DIY Panel Beating.what do we need?

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~

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

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

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

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...

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.👎

ah all you need is heaps of bog😂

yeh i know.😢

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

vwsteve wrote:ah all you need is heaps of bog😂

carefull who you say that around, some people actually do it 🤪

yikes!, the weight of all that bog would have been like dropped spindles😂

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!

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 ...)

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 😉