Hello from Massachusetts
 

Hi my name is John McCurdy, from Billerica Massachsetts, a town about 20 miles north of Boston. Thanks for starting this site, I've really just started into metal shaping and have learned a lot from reading the posts. I've been an auto body tech for better than 30 years now so beatin' and bangin' on sheetmetal is nothing new, I do a fair amount of "fabricating" patches and panels, but now in the process of learning to "metalshape" with the help of this site. I have just the basic shaping tools,(stump, tucking forks, hammers and mallets, stretcher, shrinker) along with my collection of autobody tools, I want to learn the basics by using these hand tools then if I get any good would like to progress to a pullmax type machine. I do have some experience on an englishwheel I just don't have access to one now. Enough about me, lets get started. Thanks again

Welcome Aboard.

Sounds like you have everything you need.That's about all I have.

Are you pretty familiar with shrinking?Also I think a shrinking disk would come in handy in your profession?

Glad to have you

John, welcome to All Metal Shaping. Sounds like you have the background to move easily into metal shaping. There are a lot of talented people here that can answer your question. Thanks for becoming a member.

John welcome to the site we are here to help & share just jump wright in & post some pictures of what you are working on. We love pictures & nothing is bad or wrong here when it comes to metal shaping Danny.

thanks for the welcome, will try to post some pics of my current project, it's a full custom 64 impala. The next step is to shape some cruiser skirts for it, I have the rough shape carved out of pink rigid insulation, just need to fine tune it for the final fit then on to build the first one. I want to make them out of aluminum, I'm thinking .063 3003 H14. Since all my prior experience is with steel, I thought I would try working some aluminum. I have played around with some scrap and it sems to shape a little easier,at least the hand planishing seems to to be easier and faster with a better final smoothness for sanding and filing. I'm going to shoot for a no bondo build on these parts. Wish me luck, I'm sure there will be many questions. Thanks again,
John

John welcome we are here to help & share so please join in ask questions & post what you are building Danny.