[kidscars]

where can I learn what I need to know to not screw up simple body work?

heck.. lets jump in with two feet... where can I learn what I need to know to do complicated body work...

either way knowing if we screw up too bad we can re do it.....

recommeneded books? etc?

I do good spraying, thats' not my fear, filler and finish prior to paint is the big concern.

thanks for yer gu idance

[sunsetdart]

There are lots of books on doing bodywork. I'd check out any search engine and just type in "books on automotive bodywork".
You say you are good at spraying.....welllllllll, you better get to be the best at doing bodywork, because 98% of a paint job is preparation, and that means the bodywork MUST be right or the paint will look like crap.
I don't want to sound like I doubt your present abilities, but after doing bodywork for over 30 yrs, I've seen it all.
I suggest practicing on some things like an old fender or hood or even and old junker......practice, practice, practice. Best advice......learn from every mistake you make, cause you will make tons of them.

[deadbodyman]

There is no "simple bodywork" It just looks simple.The more you know,The harder it gets....Books wont help,they ARE something to do though and a good starting point...Good body and paint men cant even tipe ,never mind writen a book..You need to work with someone that knows......Many someones....It takes A newguy about three months to learn how metal streaches and responds so he can fix small quarter size dings properly...I ve been at it for 35 yrs and I'm STILL learning .However.....you can get satisfactory,doityourself results if your interseted and ask.....right here....Youve already started,and didnt even realize it......You just cant help learning something here.....I do every day.....

[oldBodyman]

I'll be the Devil here

I hope you are looking at bodywork as a hobby and wish you well with it.
As a job FORGET IT for too many good reasons to list, it's a 'sunset' industry.

The only way to learn is hands-on practice so buy some body tools at Harbor Freight and play with it to see if you really want to get into it. Its loud, dirty, smells bad, tastes worse and is usually thankless. If you still like it and want to upgrade to Snap-on or Mac tools, be prepared to spend and wait, few dealers still stock body tools on their trucks, it's a 'sunset' industry.

You could take some welding courses to learn MIG, TIG and spot welding sheet metal and practice, practice and more practice.

The heat gun is your friend, the #1 reason for material failure is moisture in the metal before applying the filler. The metal should be 15 - 20F hotter than ambient room temp before applying filler or primer.

Safety first, NO car is worth getting hurt over and fires spread fast.

[deadbodyman]

As a hobby,it cant be beat...Going pro just ruins everything...as with ALL good hobbies...

[timothale]

google Jeff lilly restorations. they have lots of tech info, metal work. build tips, etc ... you can also google... Google Books and do the search for paint and body work. auto body repair. auto body and paint repair ... metal farbication... a lot of the books have previews that you can read to see if you want to buy the book. my nephew used to stop by a body shop walking home from Jr High school and watch from outside the shop. The owner let him in and he asked a lot of questions and got a lot of tips, the kid got real good at painting cars. It was just a hobby for him.

[deadbodyman]

Also ,ANY retired bodymen,like "Moon tanker" for instance, but in your area.

[Lost in NJ]

I started from nothing and figured out quite a bit with simple tools. I read a technical book from the early 70's that talked about how metal moves. It was an votech text book. Also rent some videos from smartflix.com.


See the link to my website.
http://home.comcast.net/~68c/Metalworking.htm

[66GMC]

I'm in the same kind of situation right now, and getting ready to dive right in to my 66.

I want to do it myself ... and hopefully do it right. I guess I'm kind of fussy that way.

"Grandpa's old truck" was pretty dinged up when he gave it to his grand-daughter and I back in 1981. I jokingly referred to his driving technique as "driving by ear".

Anyway ... we had the truck "restored" back in 1983, and it was fairly obvious that there was a LOT of bondo used. The box-sides were the worst, but to be fair ... there was a lot of stretched metal there.

I just found a fairly good used set of them ... at least they look good from the inside, so I'll probably start with them.
I've also found a good used hood, as the old one is also badly rusted both front and rear, where dirt and moisture were trapped betwwen the hood and braces.


So here's my plan.
Bang, grind, and weld away on the old panels first. Who knows ... IF I am successful in repairing them I might even be able to sell them.

I have bought a few tools ... things that I think to be pretty much essential.
-Hammer & Dolly
-DA Sander
-Primer Gun (I have the old-school suction type, might buy an HVLP)
-Paint Mask
-Face shield.
-Dust masks
-Air drill (and "rotobroach" spot-weld cutter)
-Air Die-Grinder / 3" cut-off wheel.
-Panel Crimper (for rust repair panels)
-Stud welder/puller (H & S Autoshot "Uni-spotter"). I just got this actually ... and it's an amazing toy!
-"Mig" Welder. (Yeah, it's the Lincoln "100" 110V / flux wire type ... which I hope will do for sheetmetal repairs. I'm enrolled in an evening welding class at the local agricultural college as well ... hopefully learning not to make "bird-dropping" style welds. We started with oxy-acetelyne, then stick, and will start on MIG next Tuesday.
-Air "Nibbler". Again, it's the $49.95 variety ... but I'm hoping to use it to "clean up" some of the corner cuts made with the die-grinder.
-5 HP 18.5 CFM shop compressor. If you're gonna have and use air tools ...

So what else should a guy have?
"Spoons" for sure probably ... right?

[66GMC]

Originally Posted by Lost in NJ

I started from nothing

Yeah. That's my story, too.

"I started out with nothing ...
and still have most of it left."

[deadbodyman]

I just went to a metalshaping class that took 4 hrs to get to, it was an 8hr class...I was told I was to advanced to waste my time but I explained I'll learn something from anyone and it'll be worth it...Well, I learnd a crapload and would do it again.The man was an airplane builder retired from delta and he had so many tricks,I was floored...I made him some special hammers just so I could have an excuss to go back there...I'd check out this site,these guys know metal and love to help....http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showt...ewpost.....and if you like making your own tools they'll show you a pro does it. everyones welcome..

[deadbodyman]

So what else should a guy have?
[/QUOTE]66,
You already have more than you need,the tools,the interest all you need is know how,thats right here at this site...just ask a question,Like ...whats first?

[cyclopsblown34]

Thanks BDBM, I had forgotten all about that site. I learned a lot on that site about using my short circuit device for sticking metal together.

[deadbodyman]

I just joined yesterday...Some guy built a welding kart that smokes anything I've ever seen before.A piece of art,makes me wonder what their serious work looks like.

[cyclopsblown34]

You're going to be lost for days while on there. So much cool stuff being built there.