Could it be? An Actual Tech Post from me? Atomic Punk panel progress.

I tend to get pretty caught up in working and never take pics as I go when I am doing something so I thought that I would try and do better this time around.

The punk body was pretty much complete except for the filler panels that tie the Chevy hood roll pan to the 54 Olds sides. I made a cardboard template and gave it about and inch and a half on the top and bottom for "Fudge factor". ....and for once I ain't talking about the packing kind. Ha Ha Ha OK so I didn't take a pic of that.

I used a blocking hammer to rough the panel into shape.

 

I then took it to the english wheel and rolled out all of the lumps.

Then I put it up on the car to size it up. Clecos are your friend.

 

As you work the metal it tends to do weird stuff to the outside edges. You need to shrink and/or stretch them accordingly to get the waves out of the metal.

 

Once you get the panel to fit halfway close, you need to trim it down closer to the size that it needs to be. The extra material can hold a lot of shape and by removing it is is easier to get the piece you want to fit to take form.

I started tacking this piece across the top before I cut it off at the bottom. Don't get in a hurry to cut the pice to fit the hole you have because as you weld on it it pulls things tighter here and there and you will end up with a big gap if you trim it up too soon.

I use a cut off wheel in a right angle grinder to do all of my cuts. If you use a thin wheel then you end up with a close to perfect gap for the butt welding clamps to fit.

 

I just cut the piece to fit and tacked as I went and before you know it, you are done!

I still need to finish weld the pieces. I may do that tonight, but you know 24 and CSI is on, so I will probably just lay on the couch and watch TV. Ha Ha Ha

 

you made that look really easy. I'd be interested in what can be done instead of the e-wheel, you could do all fo it with hammers couldn't you?

 

sure...just need more mud....

 

Who says that you can't buy salvation?......You can get in in gallons or quarts.....Bondo! ha ha ha

Yeah you can use hammers, but like Don says (when did you change your name anyway?) You would have to use more Polyester leveling enhancer to cover up your work.

I won't name drop but a respected metal man told me "Can you use a pick hammer to make a fender?....Yes, you sure can, but it would look like you used a pick hammer to make it." Ha Ha Ha

Once I finish weld the panel in and dolly out the welds a bit I will hit it with some 80 grit and that will remove all of the wheel marks in it.

Nate, I could lie to you and tell you how I toiled on it for days on end but I did each side in a couple of hours with a couple of beers in between. Sometimes the tools do make the job possible. I am definitely no expert, this is only the second time I have used the E-wheel.

 

Aaron, thats some nice work!

I'm just starting to learn about working shit metal on cars (thanks for teachin my dumb ass,EVILT ) and you make this look sooo easy. Please keep showing guys like me your work, and your methods.

 

bullshit. ever heard of a planishing hammer? hell, you can planish by hand too, it just takes time.

 

yeah, that's what I was thinking about, was it choprods who showed how to smooth out a big round fender with a hammer and a bowling ball?

Anyway, looks good plowboy, thanks for sharing

 

How P.C. !

Nice work, Plowboy. Any job is so much easier with the correct tools.

 

I have a planishing hammer, but it doesn't do as good of a job as the wheel. It is a cheapo though. It doesn't have a whole lot of wham-o to it and it still leaves hammer marks though.

 

it doesn't really need much of a hit to work. rough the panel in with a hammer the same as you did with the ewheel. then a rough planishing pass with the pressure on the hammer set pretty high, to remove the marbles, then dial back the pressure to get lighter hits to remove any hammer marks. if you are still getting hammer marks with low air pressure, then you are probably using a die with too much radius. but you probably knew all that.

BTW, nice work!

 

Thanks for the hints Ray! I think part of the problem was that the piece was too small and needed too much of a curve for the planishing hammer to work well. It was only the 3rd time I ever used the hammer as well. It is awfully noizy and I am too lazy to put my earplugs in and out so I just liked to work the wheel for a bit and rock out to the tunes on the radio.

 

Aaron, if you were a girl I'd ask you to sell me your panties.

Oh man, I even grossed myself out with that nasty comment.

 

LMAO!!!!

 

Self taught metalman! Another interesting update, Plowboy. He said 'fudge' and pack in the same sentence. P.S. the Axe Master Eddie Van Halen turned 52 last Fri. Atomic Punk!

 

Monsterflake, NickGee, 'Superfriend Mark' and myself went to Aarons yesterday. It was a fun time. We sat around and gossiped the whole time because we are girls I guess.

Aaron gives a good garage tour. The atomic punk is looking pretty B.A. (that stands for Bad Ass) Aaron save the left side to do while we where there but I guess when 4 more guys get there that can help, nothing gets done. haha. I can't wait to see the progress on this thing. Its gonna be wild.

He also took us to Russ' to see the Stude Coupster. Russ gets shit done too. He doesnt lollygag.

Aaron has lots of cool parts at his place. Bet he could make a killin' on ebay.

Don't forget to get your passport Aaron.

 

Looking good Aaron!

So, how is Russ' Stude coming along?

Y'all got heated garages, don't ya? Ain't got shit done on my A! Been to freakin' cold to drag my sorry ass out to the garage and freeze it!

Tim D.

 

So I guess the boredom got to you on saturday and you actually did something? Looks good!

 

You are so dreamy...

 

Nads, I could send you some slightly stained tighty whities if you would like!

Bustedlifter, I could only sit idle so long......

Slammed, I wouldn't say self taught...somewhat....Jim from MetalAce is a friend of mine, he came over and showed me how to use the wheel properly.

Eddie may be 52 but he looks like 92 these days.....Hey kids, don't smoke! Ha Ha Ha

It is always good to see the Handsome Nicks from Bethalto, and of course it is good to spoon with Stevie and his wingman Mark. Thanks for coming over to bolster my fragile ego! Ha Ha Ha

 

Gleeco's are your friend??? I thought Fabio was your friend!!!

Get cookin!! I want to see it done!
Clark

 

sorry dorks i've been busy fightin'at work and checkin' out hottie therapist students at the hospital. mark has a stunning ability to bring any project to a screeching halt, but i love him anyway. here's a couple of pictures to jerk off to...

 

russ has a hellova map light there....

 

That car is going to be bitchin'. Nice

 

I'm seriously diggin' that metal work.

Doc.

 

That friggin' thing rocks!! Now that I see it, it's one of those, why-didn't-anyone-think-of-it-before deals - that Stude's a natural cut up as a highboy. And love the interior light - cars behind you may not though!!

Steve

 

Clark, Fabio and YOU are both my friends.

Remember kids, the Stude is the Cisco Kid's not mine......

That Plowboy magazine was a nice little gift from Doc.

I see that I escaped the camera once again except for my manly chest.