Whether you’re making a patch panel or fabricating a new design from scratch, cutting sheet metal can be a challenge. The key to a good, clean cut is having the right tool for the project. Some tools are great for long, straight cuts while others are made specifically for making […]
There’s nothing quite like the brilliant gleam of polished chrome trim. Unless, of course, you prefer a different look. While the glint of chrome plated bumpers and trim has long been a hallmark of American classics, painted accents serve as a powerful counterpoint to this aesthetic. Body-colored bumpers, for example, […]
When it comes to removing rust, there are so many options available these days including both mechanical and chemical methods. While mechanical solutions are often best reserved for large-scale and structural pieces, sheet metal usually requires a different approach. To preserves as much metal as possible without altering the original […]
A lot of young guys were bitten by the car bug at an early age. For many it’s a hobby, a pastime. But for others, it turns into an obsession. And when you grow up in a family that builds street rods and muscle cars for a living, it’s bound […]
No home workshop is truly compete without an air compressor. But spend any time working around one and you may soon find yourself wishing you didn’t rely on air to run so much of your shop. To put it mildly, conventional reciprocating-piston air compressors tend to be loud. Not a […]
While Adam had the bed off his C-10 for chassis refinishing, he decided to overhaul his old brake lines. The original equipment brake lines were rusting from the inside and showing signs of fatigue from past work. The original flares were leaking as well, and the heads of the fittings […]
There can be a lot of confusion around primers when it comes to painting a vehicle. Do I start with self-etch, urethane, or polyester? What do terms like DTM or 2K mean? Can I spray primer on top of existing paint or do I have to get to bare metal? […]
The late 1960s were a time of huge cultural shifts, as witnessed by radical changes in music, fashion, and design. The continuation of the Eisenhower-era’s restrained, conservative aesthetic gave way to miniskirts, psychedelia, and wild colors by decade’s end. The youth movement was in full swing, and no product broadcast […]
The quest for seamless body repairs eludes many DIYers when they face the menace of welder blow-through. The problem occurs when a weld penetrates completely through the material, either leaving a hole or enlarging the weld area. This is a common issue, especially when welding thin materials like patch panels […]
