERY high regards. I always make a point to read everything you post. Much respect for you, sir.

Yet another peach was sitting in my stall this mornin', a vintage 01' Caravan - not so grand. The quarter was plowed, and rotten, and with repair of the sooner, comes the latter - for free.

So, this one was a super-quickie!

The first two photos are of the cancer, and the panel I roughed out with a uni-spotter(read: money-maker).

The next should(technology willing) be of the hi-tek tape template, cut blank and my lovely Powerfist(french for "Harbor Freight") sheers.

and lastly, insertion... of the patch.

from grinder to primer, I had about 6 hours invested in this entire repair. Unfortunately, there was some filler involved on the collision repair. cave and pave baby.

Again, all photos were shot with my Canon 5DMkII.

 

[morehead]

Nice work keep it coming!! E tek must have shares in POR 15,got some have not used it yet.Ever "glued" any metal instead of welding?

 

[thesilverone]

Good eye thesilverone! It was on a 02' Malibu.

My daily driver is a 98 Olds Cutlass with the same cancer under the fuel fill door.

 

[kyleholmes]

morehead: I glue panels all the time! Using 3M's SMC Panel Bond, most common way to skin a door, or put a quarter or roof on. great stuff, a real money maker.