Date:         Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:51:29 +0000
Reply-To:     J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Body work question
Comments: To: Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2011012919485940@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I took an auto body class many, many years ago and I have done a LOT of body work on Bays and a bit on Vanagons. A few things I've learned in the last 10 years: body fillers have gotten a lot better. I still would NOT use Bondo (which is a brand name) I would look for a local auto body supply store or order on line from Eastwood 


http://www.eastwood.com/ 

From looking at your picture, I would'nt try heating it either as someone else suggested. One thing I learned from the class I took back in 1972, is that when metal is hit and dented, it stretches. You can't simply pull or pound it back into place with a hammer-unless you have a special type of hammer. The instructor had hammers that had a swirl pattern cut into the face, and with each blow this would cause the metal to shrink a bit. I saw him one time remove a dent from a VW bug fender using this hammer and a dolly. and NO filler of any kind. Certainly a lost art, I'm sure nowadays not many auto body shops would do this. Try checking your local school district for adult ed classes like the one I took, they are still out there. I took one on welding not too long ago. They are fairly inexpensive and the best part is during class you can work on your own vehicle using their shop and tools. A few months back I hit a deer and seriously smashed the right front corner of my '85. After looking at how deep the dent was, and the detail of the section dented, I opted to just cut it out and weld in a new section from a donor Vanagon. Good luck. Jeff 


----- "Rob" <becida@COMCAST.NET> wrote: 


I know very little about bodywork but I'm going to learn. 
I just put a question and photo on TheSamba about a dent in my left 
rear corner, feel free to take look. 
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5100715#5100715 



Rob 

becida@comcast.net 
Western Washington State, USA