How to make truck bed floor panels with basic tools

making a replacement panel for the bed floor of a Datsun pickup using simple tools and a home make metal brake.
metal brake link
• Homemade sheet metal b...

[@venvnco6259]

Best metal man on KZbin.

[@whiskeycreekcustoms6296]

Agreed! It’s always a joy to watch Fitzee work!

[@elkoposo686]

And a most congenial manner in his delivery. A friend to us all.

[@perico7666]

You are 1000% right sir!

[@gabrielcatani9317]

Sisisis, además hace buenos videos que también es dificil.

[@steveeldridge7184]

100% Agree! Mr. Fitzee is quite the Metal Ninja!

[@johnbarker419]

Most builders will say you can't make a panel like that. Fitzee says "hold my beer." Thanks for sharing your expertise with mere mortals.

[@wanakahouse364]

Pop y gxget pop pop

[@noneckjoe948]

And the beer can he made with a grinder….LOL!

[@victoryfirst2878]

Those people that are naysayers, just open your mind and loosen your hands. Working diligently can come natural to anyone who works at this craft. Easy peasy with time and due diligence.

[@johnbarker419]

@@victoryfirst2878 I don't have a place for it at the moment but I really enjoy metalwork. For me the key is to do a lot of head scratching to figure out the best way for me to make the shape I want, then carefully work the metal into shape. I like Fitzee's approach at combining simple shapes into a complex shape. It makes things possible you ordinarily could not do without far more complex tools.

[@theodorebowers9737]

@@johnbarker419 me too

[@randywl8925]

Everything is simple if you think one step at a time. When looking at the whole project, it's intimidating. The trick in everything is the sequence. You da man Fitzee!

[@deconteesawyer5758]

Yep. It's as easy as sitting down to eat an elephant.

[@randywl8925]

@@deconteesawyer5758 there are times that I have draw the line. Hot dog and elephant eating contests are that line. 😁

[@randywl8925]

@Will Swift if you were replying to me, I'm just offering my view. Without the how to by Fitzee, I wouldn't get any farther than cutting a sheet of metal oversized. He showed the steps he uses to make this part. I install floor coverings, carpet, vinyl, laminate etc. A new large job can be intimidating, especially so with a difficult layout or materials that are very hard to work with. You don't look at the entire completed job and get overwhelmed. If you know the process, you just start..... You don't worry about the entire process just the first process....... vacuum the floor, install tackstrips, then pad, then cut the carpet, then do the seams.... etc.

[@rgc1961]

"I'm not one for big expensive fancy tools", @ 22:59. That's why we love you and your videos Fitzee!

[@adriancooper8192]

There is always at least one "wow, that's clever!" moments in Fitzee's videos. Making a template from a section of the old panel and cutting the slits for marking was one of the very best. Oh yes Fitzee, the tips were good. Thank you!

[@mikeeagle2653]

Cutting big slits like that is not accurate at all. You use a tape measure and scribe marks that’s all you need. He made it so much hatred then needs to be

[@karlscribner7436]

@@mikeeagle2653 say what?

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

You know it's a good video when you don't realize that you just sat for an hour watching it. Good stuff. Thanks again

[@angeel8286]

i have watched this man on many occasions ,he plans the job,takes his time and thinks.A true very rare trades man.I like his style.Great guy

[@brianhaw9398]

That old Datsun will be better than it ever was by the time you're done with her. Nice work, great tips!

[@alanspangler5621]

Almost 100k subscribers now. These videos are almost hypnotic, it's amazing to watch you create all these shapes out of flat steel and basic tools

[@theoldbigmoose]

Plus Fitzee is a natural cinematographer. He gets great shots, and his narration is top drawer! A pleasure to experience!

[@milotorres6894]

Thickness of material X2 growth on radius rest is just measure twice cut once tighter bends a hair less...

[@TheRitchieLeeShow]

You are totally awesome, a serious glutton for punishment. I love your old school ways.

[@labrd41]

Fitzee makes everything seem so simple and his methods are so obvious. Of course that's how you do it. 👍👍👍

[@jeffyates4813]

You should watch Bad Chad, Cold War Motors and JonathanW all of these guys make it look easy too.

[@labrd41]

@@jeffyates4813 Have watched them all.

[@73superglide62]

Editing you can cut out .your mistakes

[@aprildangelo7457]

Hello from the UK, i have been following you how you make panels, i was in the motor trade for best part of 40yrs, now retired and restoring a 1989 Ford Transit MK/3 Camper (they were called a Frisky), i wish to thankyou for your time spent showing how to make repair panels, i am now making quite a few of my own repair panels, the way you show how its done is great, and i am saving a lot of money of not buying panels in the meantime, keep up the excellent tuition.

[@throttlewatch4614]

I would have made about 50 panels wrong then took a backhoe to the bed in frustration 😂😂😂 enjoy watching your skills

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Hahaha.

[@milotorres6894]

All in the prep ... 🤔✌️👍💪⚡😸

[@workingmansrestorations7071]

Same here

[@floridamaury1]

That tip of marking then flattening the original panel for a template is pure gold. You are the man Fitzee

[@artesper7898]

How to make the truck bed panel is great. I could not figure out how to do that. Great thanks you

[@stelu1974]

I learn a lot from your videos. When I'm in the garage and there's a tricky part on the car I usually say to myself "what would Fitzee do?". And that helps! 👍😂

[@the_fomoco_man5160]

Whoo hoo! New video, class is in session! Thank you Sir!

[@grantr5417]

At the beginning I thought there might be some difficult hammer forming. Should have known you would find an easier way, with equal or better results. Thanks for the instruction.

[@turboflush]

Yah.. I would have tried to press it with a mold or something. Lol

[@milotorres6894]

@@turboflush the new politicians want to make a conversion to electric a truck would make the easiest for battery space , just food four thought ,🤔✌️👍💪🇺🇸⚡😸

[@turboflush]

@@milotorres6894 ?

[@Fix_It_Again_Tony]

I'm constantly impressed with how he takes a panel with a complex shape and simplifies it into easier to work with shapes and then just welds it together. It seems obvious, but sometimes I look at something and can't immediately see how to take it apart like he can.

[@robertlundquist5450]

My wife has a Jeep Commander. The rear door is rusting out at the bottom. I have done basic body repair with bondo, but I have watched 8 of your videos, own the basic tools you use, and practiced butt welds the way you demonstrated. I’m ready to try this repair. You are an excellent teacher and an artist.

[@brentbarnhart5827]

If I had the patience of JOB, and you gave me 10x to get this right, you would have 10 piles of trash metal. YOU THE MAN.....

[@andrewreece3861]

You need to add a Nothing Fancy t shirt to your line up. Awesome work as usual!

[@brucewalters8974]

Fitzee... I think I'd give my left arm to know just half of what you've forgotten. You are amazing... Thank you...

[@theodorebowers9737]

🙋 yo man I am in my 70's and love to learn. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS MAN . AND LEARN SO MUCHMORE FROM YOU ! Having fun ❤💋

[@amentia666]

That feeling. When you're looking for something to watch and you finds (Wow, I'm even using the Fitzee accent now) an hour long video from the master himself. That feeling. And then you discover its like a Chuck Norris thing. "It only takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 minutes"... Btw. Very close to 100k subscribers now! Wow!

[@mikemaj8467]

Came to learn one thing and learned several. Thanks for sharing!

[@tonyrose823]

Fitzee you are the best metal alchemist I've ever seen thanks for the great show and the great tips.

[@williamhanna5224]

The way you do your spot welds is exactly the way I have always done then and I'm 73 years old.

[@mongomay1]

Thanks again Fitzee for joining in with you in your Newfoundland laboratory/garage on making the profiled bed panel with simple tools, seamstress tape, scribes, dividers and markers. Making do and keeping things simple. Thank you very much for your time in sharing these repairs that can be challenging to some of us. When I weld any type of plug hole, I try to get to the parent metal edges first, since that is the holding strength, then fill in the divot if need be.

[@daubie3]

Awesome work.!! Only thing I might add is could we see the finished product with some primer on it to help see it since the camera picks up a lot of glare and a lot of the detail is hard to see on video and I don't want to miss seeing any of it.. Thanks for making these videos..

[@jagers4xford471]

Just in time for my floor replacement in the Bronco.... right on time again Tony metalmiester.

[@rksg2003]

Fitzee I used to own an orange Datsun truck the same color orange as the truck bed your repairing.. The reason I remember it so well it it was an extended cab truck which for my area was kinda rare back in the 80's. Dont know how I ended up here at your channel but sure glad I did!

[@brianmyers2667]

Hey folks, after watching Fitzee make that jogged panel for the floor corner of that truck bed, I am fully convinced there is nothing sheet metal that Fitzee cannot replicate! Just love your videos Fitzee!

[@denlaugal]

From the far west(wet) coast of Canada (Vancouver Island) I thank you for sharing your trade, too many great craftsman are gone/retired and their skills never past on to the next generation. Your teachings will be watch by many generations to come… keep it up, you are a gifted teacher Mr Fritzee.

[@t.e.1189]

I just recently found your channel. And as many have already said you do very good work and make excellent videos. But what I would especially like to thank you for is reminding me of a dear old farmer I use to visit on occasions and loved to listen to him tell stories. You sound just like him and have the same speech pattern and accent as him. I moved away and I'm sure he has since passed away by now. Thank you for the found memories.

[@mikeyoung9666]

This video is just what I needed. I'll be attempting these bends and fabs for the bed floor repairs on my '05 Tundra.

[@JR-sx9rw]

I picked up a Migpak 140 the other week on sale I used to have a migpak10 that i hated. I am busting it out of the box to try some of the things I have learned from your videos

[@mahomedsader3220]

You are simply amazing and an incredible teacher.

[@danthompson4879]

Brother Tony, Great movie!! You're a helluva teacher.

[@cbcarper9681]

This is the second time I’ve watched this video and every time I do I learn something new thank you

[@DanTheManIOM]

I've seen people in Thailand beat panels by hand...but this is slick... well done Fitzee.... love to learn, thanks for sharing

[@e30mark]

You're an amazing guy, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@toddlentz5408]

Holy craaaaap! You are the man! I need to raise the bed area over the diff (axle flip) and just put the word out this week for donor beds. I only need abt 6x48”. I’ll be able to fab it!

[@andywells397]

Nice job, when my customers cant believe how much bespoke parts cost due to time i will show them this video.

[@godofawsome03]

Nutting Fancy , but good way to make the panel ! Thanks Dublin .

[@SINNER5150]

Milwaukee does make a great marker! All of their tools are great!

[@biglakehotrods381]

One of the more difficult repairs. Really nicely done.

[@robbigemon1868]

Thanks again other great video with tips. That 30 years you have really shows

[@garyjohnson801]

Super job fitzee as always. Thanks for the video. I learned something. I guess I'm not to old to learn something at 54

[@fitzeesfabrications]

We ate same age and I'm still learning. Love discovering new ways to do things

[@chriskappes9170]

Talking about nicer tools some of us cannot afford such expensive or have room for them I prefer this method fitzee is the man

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Tin bending at it's finest. Thanks Fitzee!

[@stevens9762]

Thank you for not being selfish and sharing your knowledge with all of us

[@fj40pinobilt]

This is exactly what I am going to do for my Toyota bed too!! Thank you for making this video!!!

[@jorgefernandez-mv8hu]

Thanks for making a hard project doable. Your tips were on the money. That part where you took a piece off the old box and cut slit in it and then flattened it was pure genius. Great Job. Looks factory built.

[@txprospector]

"So, there it is. It's not a very complicated panel to make." Fitzee you crack me up! For you it's not. I bet you see exactly how you're going to fabricate it before you even touch a piece of metal. Like how you cut out the ends and fabricated those little trapezoid pieces to weld in instead of trying to shape the original panel. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. Congrats on the 100K club! I just learned you have a Facebook page. Be prepared to get lots of pics and videos with questions from a guy in Texas! LOL!!!

[@fitzeesfabrications]

No problem that's what the Facebook page is there for. As for the panel. I thought alot of it threw before I started. But some of it was on the fly. Just came to me in the moment.

[@SkaterStimm]

Amazing. Everyone that tells me you can’t do quality sheet metal work without a tig I just send them over to your channel. Love everything about this. Also I had to make a similar panel for my 68 double cab and it came out great! Wish I saw this first.

[@georgeserrano8354]

I've never fabricated anything before, and you just created a panel like magic before my eyes! You make it look so easy. I'm so impressed.

[@caryford560]

You always say thanks for watching but, it's us who need to thank you for sharing the knowledge of a master.

[@workingmansrestorations7071]

You are a true craftsman. I love watching your videos. I learn a lot.

[@noneckjoe948]

So fun to watch… makes it all seem possible for us regular garage guys…

[@kevinflowers3130]

Great video, Fitzee, you answered my questions as I asked them in real time, like I was standing in the shop with you. I've learned more from you about fab in 6 months than I could learn in 10 years piddling with my junk. Thank you for taking the time to document and share your experience with us!!

[@robertchristensen5425]

Thank's for sharing your expertise with us,not everybody is as willing as you.I have over 40 years in auto repair bussiness,I have done alot of rust repair but you showed me a new way I find it very exciting to try,again thank you

[@triples4good]

Thanks Fitzee. Best metal work on KZbin. I Always learn a lot.

[@per434]

Thanks again. Your tips are great. You take bit by bit, and you take the time needed.

[@michaelvandenhoy1021]

That was a great idea notching the panel at both ends, by making the panel alittle bit bigger on both ends you were able to cut your notch on both ends and not losing your mark and when you used vise grips on both ends you could recreate your bends. Very clever or you. You are a great teacher and I appreciate watching your educational videos.

[@swc-diygarage]

Your absolutely correct. Take a big job and make it into smaller ones that all fit together is easier then making a big complicated one.

[@Chevyv8man1]

Thanks for showing us your way of replacing the panels on this bed. I love to watch how different guys get the job done. They came out great. I love learning different way of doing things and you are a great teacher. Again thanks and keep them coming - later

[@oliveirainvestments2884]

Does look great! Amazing job and excellent tutorial!!! God bless you my friend!!! Regards from Brazil!

[@davebrittain9216]

The Milwaukee markers are the only ones that wont wipe off of duct work. I found that out about six years ago and that is all I use now.

[@karlrussell6765]

Learned another slick trick. I'm gonna put this to use on my Fairlane firewall. I've got a stiffening rib that goes away to nothing. You showed a clever way to make this happen. Thanks again!

[@davesweet7061]

All the tips were good ones , nice to learn something each day! Thanks Fitzee !

[@hansdaniels1867]

Love your “Stick around” !!!

[@OldJoe212]

Fitzee, you did it to me again. I figured I'd watch about 15 minutes while I eat lunch and watch the rest tonight. Anyway, I watched the whole thing. I'm behind schedule, but it was time well spent. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.😊😊

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Sorry about that. Lol

[@billleigh615]

Lots of gems in this one! Thanks a lot!

[@lucasbassoli6778]

This is perfect, my ‘72 commando has an identical shape towards the top/bottom of the rear floor and I couldn’t figure out how to get the shape without hammering it in. This is great thank you!

[@bobstewart4342]

Your so much more talented that most people . It a pleasure to watch and learn

[@manitobaman5588]

An excellent lesson on how you do it. Thanks from Manitoba.

[@steveeldridge7184]

Thank you for sharing and teaching! I'll be doing this on my 1962 F100 Unibody when I redo the bed on it.

[@johnmcphee2201]

money cant buy experience like the lessons you give

[@Scoffman258]

A true craftsman. Thank you

[@dazeofgloryshopworks5806]

This is a fantastic video! Several good and solid tips I will use. Thanks again for doing these! I'm redoing my daughter's truck on my channel and this was just the inspiration I needed!

[@thistlelee]

Great job, and a hard panel to make !

[@DIYWHEELGUY1970]

It's amazing what can be accomplished with simple tools, and Tony shows us how to each and every time.

[@RaysLaughsAndLyrics]

Good Vid.. on the Datsun PL 620 PU's there was small factory panel/ door on the right side, truck box, floor to access the fuel gauge sender in the fuel tank. Hope the previous owner didn' t toss it cutting up the floor. I know you state many times you like it looking factory. I would send you a photo but I sold my 620 two years ago. Best to you and yours.

[@chuckram2188]

Dang!, Nice tips and procedures, I am redoing my pickup and learned a lot from you. Thank you!

[@williambruce1880]

As always Fitzee the tips are incredibly helpful. Outstanding work!

[@lydialas8756]

@Hello William how are you doing

[@williambruce1880]

@@lydialas8756 Howdy

[@lydialas8756]

@@williambruce1880 I'm good thanks I hope we can get to know aech other and can you suggest a way we can talk off here if you dont mind

[@filibertob22]

You make it to see so simple and easy! Congratulations! Thanks so much for the tips! Really enjoy the details in the construction of your version of the parts! Again, thanks from Mexico city!

[@augustusappling139]

Thanks for the video. I've got a 64 international c1000 stepside and there are no new parts lol. this was a big help.

[@keithd8143]

Another great video Tony, I've been stuck at home on the couch after knee surgery and have watched many videos with guys doing patch repair with some being okay and others just down right horrible. You however, take it step by step with each video and describe what, why, and how in your process with the basic of tools and take a seemingly impossible task and show how to manage the task without being overwhelmed which is why i find your videos so riveting.

[@josedanielgamboaperez610]

Great Job Master!!!!!. It is a pleasure to see someone who knows how to do it work. Thank you for sharing what you know. Greetings from Uruguay. SALUDOS!!!!

[@byfunkyoid2917]

I just bloody love you! Restoring my pickup. Invaluable so thanks 🙏

[@maverick9769]

I have just subscribed, you my friend are clever and super creative. When you see the number of tools being sold and for a lot of money to do the same job, you my friend are a savior.

[@cliffordbartel1327]

Fitzee your the best by far, i had gone to a paint and body votec many years ago for the basics and i have learned more from you and your techniques and being able to use what you have. i have been recommending you and your video's to all my car club buddies thanks Fitzee

[@weldingrod6578]

Another Master Class.

[@mmg6282]

That is gonna be one expensive Datsun pickup. Nice work. BTW.. I like to hear that old slow pumper in the back ground. All these new compressors wear themselves out way before they should. And they make more heat which makes more water in your airlines.

[@nosympathy3440]

I have the same truck with a few cuts and holes in the bed, saw your other video repairing those side panels and subscribed. Now to watch the metal break video so I can make this myself!

[@hehunches]

this is the channel I've been waiting for (14:24) if my teachers spoke like this I would've 1. understood 2. listened 3. felt some respect for the skill mastery 4. learned more effective communication skills Do you take apretintices? Damn

[@campingadventures8760]

I was one of the people,who asked you on how to make that panel. Thank you , great job.🇵🇷🇺🇸

[@WildWestGarage]

As a metal shaper I never get tired of watching and learning. Good job making it look factory new! 👍🏻👍🏻Personally I would have tortured myself by shrinking the metal to form those ramps at the end of the ribs but that’s my problem.

[@XM-qk5sh]

99700 subscribers. Tell all your friends, let's get Fitzee over 100K. It is well deserved.

[@yourhandlehere1]

I've got a trailer made from a 1964 "Handy Wagon". Arkla Gas made their own trucks, importing "daffodil" parts from Holland and having a boat company assemble them. My grandfather worked for Arkla and when they discontinued the trucks he made the trailer out of one of them. I think there are only two or three of the trucks left in the world. Anyway, one of these days I want to make a nice wooden bed with the metal slats.