I've spent a half-century doing it on an almost daily basis, and am far from an "expert", and am still learning.
Most of the info on the internet is bogus, and the generation of real metalmen has died off.
There are a few old guys like me left that were fortunate to learn some from them, but nobody is interested in doing that kind of work today, sad...
Torch setup is an absolute must.
Not only for shrinking but obviously for most welding involving patch panels; gas weld is soft and workable vs MIG, which is hard and completely unworkable.
Most panel repair sections are "hammer welded", fusion welding vs a bunch of tack welds.
Have fun!
Glen
--Previous Message--
: I've got a shrinking hammer...not
: impressed. I've had some success with
: the disk. Problem is I don't have an
: oxy/acetelyn torch, just propane and
: mapp gas. I'll post some shots next
: time I get that buldge. Primer hides
: the flaws, but when I get paint on it
: they'll stand out
:
: --Previous Message--
: Shrinking is part of the art of
: understanding the metal and what it's
: doing.
: Conventional heat shrinking is the most
: effective way to do it.
: Cold shrinking hammer, discs,
: heat/quench, etc, are all minimally
: effective if that.
: Watch out for overshrinking and false
: stretch, especially on flat panels.
: There are many techniques that you
: won't find in current literature or on
: the internet.
: Old books on traditional metalworking
: are a good source of info.
: In addition to oxy/acetylene, different
: dollys, hammers, spoons, picks, etc,
: you'll need to make some slappers, I
: make them out of old files.
: Shrinking on flat or very low crown
: areas is done "on dolly",
: high crowns usually no dolly. I
: normally use a smooth-face flat hammer
: vs shrinking face. (I very rarely ever
: use that). Bring the spot, size
: determined by area being worked, up to
: at least a good cherry, and VERY
: quickly (CRITICAL!) hammer it down. It
: loses color fast and it has to be
: worked while it has color. At that
: point it's also very easy to
: overquench/overshrink, you have to read
: the metal and understand what it's
: doing.
: Keep at it, and whenever you get
: frustrated just stop and consider that
: you're smarter than that chunk of
: metal, don't let it fool you!
: Glen
:
: --Previous Message--
: This was self inflicted wound. Dropped
: something on it. But at that, there is
: no bondo on this bonnet. It's got a few
: other dings in the power bulge I need
: to work out some more. Maybe I can make
: use of that shrinking disk a bit more.
:
: --Previous Message--
: It isn't really difficult, everything's
: simple if you understand it.
: Understanding what the metal is doing,
: having the tools, and using them
: properly is all it takes.
: Understanding the metal is key.
: It's very rewarding though to be able
: to take a balled-up POS and making it
: whole again, and doing it the right
: way.
: One never knows once the paint is on,
: but it's simply just doing things
: right...
: Good luck!
: Glen
:
: --Previous Message--
: Thanks guys. It really wasn't that
: tough.
: More elbow grease, but certainly
: cheaper than and easier than replacing
: the panel for sure.
:
: Now I need to find a dolly on a stick.
:
: --Previous Message--
: Folks total cars too easily these days.
: Now, it didn't seem difficult
: considering having the car another
: twenty years.
:
:
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: Well Hazen, having spent many thousands
: of hours "tinknocking" over
: the past 50 years, I can appreciate
: that.
: Nice job, all metal finished and ready
: for primer!
: Glen
: metal is my friend
:
: --Previous Message--
: Check this out.
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