Any tricks to panel beating?
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 126
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Any tricks to panel beating?
My rear wheel housings (is that the correct terminology?) are somewhat dented like a bad case of hail damage. I've got myself a panel beater's flat hammer and dolly (which is virtually impossible to use on your own unless you have arms as long as Grape Ape). So anyway, I've been bashing away at the sheet metal and not real seeing an improvement which is frustrating. I am somewhat impatient, but after several hours there really isn't much result.
Is there a certain method I should employ, or am I being to ambitious to expect the sheet metal to be bashed back to almost how it should look? I really would like to avoid using any bog.
Thanks in advance.
Is there a certain method I should employ, or am I being to ambitious to expect the sheet metal to be bashed back to almost how it should look? I really would like to avoid using any bog.
Thanks in advance.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 640
Likes: 1
From: US/Baja border
Exactly!!! Read up on what you are doing then try fixing a junked part before you start beating on your poor truck.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,219
Likes: 190
From: Colorado Springs
A lot of the time you cannot hammer and dolly a part as it sits installed. Drill out spot welds and remove a panel and then you can get access to do a really good job.
I think you are talking about the quarter panels. If you want a perfect job you will need to remove them to get the top edges and above the wheel area.
Is it worth it? For my builds where I'm super obsessive, it's the only way to do it so yes.
At some point there is not enough damage to justify removing the panel. At this point you will want to weld studs along a dent and use a slide hammer to pull out dents.
You can gain some knowledge online. But not much. Read the little red hammer and dolly book.
I will be posting a bunch of dent/ panel repair and custom metal work down the line with the goal of almost perfectly flat sheet metal.
I think you are talking about the quarter panels. If you want a perfect job you will need to remove them to get the top edges and above the wheel area.
Is it worth it? For my builds where I'm super obsessive, it's the only way to do it so yes.
At some point there is not enough damage to justify removing the panel. At this point you will want to weld studs along a dent and use a slide hammer to pull out dents.
You can gain some knowledge online. But not much. Read the little red hammer and dolly book.
I will be posting a bunch of dent/ panel repair and custom metal work down the line with the goal of almost perfectly flat sheet metal.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
Watch some youtube videos on using body hammers for metal working, you can start here:
Understanding the shrinking and stretching effects of steel and how to correct for it is very important, and a video is the best way to understand.
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