| Repairing Early Model Cars | | | | high areas with a body hammer. It is important to |
| On early model vehicles the metal was thick, | | | | do this at the same time. Just pulling out on the |
| which had advantages and disadvantages. First of | | | | low area will cause the metal to be over pulled |
| all, they had a lot of metal to work with. This | | | | and stretch the metal. Just hammering in on the |
| allowed body men to hammer, dolly and pick on | | | | highs may cause the entire area to be hammered |
| the metal, then file the top surface knocking the | | | | in too much. This is referred to as chasing your |
| high areas down. Then they could repeat the | | | | damage around. It is always better to have |
| process, work the metal and file the surface level. | | | | multiple forces at one time. You need to think of |
| This allowed the body man to metal finish much | | | | it as rolling the damage out, rather than |
| of the damages without the need of body fillers. | | | | hammering or beating it out. The metal wants to |
| This is called metal finishing. If there were still a | | | | go back to its original shape, you just need to |
| few imperfections remaining, the body man would | | | | help persuade it to. Forcing metal will result in |
| use lead to fill the lows and file the surface level | | | | stretched metal. |
| and smooth. | | | | KISS Keep It Simple Silly |
| Advantages and Disadvantages | | | | When you have access, a hammer and dolly can |
| The advantage they had was the possibility to | | | | be used. This is probably going to be the fastest |
| straighten and work the metal without the use of | | | | way to repair the damage if you have access. |
| fillers. If we tried to use those methods on | | | | When performing auto body repair, think like |
| vehicles today, we would have a hole in the part | | | | electricity. Electricity move where ever it is |
| from filing through the part. If we didn't file a hole | | | | easiest for it to pass through. The path of least |
| through the part, it would be very thin and weak. | | | | resistance. This is why a ground wire is used on |
| Another advantage of working on early model | | | | homes. If lightening hits your house, it will follow |
| vehicles is being able to get to both sides of the | | | | that ground wire that is attached to a ground rod |
| panel. Vehicles today have limited access. It is | | | | that in hammered in the ground, as that is the |
| hard to get behind most panels to use the | | | | path of least resistance. When determining how to |
| hammer and dolly method. The disadvantage of | | | | repair a dent, just try to think of what would be |
| working metal on early model cars was the | | | | easiest. Just because you have an expensive |
| strength of the thick steel; it hard to move, | | | | piece of equipment does not mean that you have |
| unlock, and reshape. It took a lot more force to | | | | to use it every time. If you can reach behind the |
| move the thick metal when straightening. The | | | | panel and pull out on the low with one hand and |
| lead filler that was used also took more time and | | | | push down on the high with the other hand, then |
| skill to fill the small imperfections. We are also | | | | simply use your hand to repair the damage. It |
| more educated about lead today and the safety | | | | may still need a little hammer and dolly work |
| hazards of it. | | | | afterwords, but I have repaired many dents with |
| Repairing Vehicles of Today | | | | nothing but my hands. Remember today's metals |
| Today's vehicles are thinner and have very limited | | | | are thin and it does not take much to dent or |
| access. However, improved fillers, such as body | | | | repair it. |
| filler and tools have made the job easier. The | | | | What Ever It Takes |
| most common tool to use for repairing dents is a | | | | Whether you're working on early or late model |
| stud nail gun. The cost of a stud nail gun ranges | | | | vehicles, just remember to select the tools that |
| between $200 to $500. This tool tacks a small nail | | | | will make the job easiest to repair. Don't over |
| to the surface. Then you get a slide hammer or | | | | work the thin metal on late model vehicles, as the |
| t-handle to pull on the nail. Therefore, you tack | | | | metals are thin. The use of body filler will help |
| the nails to the low areas and lightly tap on the | | | | repair the surface back to its original shape. |