Bodywork dollies... may be closer than you think

MP&C

Member
So yeah, we work on just about anything. File this one away under "everything's a tool". You need to be able to look at the problem, and figure out what you have readily available as a solution (especially when working weekends)

Vince is still milking the media blast job..

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Another of the lids had been used and abused with a hammer over it's life, the center was concaved inward, the outer rim had several flat spots. So while Vince was busy, I came up with a dent removal tool to help straighten out the next lid.

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The half hitch ball was used as a punch straight down into the lid to add a consistent shape back to the outer ring. Some hammer and dolly work straightened the center concave, giving it a slight crown. A deep dent was heated to make it more pliable, the punch pushed to the bottom and used as fulcrum to push the dent outward (heated spot)

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Then our "punch" was clamped in the vise to use as a post dolly. The lid was positioned where any low spots were placed against the "dolly" and hammering around the perimeter of the dent raised it outwards..

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Some fine tuning left, but this is much better than where we started:



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I used a hitch ball & resurfaced it to make a c-shaped planishing hammer.
Guess great minds think alike. :rolleyes:

I guess my question is,,, when you finish the job, will you put a shim between the ball halves & bolt it back on a hitch?
 
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