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DIY Panel Beating.what do we need?

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jjwebb123 Wolfsburg Wizard

617 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#774267
Hey Everyone.
As some of you may know,my dad and i have taken on a 1975 kombi for restoration.We are at the point now where everything is stripped,and just about ready to get into the good stuff.We have not done any of this stuff before but would like to give it a crack.Our neighbor is a panel beater by trade so he will give us some pointers but we will be on our own for most of it.

What are the main tools that we will be needing.?
Sandpaper what grain? spraycan container on top or bottom?
beast type of welder?cutting tools.

Any information would be greatly put to use.
Thanks in Advance.
~Jas~
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage."
Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#774287
If you can get hold of a copy of Don Wait's 'Panel Beating & Car Restoration', it will be invaluable. Don was the Head Teacher at Ultimo Tech. when I did my Panel-beating apprenticeship,back in the 1950s. There is probably no-one more knowledgeable on the subject. Don is still around - now in his '90s - I believe.

Cheers, Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#774288
jjwebb123 wrote:Hey Everyone.
As some of you may know,my dad and i have taken on a 1975 kombi for restoration.We are at the point now where everything is stripped,and just about ready to get into the good stuff.We have not done any of this stuff before but would like to give it a crack.Our neighbor is a panel beater by trade so he will give us some pointers but we will be on our own for most of it.

What are the main tools that we will be needing.?
Sandpaper what grain? spraycan container on top or bottom?
beast type of welder?cutting tools.

Any information would be greatly put to use.
Thanks in Advance.
~Jas~
Hi Jason
I believe You can buy a panel beating kit at SUPERCHEAP shops.. its not expensive... AUTO one may have them too..

You need some dollies... and special hammers..

thick pieces of steel shaped to put under the metal You are hitting with a special hammer...

You need to shrink some metal... and stretch other metal..

panel beating isn't like it used to be...lol
the metal panels are usually replaced these days as they are too thin to panel beat...

but if You are cutting rust out and replacing the rusted metal with new metal... there is work for You to do,..

My Son does all mine.... lol

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

jjwebb123 Wolfsburg Wizard

617 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#774291
Thanks guys,ok i will look out for that book,that type of knowledge is getting more and more rare.i never thought of that lee,might check out some autoshops.
im going down town soon to get an orbital sander,what type of sandpaper should i get?
Thanks
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage."
Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#774320
I'm no expert but Wet & dry paper 400 600 800 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              400 600 800      end_of_the_skype_highlighting grit..?

just look at it and get some fairly coarse and some very fine and some in between...

after painting a car, My Son goes over the final coat with wet & dry paper {WET] very very fine...
so the paint will be level...

this is all done by Hand.... using [WET] Wet & dry paper...

then polishes it with an electric polisher... using a special polish... linishing cream.. I think its called

LEE

I suppose You would use a coarse pad in the sander when using it on bare steel...
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

jjwebb123 Wolfsburg Wizard

617 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#774322
yeah my neighbor was telling me about that wet paper to finish it off with.pretty cool stuff
Couldn't get an orbital sander bummer.👎
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage."
Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show

vwsteve karmann crazy

2,087 posts · joined Jul 2006 ·

#774324
ah all you need is heaps of bog😂
1 1963 356b porsche coupe
2 1960 karmann ghia cab
1 1965 karmann ghia cab
1 1966 karmann cab
1 1961 split ute
1 1967 split p/van
1 1952 standard bug
1 1963 ragtop
1 1960 ragtop
2 1954 ovals
1 1956 oval baja project
1 1957 oval flying flea

jjwebb123 Wolfsburg Wizard

617 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#774325
yeh i know.😢
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage."
Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#774330
basic kits like this can got on ebay fairly cheap
its all i use on small stuff


Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#774331
vwsteve wrote:ah all you need is heaps of bog😂
carefull who you say that around, some people actually do it 🤪




vwsteve karmann crazy

2,087 posts · joined Jul 2006 ·

#774333
yikes!, the weight of all that bog would have been like dropped spindles😂
1 1963 356b porsche coupe
2 1960 karmann ghia cab
1 1965 karmann ghia cab
1 1966 karmann cab
1 1961 split ute
1 1967 split p/van
1 1952 standard bug
1 1963 ragtop
1 1960 ragtop
2 1954 ovals
1 1956 oval baja project
1 1957 oval flying flea

type3lover in the garage...

796 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#774351
bog

that's a disgrace Joel...no other way to describe it

There is obviously some skill and natural ability involved to do a good job. Sadly I lack both of these when it comes to panel repair.

Good luck with it!
.

rob53 Officially Full-On Dubber

385 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#774464
i used to have one of the supercheap kits, they weren't too durable but the dolly's were ok but a little on the light side. Try to get at least one good hammer (planishing) which you will use the most.

Cutting tools - angle grinder, rotary tool for ackward bits. Plus aviation tin snips (left, right and straight to make your life easier).

Eye protection and a half decent respirator is a must. (Don't skimp and get the 50c paper masks ...)
Thats not rust, it's ah ... orange primer ... yep that's what it is ...

jjwebb123 Wolfsburg Wizard

617 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#774467
yeh ok thanks for the advice,im going to need it.I had a panel beating apprenticeship lined up,but it just fell through.
so will have to learn my self.😢Anyone know of any jobs going lol 😉
"A car for the people, an affordable Volkswagen, would bring great joy to the masses and the problems of building such a car must be faced with courage."
Adolf Hitler At opening of 1934 Berlin Auto Show