Well I’ve discovered your channel, binge watched the entire playlist, got to the end and now don’t know how to move on with my day. Watching this panel be made is completely mind blowing to me.
Worked on many old Alfa buckets about 25 years ago they were rot boxes then I don't envy you one bit. I remember looking at them and saying to the owners Q , can you hear that ? the would always fall for it, hear what they would say, A , you can hear it rusting from here.😮
Beautiful craftsmanship Ben! I'll need to get a flypress now don't I? 😅 Mr Clamp has such good work ethic and so much positivity, hope to see him in more videos! 😂
@@ToreDL87 Oh that's a shame and they aren't exactly light weight things to post! It's just a press but doesn't use anything but leverage. I didn't show it in this video but it's in a lot of the others. You can buy or make a press tool for folding sheet steel in a vice. obviously limited throat depth to that but it works.
Nice work! I do these restorations as well on old alfas. Quite recently an identical 72’ spider actually. Just a thought about this case though. Wouldn’t be easier and better to just replace the whole wing, like the other side, instead of patching it? Since you have to patch it quite a bit.
Hi, it depends on a few things whether to replace a panel or repair it. In this case the wings fitted nicely even if they weren't originals. If new wings were purchased I wouldn't know how well or badly they might fit. You might even end up spending more time on a new panel just to make it fit. The other consideration is cost and availability of new panels. However sometimes you make a choice and it turns out to be the wrong one financially.
@@bensclassicbodywork ah yes I see your reasoning. You are right, the replacement panels usually requires quite a bit of work, the quality and fitment is varying at best. I usually make my own panels if feasible and like you say the cost is also a factor. Obviously much cheaper to make yourself and/or patch if possible. For me, I quite enjoy making and shaping the metal as well. Anyway I discovered your videos recently and really enjoy the content, great stuff! Always interesting too see and follow what others are doing as well, always something to learn from each other.
Thanks for watching. I like making what panels I can, it means you can them fit how you want them. Some panels are so cheap to buy though, you have to make economic decisions when you have paying customers. Different if you are doing it as a hobby. Making panels is a skill and if you can do it you have a big advantage over most people. I watch certain youtube channels, coachbuilders are people I really look up to.
@@bensclassicbodywork yes exactly. Unless it’s too big or complicated panels I make it myself, or when too much is gone from the original panel and surrounding shape to have reasonable reference points. I work as an IT architect in the transport sector during the days so at the moment this is mostly a hobby for me, even though I buy, restore and sell sometimes as well do some work for others. I tend to consider the economics of it anyway because I just think it’s unnecessary to spend money on things I can make myself, it saves money and makes the invest vs return better, and it’s fun to make. But then I don’t have the same time constraints either with waiting customers which might have to be considered. With that said I tend to look out for the cheaper panels and/or deals on a bunch of panels from some old restoration shop or ebay or so. Sometimes you get lucky.
@@bensclassicbodywork that would be great. Or if you can share sketches would be great too. I like that you made it modular, to use the frame for shrinking and stretching. I was thinking that too, maybe also add a planishing hammer module. Would love to see your designs. Thanks. Ps. I admire the restoration quality. I have 3 rusty alfas to restore myself...
@@searover83 Unfortunately I didn't keep any sketches happy to measure anything in particular that you need. I've recently made the transition from shrinker stretcher to english wheel quicker by adding T section sliders and friction thumb locks. A planishing hammer option is a great idea, that would be a pretty simple addition providing there is space. Good chance there is. Happy to email some photos/ details as a video might take me some time to make. btdixey@hotmail.com I can tell you I used 11mm thick steel for the frame cnc plasma cut to shape. The screw thread for the english wheel is 7/8" unf.
I was doing a 1950's mk1 Jag in the 90's the owner had a small car dealership and was a car collector thought in here , wanted front wheel arch repair panels and a few other bits of welding 1 family owner car , the wings already had patch panels in so ended up 2 Martin Robey nk2 wings then modified to fit 4 door bottoms , I took the car all the to paint but he had his own painter who he wanted to use , the reason why I am telling this I spent ages on that car getting the gaps right , I found out who was doing it went across , the doors were off , I said I will rehang the doors to get gaps right , no need gaps were shit on these things any case , shook my head and walked away , must admit I like my gaps spot on even if the factory gaps were not . While I was doing it I was using a mates garage in Stanley county Durham a guy walks in starts chatting to me , he restores Aston Martins he had one outside and told me to have a look , stunning car , he asked about doing chassis work for him so come to his place in Beamish , I popped a couple of days very nice , asked for the boss got blanked by the lads working there stood around for 10 mins got in my car and drove away , bunch of tossers I thought , about a year later the car dealer gives my a ring to have a look at a Aston Martin he had bought ex race car from the US , go's across said it's a ally car I cannot weld ally that's ok there's a place in Stanley that will be doing the welding can you do the prep work , no probs that was the last time I saw him but heard they charged him £27,000 for welding that was around 1995ish .
