Tech - Build a grill shell with minimal of tools

I know there are a lot of great builders on here. I just wanted to throw this up in case anyone was wanting any info on building your own panels with a minimal of expense. As your skills get better you can then decide if you want to shell out the money on fancier tools. Here is a grill shell that I started the other night with the bare minimal of tools.






Everything you see in the first two pictures was created with a rubber mallet and a gas welding cap. No planishing hammer or wheels have been used. A big rubber mallet works well stretching the metal over the round welding gas cap.





Here you see a simple piece of metal that has been cut out.



The rubber mallet and welding cap could not get the radius I desired. I made a hammer out of an old wooden baseball bat.



The big end would be great for a shotbag (which I do not own). The smaller end was great for forming the steel down in the corner of a piece of c channel.



Here is the part after only being shaped with the wooden hammer in the c channel.







Everything you see up to and including these pictures was created with a handmade hammer, c channel, gal welding cap and rubber mallet.

Here is the previously made part laying on the grill.

 

Winner! Nice work, tin basher!


What, ya mean it ain't even tech week yet?





Later, *****6

 

Good work . Just goes to show what a guy can do with a little ingenuity. Keep at it and youll be a Ron Covell in no time !!!! Check out my build >>

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=522617

 

Thanks guys! It has been a lot of fun creating it..

 

I love caveman tech! (that is a compliment)

 

I love saving old parts. The grill is not made to oem specs. It was built by a local guy in the early 80's and a factory grill did not fit it I figured I could let it sit on the wall or build a shell for it.

Sometimes having more time than money is a blessing..

 

I like this. I don't either have much metalworking special tools but I get things done somehow.

 

it's always more impressive when something is created with less

 

It is usually more fun too...

 

those hand made tools get used the most don't they. Can't wait to see the finshed suround

 

looking good

 

I know mine sure do.. I can't wait to see it done either.

 

That's great!
Just knowing that someone else also builds parts in that manner makes me feel a lot better!

 

A very good example of not needing high dollar tools to make something nice.

 

Nice....now thats garage logic for sure...

 

I believe this kind of tech post is what the HAMB is really about.

Those poor rich guys who can only do it with their money will never know the pleasure and pride of doing it yourself.

 

This is what inspires me to get out there and keep working... Great job, can't wait to see more pictures!

 

Real nice job!
Let's people what can be achieved
with homemade tools, and stick to it mind set.

Bob-Hampshire, Illinois

 

I thought it had the best of me a few times, but it was nothing that heating it back up couldn't solve..

 

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Is there a difference between caveman tech and hillbilly tech? Maybe hillbillies can use power tools not originally designed for the purpose?

 

A good friend of mine is the son of Valley Custom. They had VERY minimal tools. ( used the light pole outside the shop for making bends.) They still managed to make some of THE most influential customs EVER!!

 

I must say that these two pieces were a lot of fun to make. I actually counted 319 hits with the hammers and mallets. That comes out to about 2.5 beers.

 

Let's see, Hammers and Beer, that's a great combination...
Too funny.......


Nice work, keep us posted....

 

way to go! thats awesome, low buck rules.they say alot of those italian cars were pounded with mallets into tree stumps