Pounding out a dent, Dent size = Hammer size Options

[Spoke]

I've decided to keep my wrecked red car until my new 74 2L 914 from Part Pricer is road ready.

I just needed to pound out a few dents to get Big Red back on the road.

Here's a couple of before pics.

[John Kelly]

QUOTE (newto914s @ Apr 4 2006, 07:55 PM)

QUOTE (Spoke @ Apr 4 2006, 07:12 PM) Some of the metal has been stretched by the accident. How do I get it to go back to its original shape? Shrinking dollies and hammers. They are what you use to unstretch the metal. Eastwood search

Those shrinking hammers and dollies are...for want of a better word: crap. They sell a lot of them, but all they do is mark up the metal with the harshest, least effective shrinking method ever. You would get better results just welding in the area you want to shrink....my very humble opinion.

A torch can shrink stretched ares, but you have to practice a lot to get the technique down. One thing...heat only a little bit. The metal should not turn red like so many people recommend....or even blue. It is not necessary and distorts and hardens the metal. Heat just until the metal steams when you quench it with water. This is a gentle, effective way to shrink.

A shrinking disc is the easiest and best method of shrinking, but may not be a good investment for one time use. Here is one of my shrinking disc albums with a little more information:

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/comm...d=9980121727059

If you are broke, you can make one from a stainless saucepan lid. Won't work as well, but the price can't be beat. Here is an article with some shrinking disc instruction in it:

http://metalshapers.org/101/jkelly/index.html

John www.ghiaspecialties.com

[Spoke]

A shrinking disc is the easiest and best method of shrinking

John,

I want to get one of your shrinking disks. Which one should I purchase for working around the rear fender? PM sent.

Spoke