Hello I'm Tom from Quakertown Pennsylvania

[tsi_tom]

Hello Everyone,

I'm Tom from Pennsylvania. I got interested in metal work when I received a gas tank that was damaged in shipping.



I bought a dolly and a hammer from the local flea market and attempted to fix the gas tank flange.



The hammer I bought had a serrated side which I don't know what it was for. Looking on the internet for information about the different types of hammers and their use I came across David Gardiner's youtube video called Bodywork Restoration Tutorial DVD. I was amazed at David's video. My wife bought it for me for Christmas. I watch it at least an hour a day. I want to try some of the forming that David has done in his video.

As I went to purchase some steel I was bewildered by all the options for sheet metal. Looks like 1008 cold rolled steel is what I should use for automotive applications.

That is my story! I look forward to conversations and learning with you all!

Regards,

Tom

[HEATNBEAT]

Hi Tom and welcome!
Yes, David's DVD is the best tool you can buy!

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi Tom welcome to the forum
Peter

[Doug M]

Hi Tom, Welcome to the forum.

The waffle shape on the hammer head is some times sold as a "shrinking" head. I've never gotten the metal to shrink and others on Group seem to not be able to get results with the waffle pattern. You may find patterned dollies or "twist hammers" also, similar amounts of skepticism may be used thinking of them. These may work for you, or if the price is right you might grind and polish the perfect finish on them.

[tsi_tom]

Thanks for the welcome guys!

Doug, thanks for the info on the shrinking side of the hammer.

[tsi_tom]

Her is the result from the metal work done to the tank. I would have liked to bang back a sharper edged to the bracket. This rounded edged caused some alignment issues when I reinstalled the tank.

[Doug M]

Tom,

Nice job with straightening the flange.

If you need to press the bracket back and square, remove the screws drill the angle to allow for the screw threads, clamp an angle iron where you want the crease and tap the plate back to it.

To pull the drop edge forward you might clamp an angle to the flange with the top of the angle where you need the crease, lift the angle slightly and tap the top down.

To much bending will weaken the metal so caution with to much working, Don't hammer on the edge of the angle the angle will act as a chisel into metal the hammer.