body working tools

[1guydude]

Im debating buying a small beginner body tool set for working bodys and skins and such.
1st off. I have no idea how these tools even work or wat they are called individually. I have an idea and I work with my hands as a aluminum straightener for a profession aerospace wise so I think I could catch on.

2nd are these tools even made for heavy duty steel old trucks like ours? Or more so for newer plastic cars?
Id need a cpl hand anvils and a cpl different hammers....

Buddys told me to buy new body parts. Why not fix the ones I got? Tools were $25 on CL.
thoughts>? too much time and hassle? Ill see if I can dig up the link and post it up.
-d

[sargentrs]

I've the same thoughts myself, just haven't acted on them. Curious to see how you progress and what you wind up with. Personally, I wouldn't invest a lot of money in high dollar body tools until I've had the chance to work with it first and see if I have the skills to be any good. Keep us posted on your progress and what you discover!

[1guydude]

https://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/tls/6081094010.html

well I sent em an email. we will see. hopefully ill get em and tell u guys how it goes.
-d

[HIO Silver]

Learn by doing. Read some books. Watch a few videos. Get a scrap fender and practice.

Start with a door ding... then a deeper dent. Then an edge.

[Lone Ranger]

25 bucks is cheaper than a bunch of new body panels. I'd say well worth it, lots of dents want to be straight so they will pop out easy. Just use a hammer on each side. You don't have to smack the metal real hard usually.
On my old truck the wheel wells in the box were totally screwed up but I made them look 90% better in 10 minutes. Quite a few spots on the bed are really hard to get to. If you can only knock out half your dents it's still totally worth it.

[Lone Ranger]

I just checked out that ad and not really sure how those tools work. They almost look like spot welding and pulling tools. Harbor freight sells a cheap set. It's basically different hammers and blocks.

[Madman]

I got a body tool set from my father before he passed away, never got to have him mentor me on the use. I've been watching youtube videos while on nightshifts, and it has helped me immensely in understanding what they are used for and the correct application. I suggest the same if you don't have a journeyman tech to learn from in person.

[Ranchero50]

allmetalshaping.com

Cheap tools are OK but the metal is too soft and they'll get dinged up which transfers dings to your repaired panels. Good tools are almost too expensive for the use a duty of a part time guy. I made a bunch of bucks for forming stuff and they came in handy when I did my fairing on the bike.

[Lone Ranger]

Wow that is some excellent metal work there!

[Jacksdad]

Ranchero is correct - good body work tools are generally a lot harder than the cheap stuff. It's definitely a great way to get started, but it's worth tracking down some better tools as you progress.