In the past, we've presented metal-shaping articles that showed the average, inexperienced Joe how to create just about anything from a flat sheet of steel, provided he has access to the right tools. The problem is that many of those tools are large, expensive, and more fitting for someone planning to do a lot of shaping on a regular basis. Honestly, as much as we might like to daydream about crafting custom panels on an English wheel, the truth is it's just not realistic for the average hot rodder. So what do you do if you just want to create simple patch panels or repair or modify existing steel? You go back to the basics. After all, there are only four things you can do to metal: cut it, bend it, shrink it, and stretch it. With a combination of these manipulations, you can create anything from flat sheet, and you can do it by hand.
From advanced forming to basic bits, custom sheetmetal work is what Walden Speed Shop specializes in. The original '34 three-window in the foreground is Bobby Walden's personal car and has just received its third and final chop. The '32 behind it was assembled from Brookville parts and has a Walden chop as well.
To get a primer on basic metal shaping, we headed over to Walden Speed in Pomona, California. Bobby Walden's impressively clean shop hosts a multitude of intimidating power-shaping machines, but we wanted to know how to morph metal with only readily available handtools. Fortunately, Mike Romero and Blake Tomlinson are true metal-shaping geeks (and we mean that in only the most respectful way) and were happy to show us some basic techniques that anyone can learn at home.
Lurk 'N' Learn In Forums
An easy way to get your feet wet and familiarize yourself with terminology and tools is to spend some quality time browsing the forums where the true enthusiasts hang out. Here are a few:
www.allmetalshaping.com
www.allshops.org
www.metalmeet.com
www.metalshapers.org
www.offroadfabnet.com
Basic Hammering Technique
Forming An Edge
Creating A Rolled Edge
The Shrinker/Stretcher
Tuck Shrinking
The Sandbag
The Stump
Take A Class
Ready to step up and learn tips and techniques from pros? Here are some of the classes we found that are worth checking out.
Although you can start with as many or as few tools as you want, Walden recommends this setup as an excellent starting point for occasional custom work. What we have is a mix of the most common hammers, dollies, left and right sheetmetal sheers, a sandbag, a spoon, a hand shrinker/stretcher, and a handmade tuck shrinker and T's. One excellent place to get these tools is The Eastwood Co. (www.eastwood.com).
Cal Davis; Crossville, TN; www.metalcrafttools.com
Clay Cook; Erlanger, KY; www.ccookenterprises.com
Dagger Tools; Wixom, MI; www.daggertools.com
Dutch Comstock; East Herkimer, NY; www.comstockmetalshaping.com
Fay Butler; Wheelwright, MA; www.faybutler.com
Lazze; Pleasanton, CA; www.lazzemetalshaping.com
Performance Metal Shaping; Edgewater, FL; www.performancemetalshaping.net
Ron Covell; Freedom, CA; www.covell.biz
Ron Fournier; Shelby Twp, MI; www.fournierenterprises.com
Sunchaser Tools; Pasadena, CA; www.sunchasertools.com
Walden Speed Shop; Pomona, CA; www.waldenspeedshop.com
