Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 21:02:26 -0800
Reply-To: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: You did your own body work? I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy...
Body work IS EASY if you are not afraid to use a 2 by 4 and a big hammer and
take parts off and on-- and pound them out. I have taken totaled bumpers off
and used a sledge hammer to straighten them out. It takes time, but it saves
money.
I have pounded out fenders people said were hopeless with just patience and
persistence. The last step of course is bondo and paint. The prep work to
get the body to use as little bondo as possible is the key. Just keep
pounding here, taping there and you will master it. You start with big
pounding and work toward the smaller tools like the body work hammer.
Do NOT believe anyone who says it can not be done. IT CAN. Buy a few basic
tools: a body work hammer and hand held anvil. And a rubber hammer. Get lots
of old wood like 2 by 4's and 2 by 2's and old wooden broom sticks of
different lengths. Cut some to shape, get crow bars etc., etc.
My father was a wise man in his way. The fine tuned and detailed body work
he could do with a hammer and a flat screw driver would amaze you. He worked
like a jeweler down to the final touches. He had a grade 3 education spoke
broken English, fluent Polish & a few other of those Slovak languages and
was considered an ignorant immigrant by Canadians and Americans. He knew
nothing of prayer but was a moral man. He knew nothing of meditation and
yoga but he could concentrate and get into postures a yogi could not. But he
told me something as a child that stuck with me and I pass it on to you.
He said, that when you have a problem just sit and look at the object giving
you trouble. Look and look and it will speak to you in its own language. And
also look at it with your eyes closed some of the time. (As a child I did
not know what he meant by "look at it with your eyes closed" until I tried
it) Look he said, until you get its message. Sit with a beer or a cup of
coffee or whatever, and study it. When the first answer comes, try it. If
that does not work, sit and listen more. He turned out to be a wealthy man.
He hired lawyers when he needed educated help and often he knew more about
the law than lawyers did-- you see he hired a lot of them over the years. He
hired educated people to do his educated work but he did his real work
himself because he knew that is where the money came from to pay the
lawyers. sometimes he hired mechanics but not very often.
I learned body work from him, and carpentry, and electrical and plumbing and
concrete and roofing and car repair. But mostly I learned to sit and listen
to the thing I was fixing and most of all,from him I learned to ask others
who knew more than me first, then to sit and "study the problem."
I also learned from him to NOT over react and defend myself when fools spoke
but to let the fools speak because he said even a fool has some wisdom. He
said you just have to listen until you hear the truth with the bullshit then
take the truth and throw the rest away.
Anyone can do body work. It is not intimidating. It is fun. It is easy. And
it gives you a feeling of accomplishment.
Recently I got an estimate for a small fender dent for $300 and I fixed it
in 15 minutes. I still have to do a little bondo for the finishing touches
but that can wait.
People who know me well say I can fix anything. It's not really true, but I
have fixed so many things people throw away and saved thousands that way.
One day I will earn to fix a Vanagon engine. I'm just at the beginning of
that road now, but I know I can.
Two of my Father's favorite sayings:
"I've got more time than money." and
"Talk is cheap. Whiskey costs money."
Good luck to you,
William
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Taylor" <res07cqd@gte.net>
To: <developtrust@home.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 8:56 PM
Subject: You did your own body work? I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy...
>
>
> > for every repair I have done so far I have gotten 5
> > estimates or done it myself. I did my own body work for example which is
so
> > easy to do.
>
>
> Hi, William. I appreciated your posting on the Vanagon list.
>
> Did your own bodywork, eh? I've been thinking about doing the same lately
> because I just plain can't afford body shop rates. The thought of it is
> intimidating, however. I've never encountered someone who said that it
was
> easy. It seems to be one of those secret arts that no one talks about.
>
> So, for an old (my bones, too, have lost flexibility!) middle school art
> teacher, any suggestions on how I can learn this craft? Were you able to
> fill in and sand down dented areas so they look smooth and clean? How did
> you get started?
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> - Ken -
>
