Neil, I started an advance body shop class earlier this summer at our local Jr. Collage and only went to the first four days of it. It took me the better part of a week to get all the damage done to the rear fender by the instructor with a picking hammer straightened out. I lost $300 worth of tuition in the experience but gained a lot of confidance in my own ability. The rough out and fill method was what was being taught there. I suppose when you stand back and look at the purpose of the class that turning out body men that can make a fast buck for the body shop, not craftsmen that can reshape metal was the first priority.
After a month of practice I have pretty much been able to take a fender with 60 years of normal dents and dings and beat it back into shape without filing any of the original material away and using and a very small amount of plastic filler to finish the inevitable minor low spots. Done properly the filler used can be reduced to just a little more than the thickness of a fast fill primer.
I would recommend finding an old fender, purchasing an assortment of hammers and dollies and just start practicing, practicing and practicing more. There are a lot of "how to" videos and instruction on the internet that can teach you the basics but in the end it is a skill that you can only learn by lots of hands on "practice" very much like learning to play a musical instrument.
If you're cutting out panels and welding in replacements it is nearly impossible to finsh the joint with out using some filler whether it is lead or plastic. But with careful fit up and some patience welding you can minamize the filler here also.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Last edited by Denny Graham; 10/16/2008 6:45 PM.
