How to build fender skirts with basic tools

building fender skirts from scratch with simple tools

[@peterrimmington7100]

It might look crude at times along the process but we all know that when the panel is finish its always a top job. I look forward as always to the next vid, thanks Tony for taking us along.

[@laurensmith1828]

I plan on making skirts for my 41 chev coupe. Im also a student of Tony and gained the trust in my abilities enough to dive into converting my car to suicide doors. Im almost finished with the drivers door and have no fear of the other. Thanks Fitzee!

[@lawrenceirvine8759]

Lord thunder Jesus my son you are a master. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Victoria BC.

[@chemistry636]

Another great video.

[@suecarbone1165]

another excellent tutorial.....the impossible is made easy,who needs fancy tools. thanks fitzee cheers joe

[@momdad8771]

Great video.thanks for sharing..

[@kirstenspencer3630]

Thank you for bringing us all along for the ride.

[@warpedspeed4517]

Shortly after arriving to a boxing event where my children fight, I received a KZbin notification. It's Fitzee, asking me to "stick around". When I went to see what he was working on now, to my delight he was working on fender skirts. Woah! You see, about 2 hours priorly, I had finished latching on the second skirt that I fabricated for my little brother's 1964 Volvo PV544. I had been working on these things for nearly a month, and it took me so long as I had to use my noggin to figure out how to do it. I had gone thru his catalog of videos and he didn't have anything on skirts. So, I asked myself, "What would Fitzee do?", and I crossed my heart and said, "I got this". Although they are much less complex or perfect that Fitzee's, these skirts do follow the body contour and are almost flush all around. I grinded them down on contact points, as to permit me to add a layer of waterproof sealant tape to seal with some pressure and to avoid paint chip-off. I used a latching system, with 3 latches welded to the inner wall of the skirts, and cut some small slots on the inside of the fender to hang the latches onto. I did not weld the sheet I was working with onto the fender, but instead clamped it atop it and etched a line from the inside to use to cut and shape. Again, although not as beautiful nor complex nor as perfect as these, with a thin coat of bondo and a hammer ding here and there, it should look as if the car came with them. As a student and admirer of Fitzee, his techniques are what allowed me to independently figure out what I needed to do. I see that his approach differs to mine in minor ways, but I can honestly say I would NEVER have had the trust in my own abilities to see things thru without all that I learned from him. Fitzee has opened my mind to secrets others guard selfishly and preciously, and I am forever grateful for his participation in my growth as a creative and independent man. With respect and fondness, from the lowriding streets of Salinas, California, I salute you, Fitzee. 🖖 P.s, I plan on using some self etching primer on the backside of the skirts, sprayed with some rubberized sealant or Gorilla brand spray, to weatherize and protect from rust. What do you think about this idea, Fitzee?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I like to seam seal the welds. Those coating are porous and sometimes moisture gets threw. Thanks for kind words

[@warpedspeed4517]

@@fitzeesfabrications Then seam the welds is what I will do. I won't go against your advice, Fitzee. Thank you again! 🖖

[@davewheeler5850]

You never cease to amaze me Tony, you are an absolute master at your craft and an inspiration to me. Thanks for another awesome video I wait for your posts every week and really appreciate the time you take to share your knowledge, you’re a legend Tony…….many thanks from Down Under 🇦🇺

[@marklopes2047]

Hit the like button rite in the binging without watching the video thanks Tony keep up the grate work I look forward to your videos every week😊

[@dayslife]

Wow Tony, objective achieved !!! , but this peace of art ,really took a massive workout on those older bones ...

[@Zooooom01]

Very nice work. I appreciate how much money is NOT being spent on all the latest and greatest grinding/cutting tools and supplies. You keep it simple.

[@colinwhite2401]

Good work Fitzee. You are amazing with simple tools.

[@sodiorne2]

Great Video! And I see why, the cat supervised the editing!

[@jeffhesse8415]

Well, you finally skirted the issue!😁 I've never cared too much for fender skirts, but you may have just changed my mind. That wheel opening edge makes it look real nice!

[@rjung_ch]

Thanks Tony, once again! Besides the actual work you do, just the amount of editing and all do make this a great experience for us viewers. 🙏💪✌

[@kennethdong8490]

I am impressed that you, Kyle from Carter's Auto Restyling, and Scott from Cold War Motors are left handed like me.

[@dinodaniel2237]

Those fender skirts look great ! Looking forward to your next video. All the best!!

[@fonhollohan2908]

You blow me away sometimes what you can accomplish just will basic tools.

[@MikeMcAuliffe-g2f]

Okay Fitzee, you answered my question. You do the best to keep to the original sheet metal shape and also add your own mods. I'm digging it.

[@stanleyfanning5316]

Turned out awesome. Maybe you should have drilled the holes in the strip that you had tack on before you put the skin on.

[@macbetula6926]

That looks great, now that's craftsmanship 👍🇨🇦

[@samuelwildbore349]

Tony, what you manage to do with metal is inspiring, and was really nice to finally be able to watch your videos again after a tough few weeks in New Zealand dealing with a major cyclone. Once again thanks for your videos Tony.

[@ChaplainSkelton]

Beautiful job Tony 👏

[@stevesmoneypit6137]

Simply amazing Tony!

[@luminousswan560]

I am new to your channel and want to thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills with the world. So many "how to" channels end up being "look what I just did" channels and a viewer never really learns a thing. You definitely have a sense for perfectly balanced content. Apparently, many others think that showing the process is too boring or some such thing, whereas you understand that without seeing enough of the process there is little or nothing to be gained. Your patient, in-depth approach to videography sets a standard to which other such KZbinrs should aspire. I've learned many new things in each and every episode so far and I will surely be supporting you in return for my education ...

[@arthurmccarron4379]

Skirts. Can. Make. The. Illusion. Longer. Car. Lower. Car. And. Even an. Different. Car. When. I was. Kid. Paul mcfagen. He 59. Fairlane. Hard. Top. He Chas. Factory. Skirts. And. Super. Long. Ones. He. Had made. Great. Work. Thanks

[@iwishcolincampbell1541]

Great workmanship thanks for showing what can be done with metal

[@herbertsaylor8912]

After the quarter panels on that ‘49, I thought the skirts would be a piece of cake. Watching you flow the lip into the ends really showed your skill. Cutting and fitting by eye, I was in awe. I kept thinking, “That’s not gonna fit.” Then, you would just peck it into place. There is now way I would have put that skirt on that car after all of that work. That would be on my living room wall. What craftsmanship.

[@andykowalski2020]

I know nothing about English wheel but flipping panel over to reduce curve makes sense.

[@flatworm00]

The tips were excellent! Another great job. Looks super!

[@johnnyholland8765]

Simply amazing. Now one more to do...

[@johnstuby8036]

Thank you so much for these videos they are just what a wheelchair bound retired body and fender guy needs its like I am at work again. thank you. look forward to everyone and pet the inspector for me

[@frankschwartz7405]

Yup, they designed the wire so those little red hot globules of metal will remind you to put your glove on. Happens to me every day. (sometimes they go in your shoe)

[@mikebadilla6970]

Thank's very good .thank' you for all the lesson's

[@lancemclean9273]

Another good looking panel .

[@MrSafetybug]

Very nice sir. You are a true artisan.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Man that came out great! Car is going to stand out with your help for sure. Encouraging me with my project for sure.

[@pontiac6978]

I've learned so much from your videos, giving me the courage to do the metal work on my brothers 1967 Chevelle.

[@michaelvandenhoy1021]

Another great teaching video. I sure wish you were around as a shop instructor teacher when I was a kid. I really enjoy watching your teaching videos. You are the best !

[@deanm4138]

That was very cool to watch that skirt come together. I’ve said it before you sir are definitely the mad scientist of metal fabrication!

[@kouroshmemarian3566]

You did a fantastic job 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@carlosmontoya8658]

Remarkable technique but necessary to get those nudgey areas sculpted. Good show, sir! We really enjoy your content down here in Virginia.

[@byrdsdoityourselfgarage7330]

Another masterpiece! Beautiful work Tony!

[@michaelharris1895]

another great video, well worth the time to watch and review if anyone is going to do this, thanks.

[@crazyoilfieldmechanic3195]

That skirt came out looking good. I think I would have pulled that junky wire out and done all that sheet metal work with another roll and saved the junky wire for building something like your metal break or pipe bender stand or anything heavier with continuous welds instead of fighting that wire on that sheet metal. Sometimes my patience runs thin and I need to save it for something important !!!

[@almurray292]

Tony, forgive the errors in my typing, Im on my fourth Whiskey. Im amazed as always with your mastery of the metal. But i thought i should mention something that my Buddy Zeke Penner did with his 58 Impala when he wanted to put Mickey 60s on the rear of his car, [1970s] he started the same way you did, with a flat [crowned] piece of metal, then he got himself a suitable length of metal tubing, He shaped it to the contours he wanted, then cut Longitudinally to the shape he wanted for the fender and the wheel skirt. The result being, that he had his profile and had something decent to weld too. True he had to body fill from the curve of the pipe to the flat of the skirt, but it worked amazing. Id be chuffed if you would try something similar, and point out the problems involved. But if im right, im thinking that it could have solved many of the shaping problems. With all due respect my friend. Al, in BC I hope this came through as legible,,,,im half cut buddy.. lol

[@mick3216]

Tony you are a sheer genius .......uk is watching you :)

[@IR-nq4qv]

It looks like it grew there, awesome job

[@gordonstarship]

What a work of art that is. So with this major task behind you, are you ready to take on your own Chev up high in the shop? Eventually I'd love to watch that car transform into what you see in your mind.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

That car is up there for awhile yet. I want to finsh up crusty and then patches, flatliner is last.

[@gordonstarship]

@@fitzeesfabrications I'm intrigued to see how you go about tackling the thin areas and deep pitting on Crusty's hood surface. The decklid and doors also are going to be really something to see come back to life.

[@mortimerschnerd3846]

NICE WORK!!! Can see it's not your first rodeo!

[@bradley-cfudge1914]

Bends steel with his bare hands..... SUPER TONY ! Great job

[@Rick-O-Shay60]

... and I'm struggling just to instal a simple tail panel. I watched every step there, and I still don't know how you did that. Amazing work Tony. Watching you work metal is so cool. Thank You sir.

[@ossimio]

excellent work as always

[@keithkrause3386]

Looks and fits great! Next side 2.

[@colehara]

I love these videos. So many "why didn't I think of that" moments. I also like seeing the various projects like "Crusty", the Vista Cruiser and Wendy's Mustang. Keep em coming and I will "stick around" 👍 🇨🇦

[@guillermonieri4203]

It looks great. Thank you.

[@monadking2761]

That looks really nice. Smart idea on the bolt strap across the top. Good tips as usual.

[@goptools]

Hi Tony. The skirt looks perfect! I really liked the way you made the transition from the skirt to the quarter panel at the rear bottom edge. That was a compund curve and by doing it in small bits, and then welding them together, it flows beautifully. I always learn something from your tips. Thanks for the video!

[@gshort4707]

Amazes me how you can take a complex 3D shape and break it down into a set of 2D strips.

[@richsmith6952]

Good tips Tony!

[@georgeezzell4474]

Looks great as usual.

[@kellygraham4451]

I would be very interested in seeing this car when you get done with it.

[@ToxicGarageCustoms]

Love the tips, another great video.

[@fixinstuff9662]

I wasn't going to give advice, but you asked for it. Wheeling the back side of a panel will not take the crown out of it. What that does is curl it back the other direction, but the panel is still stretched more in the middle. It will appear that you have removed crown if the stretching is not too drastic, but it's still there. For what you're doing (subtle/slight crown) it's fine because you're reorienting the panel closer to the shape you want. Wray Schelin calls that the "arrangement." He stretches it to the dimensions he wants and then "arranges" the panel which seems to be what you're doing working the back side, and you could get the same effect if you were able to simply bend it back carefully. I hope that all made sense.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

I would just install guide pins on the top of the skirt, bolts will be almost impossible do remove if there just a bit of rust amd will be difficult to reinstall if not done by somebody that is as handy as you excellent tutorial very good video

[@mylesnic]

HOWDY TONY, BOY I LOVE YOUR CRAFTSMANSHIP SINCE JOINING YOUR CHANNEL. THE WAY YOU KISS THOSE WELDS ON SO CRISP, THE WAY YOU MEASURE THINGS TO FIT AND CAPTURE AND EXPLAIN IT MAKES SO GOOD SENSE. ONE THING ON THE REAR OF THAT CAR IF I HAD IT>> I WOULDNT WANT TO GET A FLAT OR HIT THE GUTTER. THX TONY FOR GREAT VID 🍩 🔨 👏‍

[@dend.6523]

Fantastic job on the fender skirt, editing and excellent tips as well. Tony, you are an absolute master! Also, nice to see peanut make an appearance again. Looking forward to your next videos.

[@billnlori3149]

Man, that turned out so cool Tony!! Gives me some real good ideas for my Caddy!

[@123suzukisamurai]

Just when I think can’t do anything more intricate or hard. There you go doing it again. Nice job Fitzee!!

[@TheWidgetz]

The master at work!

[@oacumulador]

Fitzee's proves it's possible again!! Thanks! Hey let's check out 'Restoring Christine'. Good Sunday

[@lonnieciallela1526]

DUDE come on you are insanely talented you are on an entirely different level. I watch alot of car channels and these guys cant even do a quarter of what you do with a shop full of hi tech tools

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

That skirt came out really sweet. I like the way you took your time and one piece after the other. Great Job!

[@davidkimsey9591]

This was a great video! Gives me some clear direction on how to remake the skirts for my 53. Thanks for showing this!

[@thistlelee]

Another excellent video, Tony. That's going to be one cool old ride !

[@thebeardedstork432]

Pretty darn amazing!

[@jimmyh7718]

Hello again. Another amazing video showing how to fabricate a part from a flat sheet of metal. I too had a problem with my MIG gun getting stuck onto the tip. I found that my MIG gun liner had twisted and some debris from the wire. Blew out the liner and layed the gun on the floor to install the liner into the gun straight. I haven't had any issue so far. Keep up the amazing videos coming. Be safe and healthy.

[@geoffreymills9932]

Beautiful work Tony, I like her conservative look with just the toes of her shoe's showing but we know she's wild inside,, looking awesome 😉

[@steveyackel5533]

Great video great job !

[@rjung_ch]

Hey Peanut, staying warm indoors 😻

[@Papawcanner]

I was anxious to how you would blend the bottom front and back . Can’t wait to see the other side and the reiteration blues .

[@trentmunn9486]

Simple and very effective!

[@claytondewey3367]

Beautiful work on making those skirts.

[@faroironandcustoms6577]

Nice Tony!!!!! I've been thinking about making skirts the entire time I've had my car.

[@roddueck]

Thanks for the tips. These I'll use in my hard tail bobber seat stays build. Keep up the great work.

[@gwstubbs7046]

The job you did here looks fantastic. Thanks tony.

[@mikeduquesne3630]

Beautiful work awesome flow❤

[@EastCoastScott]

its only temporary unless it works 😛No one really knows how much time someone really puts into a vehicle before you're done with it. I know one thing, having done body work like this, it takes A LOT of patience!! Cheers Tony

[@bryancooper2699]

Tony , fantastic video. I definitely learned something new on this fabrication . Of course the tips were good

[@rescuedandrestoredgarage]

That is such incredible work, brother. One day, I will find a 51 mercury 2 door car to make a very custom leadsled.

[@igorcossetto4779]

Top work, Respect👍🥂👏

[@tonygrenstiner4088]

I love that car, the slope, chop, lights, flowed out back end,molded skirts, molded front fenders, can you show the front of the car in your next video, very nice work Tony. See you in the next video.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I have a pile of work to do up front. I'll post that when I get there. Not much to look at now other then some poor guys ruff metal work.

[@tonygrenstiner4088]

@@fitzeesfabrications Kool I'll be watching!

[@markfuchs9385]

That's the nicest fender flare I have ever seen...

[@anthonybautovic7202]

That looks awesome. I watch your show all the time. Love it. Thank you

[@rodprojects]

Hi Tony. Turning it over to wheel will create more crown. You need to gradually wheel more to the outer edges of the panel to remove the crown.

[@jprather68]

That’s beautiful. Graceful lines and transition. Well done.

[@petepicapiedra9886]

Love your channel

[@rogerphillips450]

Superb job!

[@Mynextproject_74]

That turned out great!

[@nicksnarski5973]

More great work I learn a lot from your videos .Thumbs up.

[@philipmiller9253]

Just amazing Tony as always, best channel on KZbin. Keep up the good work from Northern Ireland 😁