Bodywork *******

[MP&C]

We just finished up a ******* for bodywork/metal shaping, thought I would show the "build" in case someone else may want to fab one up. Starting with the material, here's a freebie my Nephew picked up from the car dealership he works at now...

Cutting down to size. Leaf was 2-1/2 wide, started with a length of 10-1/2....

Cut out and edges radiused/deburred:

Used a small rosebud torch to heat up and make the bends. "Pad" was bent at about 4-1/2"....

The face of the ******* was sanded prgressively to smooth the surface, starting with 60 grit and finishing up with 1500 and then 3000 3M Trizact for a mirror finish.

Comparison to the Snap-on version

It has a bit more weight to go with that extra size, and the leaf spring looks beefy enough to make some right angle dolly-spoons I've been needing. Making this one I probably have about $10 in abrasives and O/A

 

[jamesemery728]

Great idea and very well done. Did you have to reharden the bend area after it was bent?

 

[MP&C]

As tough as the metal was on the abrasives, it didn't lose much temper at all.....

 

[bmwpower]

Awesome. How would you use it?

 

[rockchucker]

Wouldn't you use it as a sort of "Dolly" in the inside of the Panel?

Very nice! Looks like a very good Tool!

 

[MP&C]

Awesome. How would you use it?

To simplify the explanation, when doing hammer and dolly work to eliminate dents, this would give you a larger "face" of a hammer. So with a dolly placed on the underside of the dent, this ******* would in many cases span the dent at the top, allowing you to fix the dent with less effort and less chance of further stretching the metal.

Also can be used as a dolly, as stated.

 

[930dreamer]

Any plans to make more and sell? Maybe a set of two or three?

 

[MP&C]

I have a few different styles that I need for myself, but to be honest was posting this up as a "self serve" how to.... Sorry, I'm too far behind on stuff in the shop now..

 

[e-tek]

Yup - that's EXACTLY what I meant when I said the old-timers at my Dad's shop built some of these for me long ago. Awesome work on the shiny side! Only thing I'd add is softer radius' at the handle end. Gripping that one may be hard on the palm.
Can you send me a couple?!

 

[MP&C]

Heck, this thing is so much heavier than the SnapOn one, I'd be afraid of the postage..



edit....Yeah, I missed rounding the handle end. I'm sure it would have been fixed after the first use..

 

[e-tek]

Heck, this thing is so much heavier than the SnapOn one, I'd be afraid of the postage..

I'm sure you know this, but you'll find the weight mostly advantageous. Won't need to hit it as hard and the larger face will give a more gradual shape to whatever it is your slapping (except your workmates!!)

Love your posts!

 

[gorilla]

Nice work, old leaf spring a good starting point for many tools. I made a ******* from a old 14" ******* file, works good.

 

[54FordPanel]

Nice work!

 

[bchee]

Do you hammer on this thing, or use it like a hammer?

If you use it like a hammer, how come the handle isn't longer?

That mirror finish is unbelievable.

That 3M trizact stuff is also used in the 3M headlight restoration kits

 

[MP&C]

As the name implies, you use it like a *******. (more gently than using a hammer) Because you are not looking at exerting that much force, the shorter handle is more than adequate. Used in conjuction with a dolly on the opposite side, slight "bumping" to move the metal is the intent.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Planishing: to smooth, toughen, and finish (metal) by hammering lightly
— plan·ish·er noun

The action of a ******* is to smooth all the small imperfections that was created when working the metal, ie. planishing the metal. Lots of soft blows, its about finesse, not power.
Rgrds

 

[Brad54]

Ron Covell uses a slap hammer as one of his main tools--it's got a gentle radius on the business end, but a piece of round tubing for a handle, welded at a good angle, to the middle of the face, rather than the handled being attached at the end of the work face as yours is.
I've got a couple lengths of leaf spring specifically for making a couple of slappers. I just haven't gotten to a point in my shop where I can do it. (Messy shop)

-Brad

 

[e-tek]

Ron Covell uses a slap hammer as one of his main tools--it's got a gentle radius on the business end, but a piece of round tubing for a handle, welded at a good angle, to the middle of the face, rather than the handled being attached at the end of the work face as yours is.
I've got a couple lengths of leaf spring specifically for making a couple of slappers. I just haven't gotten to a point in my shop where I can do it. (Messy shop)

-Brad

Well CLEAN UP that friggin mess and get at er!!!

 

[hoopty388]

The first time I heard of a ******* I was confused too

maybe this will help:

also check out http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/index.php

everything you need for metal working... really nice to new guys with dumb questions...lol

 

[Flathead Red]

Very nice. I happen to hav a couple leaf spings that I can use. I'll add this to my list of projects. This should be put in the sticky area of this board. Thanks

Red

 

[cowboy73]

That ******* looks great. Amazing work.