dolly and hammer advice?
 

I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
and paint to be presentable.

The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

You'll need a sledge hammer, those silly people back in the forties
thought you should be able to stand on car fenders.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Lee Ayrton wrote:
>
> I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> and paint to be presentable.
>
> The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
> them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
> briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
> like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
> like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

You'll need a sledge hammer, those silly people back in the forties
thought you should be able to stand on car fenders.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Lee Ayrton wrote:
>
> I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> and paint to be presentable.
>
> The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
> them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
> briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
> like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
> like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

You'll need a sledge hammer, those silly people back in the forties
thought you should be able to stand on car fenders.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Lee Ayrton wrote:
>
> I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> and paint to be presentable.
>
> The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
> them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
> briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
> like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
> like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

Ive seen several new cars with plastic fenders now - imagine !
Great paint technology - the paint didn't craze or crack when my
backside leant against it !

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:41377989.F7DDCF94@cox.net...
> You'll need a sledge hammer, those silly people back in the forties
> thought you should be able to stand on car fenders.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Lee Ayrton wrote:
> >
> > I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> > purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> > dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> > the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> > and paint to be presentable.
> >
> > The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to
pop
> > them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> > metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites
that
> > briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> > that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> > hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools
look
> > like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more
detail,
> > like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> > when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

Ive seen several new cars with plastic fenders now - imagine !
Great paint technology - the paint didn't craze or crack when my
backside leant against it !

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:41377989.F7DDCF94@cox.net...
> You'll need a sledge hammer, those silly people back in the forties
> thought you should be able to stand on car fenders.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Lee Ayrton wrote:
> >
> > I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> > purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> > dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> > the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> > and paint to be presentable.
> >
> > The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to
pop
> > them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> > metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites
that
> > briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> > that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> > hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools
look
> > like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more
detail,
> > like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> > when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

Ive seen several new cars with plastic fenders now - imagine !
Great paint technology - the paint didn't craze or crack when my
backside leant against it !

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:41377989.F7DDCF94@cox.net...
> You'll need a sledge hammer, those silly people back in the forties
> thought you should be able to stand on car fenders.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Lee Ayrton wrote:
> >
> > I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> > purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> > dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> > the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> > and paint to be presentable.
> >
> > The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to
pop
> > them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> > metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites
that
> > briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> > that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> > hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools
look
> > like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more
detail,
> > like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> > when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

Lee,

Usually any degree of dent includes a degree of metal stretch or fatigue.
You can do the dolly off method but you may also want to use the pick and
file method also. No one method will do all of it. A shrinking hammer and
torch, will also be needed for larger more stretched dents. I can
"photograph" a couple of pages from my book on off dolly to your email addy.
Unless you are near Madison, WI. I could loan the books to you. FYI,
Wal-Mart should have a Haynes autobody repair for under $13.

Brian

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.60.0409021440210.11850@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> and paint to be presentable.
>
> The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
> them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
> briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
> like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
> like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?
>
>

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

Lee,

Usually any degree of dent includes a degree of metal stretch or fatigue.
You can do the dolly off method but you may also want to use the pick and
file method also. No one method will do all of it. A shrinking hammer and
torch, will also be needed for larger more stretched dents. I can
"photograph" a couple of pages from my book on off dolly to your email addy.
Unless you are near Madison, WI. I could loan the books to you. FYI,
Wal-Mart should have a Haynes autobody repair for under $13.

Brian

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.60.0409021440210.11850@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> and paint to be presentable.
>
> The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
> them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
> briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
> like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
> like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?
>
>

Re: dolly and hammer advice?
 

Lee,

Usually any degree of dent includes a degree of metal stretch or fatigue.
You can do the dolly off method but you may also want to use the pick and
file method also. No one method will do all of it. A shrinking hammer and
torch, will also be needed for larger more stretched dents. I can
"photograph" a couple of pages from my book on off dolly to your email addy.
Unless you are near Madison, WI. I could loan the books to you. FYI,
Wal-Mart should have a Haynes autobody repair for under $13.

Brian

"Lee Ayrton" <layrton@panix.com> wrote in message
news:Pine.NEB.4.60.0409021440210.11850@panix3.pani x.com...
>
> I'm buying a 1/2 ton utility trailer, dunno the manufacturer but it was
> purchased new in 1948 through Sears. It has straight sides, not the
> dog-legged Bantam sides, and the fenders are more like wheel pants than
> the simple arch Bantam ones. Nice little thing that need a little work
> and paint to be presentable.
>
> The fenders have a couple of palm-sized dings in them and I'd like to pop
> them back out and do the bare-minimum of filler, but I've never done any
> metal-shaping body work. A poke around the web turned up a few sites that
> briefly discuss "off-dolly hammering," which seems to be the technique
> that I'll need -- hold the dolly as an anvil on the back of the dent and
> hammer around it until the dent comes forward. I know what the tools look
> like, I've just never used them. Anyone want to offer a bit more detail,
> like how hard to hit, how far apart to space hammer blows, how to know
> when to use the dolly as an anvil, that sort of thing?
>
>