Dent repair using a slapper

[@E-N-A-R-D-L-A-V]

As an auto and body tech, and owner of a restoration shop, you do beautiful work, and I would hire you in a second. You have no idea how many body techs cannot do this kind of work, and think body work is just slapping on filler and calling it a day. Very well done sir.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you ,nice of you to say 👨‍🏭

[@THOMMGB]

That was a wonderful lesson. I wasn’t bored at all. More than a few years back I took a body shop class and that was one of the techniques I learned. I’m not even in your league, but I understand exactly what you were trying to show me. Well done.

[@davidhannah943]

Proper metalworking is never boring, Tom!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Dave . Glad you enjoyed it

[@aussiefarmer8741]

Great job. You remind me of an old friend of mine yrs ago. In the 1970's Fred was an apprentice panel beater . He bought an old car and he did what you are doing for about a year and a half on this old thing. He was a perfectionist. That car got a respray and I swear there was not an ounce of filler in that thing . He got every dent out.

[@roblorah8680]

You bloke's blow us U.S. people out of the water with your repairs. Way higher techs on your side of the pond! Keep up the amazing repairs!

[@simonmirelez1103]

lol elevation dent co is pretty good and from U.S.

[@ericschulze5641]

This is 100 year old technology and there are still people in the US that do this, however the tools are hard to find and in general it doesn't work on today's thin metal,

[@gregreed2713]

This is amazing! I'm restoring an old 1950's tractor, and have no problem doing the mechanical stuff, but bodywork is a new art for me. I have so much to learn!

[@Joe.Doucette]

Another fine demonstration video, Tom. I'll watch as many videos of this type that I can get. They give me more insight as to how to remove different types of dents. Since it's rare that 2 dents are created in the exact same way... it's good to see how different people approach the different repairs. Thanks, Joe

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks Joe, always appreciate your comments

[@stevesloan6775]

Easily the best slapping hammer video I’ve watched. It was good you left the hammer audio in, makes you get a real feel of the different strikes. 😎🤜🏼🤛🏼🇦🇺🍀

[@pilbeam1uk]

That's amazing. I can't believe how gentle you are with the material rather than bashing it around

[@jimintaos]

Just learning about metal forming as I build a travel trailer. What surprises me as I watch you working a steel fender is how effective gentle tapping is. Thanks for the videos, I've really gained insights from watching you demonstrate technique.

[@jraposo911]

Great video! The lightbulb just turned on for me!😊JR

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Brilliant 👍

[@chriswalker4272]

You're a Master Craftsman and a pleasure of learning to watch. Thank you Sir.

[@lukesnyder9816]

What a really great video! Not boring at all. Quite impressive work! Thanks for the lesson!

[@davidkennedy4845]

So nice to hear you refer to your rule as a rule, not a ruler. Almost everyone else refers to a rule as a ruler which is incorrect. Nice panel work too.

[@robertkibbler1564]

Always wanted to see someone doing body remains. Using slappers?! It’s a great skill alas ,I’m too old to follow even though I have the tools keep it going love the videos .

[@RobbiRocks]

G'day Tom, This is amazing, Quite fiddly getting down to fine detail but soooo worth it in the long run. No annoying back ground music either which is fantastic.. Thank you.

[@roadrunner7180]

Thanks so much for putting this video together, much appreciated!!! Very informative and I learned a bunch!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed it 👨‍🏭

[@eduardobayley4018]

From Argentina excellent tutorial I learned a lot thanks! E Bayley

[@ThisIsToolman]

Excellent demo. Correct use of the slipper is real craftsmanship, very much a dying skill. Vernacular is important when describing sheet metal repair. Almost always we’re either shrinking or moving but never stretching. The slapper moves the metal by striking with a glancing blow which engages the high spots and wipes into the lows.

[@TheJameswort]

That's fantastic demo. Learnt so much.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Brilliant that’s great to here it’s helped you out

[@stefanomastropietro9040]

Thanks Tom. You always make it look so easy 😊

[@mirose5553]

On the contrary - not boring at all. It helps if you know what you are doing. This is like art and the level of craftsmanship is highly noted. A tree branch fell on the hood of my cherry e28 just after I had spent two years of restoration. I already bumped it with a ball peen (total caveman move). So, I will attempt to rectify it with proper tools and technique. Good information on the video. I’ve received suggestions to heat the metal beforehand - is that recommended? Seems like that could facilitate unwanted stretching.

[@TheGentlemensMotorRacingTeam]

Thank you so much for this video - I have just produced almost the exact dent in our classic mini rally car at this weekend South Downs Rally Stages at Goodwood over the weekend :) I was all ready to change the wing but after watching your video I feel I am ready to have a go at repairing it - thank you

[@SkaterStimm]

This is a lost art, so many people want PDR now, which is similar but very different. New metal is not going to hammer and dolly like this also so PDR is the best technique for new cars, but our old still needs this.

[@lookcreations]

Enjoyed that. I’ve been knocking dents out my Landrover panels, learning as I go with the slapper/spoon and dolly. Good to see it done well by someone in the trade 😎👍. All the best Mat

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍

[@andywright2606]

Real quality work Tom. I very much enjoyed watching you work that dent out, and the end product is super impressive. I'm just starting a resto of my 1977 LX Torana that has fairly average panels, so this is something I will be practising a lot. Thanks mate, Andy

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks 👍

[@markymark8246]

Amazing...!! Best Video I have seen for ages!

[@lesliekillingback4971]

There's nothing like an old slapper

[@elvisream3322]

I've seen the slapers in my friends tools never seen them worked thank you Nice work very nice

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you

[@jfu5222]

Howdy, Bryan from Oak Swamp recommended your channel. Excellent work, I've learned so much already!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks for following. Glad you’ve learnt something from the videos 👨‍🏭

[@mikemorgan5015]

Beautiful craftsmanship. A little science and a lot of art and skill there. Well done!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👨‍🏭

[@luidirects]

wow you made it look so easy 🤣had to go back to the beginning I forgot it was crinkled like a piece of paper

[@pierrehuard1341]

Thank you for showing the slapper process, best video i've ever seen explaining it. Outstanding

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stephenpickering9831]

Highly informative.. KZbin at its best.

[@wrenchmanhotrods1247]

Metal finishing is an art , great work .

[@martinmessersmith2900]

Your talents are amazing! Thanks for sharing your insight and knowledge - your trade is an art that over time is being lost.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you so much 😀

[@tipsandtricks5258]

You're a genius. That was brilliant. I've inherited a load of vintage dollies off my dad who was a time served panel beater/engineer. They've seen better days, are they easily cleaned up? I'm going to start practicing on a few of the dinges on our cars... excellent work

[@gavin6538]

Good video, you have made me think I’ll have a go with a tool I’ve not really known how to use that has been in the drawer with hammer and dolly for years.

[@darrelkinney9856]

Cool video nice job on the fender .

[@flukluthier2775]

Ultra Nice Work Men !!! Grettings from Chile 🇨🇱 !!!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks for watching 👍👨‍🏭

[@tommytalker3416]

Thank you very much to MST for charing your great Know-How! I learned a lot from your vids!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Tommy!

[@Thebody63]

Great work Tom.

[@unsavvytravelers2346]

Properly well done sir! Great skill youve got there and thank you for sharing the technique. Cant wait to befriend all of my new neighbors working the dents out of my door😅

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you kindly!

[@russellnixon9981]

Excellent work, highly skilled craftsman make's it look easy, it's not. Very well demonstrated, Found this very helpful,

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks Russell 👍

[@russellnixon9981]

Keep hammering out great videos your an excellent teacher.

[@annettejamieson4489]

Great tips. So many applications Thank you 😊

[@paulmiller8865]

Thanks!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Very kind Paul 👍 thank you

[@kieranh2005]

Try a piece of mdf instead of the file. Takes the marker pen off the high spots without taking off material.

[@pauljcampbell2997]

Nice job mate! Thanks for sharing your skills with us. I will definitely try out these techniques for myself!

[@The_Cotswold_Engineer]

Brilliant stuff. Been following you on Instagram for a while now but only just found out you have a KZbin channel. Love a bit of metal shaping, and now I need to binge watch loads of your videos!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks . Yeah my instagram is more high end restoration work and KZbin is designed to help the beginner. Once I start my Austin 7 project on KZbin I’ll start linking the 2 platforms

[@andyd2806]

Thanks Tom really informative, and easy watching.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you Andy and thank you for your very kind donation. I’ve only ever had 3 other people donate so it really means alot 👍

[@tonigugliotta1792]

Ottimo lavoro con le lime da battere per spianare la lamiera

[@DGRetroCustoms]

awesome video buddy keep them coming, your getting more confident on camera and you explain things much much better than so many others

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Danny. Definitely starting to feel a bit more comfortable doing them.

[@DGRetroCustoms]

@@Metal_shaper_tom you should, just look at your comments views and subs, yoir work is excellent and the way you describe things is on point just keep doing what your doing

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Not too many body men use or know what slapping spoons and files are these days. On areas like that where I have access' I'll use C clamp vise grips to press low areas out' use a piece of flat steel over the low areas and clamp from the back of the panel onto the flat steel' and sandwich the low spot out. I have several different sizes and shapes of steel formed to match different contours I've made over the years.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Good idea

[@ClassicCarCave]

Tom, Top notch video I have been thinking of buying a slapper for some time but after seeing this video I‘m convinced it‘s a must. I will push your videos on my small channel and to my friends as you should in my opinion have a huge amount of viewers by now, Unfortunately V.R and instant gratification seems to be more popular than the real world. 🤔 Cheers Dave

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hello Dave, cheers for the kind words I’m sure in good time the channel will get a decent numbers im happy on how it’s doing so far considering I only started it two years ago. My goal is to get to 10 K subscribers by Christmas. Fingers crossed🤞 if you are in the market for a slapper, I could always do a fellow KZbinr out a good price on one.👍 cheers for the support .

[@chrisgarside7974]

Bought a slapper from Tom a little while ago. One of the best metal working tools I have ever bought !

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@@chrisgarside7974 thanks Chris 👍

[@johnglave7958]

Just received my wider slapper from Tom, excellent craftsmanship

[@joescully566]

wow, great job Tom you make it look simple😂. By the way, using the mig like tig technique last week and a few burn through's cuz of very thin steel but I think I will get there. More about my lack of experience than the technique but all good and keep em coming . Thanks so much, Joe

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hi joe thanks! I glad the mig video helped too!

[@mk1jack]

Brilliant video, exactly what I was looking for

[@davepeeters6518]

Excellent presentation, amazing how you can move than metal

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍

[@RR-mt2wp]

I greatly enjoyed the video Tom.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Brilliant, thanks for the comment

[@gobinsura]

Excellent tutorial Tom. Cheers

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks gobin 👍 keep up the awesome work yourself

[@acemmanuel2002]

Attention to details 💯%

[@kenphillips5221]

Great referral to your site from Oak Swamp. Subscribed!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Welcome Ken . Thanks for subscribing 👨‍🏭

[@Mcfreddo]

Very good. Very informative thank you.

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

this only works if you can get access to the back side, on duel walled panels like say a truck bed or rocker, or other duel wall panels.. you have no access to the otherside...

[@iandonkin6762]

More great skills Tom - thanks for sharing as always 👍

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks 👍

[@bigturclakelife8980]

Wow great job and thanks for the video I learned lots

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@dougwernham5209]

Excellent tutorial thanks Tom.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Doug

[@laurentiuprisacariu9905]

amazing! cant wait to practice

[@TK42138]

Excellent demo.

[@radiospank]

Nice! How about using that spray paint that they put on cylinder heads to check the low spots, that blue spray?

[@PaulTonkes]

Bedankt

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 🙏

[@dietmarspriesterbach6]

Good workmanship! Maybe you could show us how to make a slapper?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Yep good idea 👍

[@Hamid-az]

Good job. If you can explain it with couple of photos and diagram your video will be much better ❤

[@jrmiller034]

Very nicely done.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you very much!

[@resistor8735]

Great work and teacher

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍

[@brucewalters8974]

That was very interesting.. I enjoyed that.. Thank you

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Bruce

[@Avenged666]

Not bad job for some1 whos not trained on an apprenticeship as a sheety.

[@jamieinsley6854]

Great video mate 👍🏼

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks for watching Jamie 👍

[@lucasabent1]

Very informative proper as hell thank you !

[@TradIrishHarper]

Would the same process work on 16 gauge sheet metal?

[@faroironandcustoms6577]

Really cool. Thank you for posting.

[@60Imperial]

Brilliant mate, I was one of the viewers that asked for a vid like this so cheers mate much appreciated. Keep em comin.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks Jb . Much appreciated for the suggestion

[@manxman8008]

really nice job!

[@brucejackson2773]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing that. I’d love to have one of those slappers. Those are the best I’ve seen. How much to get one to Virginia, U.S.?

[@parisstrickland7644]

nice work

[@bobbarber1668]

Excellent video. Let me introduce you to Dykem. Comes in spray or liquid, lol. I'm sure you already know. Great video buddy. I will buy you beers anytime.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

🍻

[@JC-ov5pt]

Not boring at all. Thanks for shedding light on this mysterious process 😅. How do I buy one of your slappers and shipped to USA?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hi . I’ve posted most of the slappers I’ve made to the u.s , it works out about £15/20 to post email at [e-mail] and I’ll sort you out 👍

[@jamesdevlin6373]

Great info, thanks for sharing.

[@pacomb]

I eould love to see this videos witj aluminium. I am about to start an old land rover, and needs lots of body panel work

[@summerbee6298]

Very helpful.. Thank you!

[@paulpollack9262]

This may be a dumb question but you state that the metal is stretched. Would there be any advantage to running a shrinking disc over the area after your first filing of the damage? Enjoy your work, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Yes definitely. I love the shrinking disc idea and use it alot on steel. I just tried to keep this video to simple slapper and Dolly that’s all.

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

Really enjoyed this video...thank you!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@emrhyssale9810]

Nice one😊😊😊

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you

[@thatsawesome9870]

Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@gerryoneill8881]

Top class again.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍

[@brianvincentgrech]

Great work, what i am afraid of when i do jobs similar to what you'e done is the strength of the sheet metal since you will be filing down metal. What are your views please. Thanks for upload

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hi. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry about it. All you’re doing is literally scuffing up the surface to show the high spots and when I do this my aim is not to take away the metal so it leaves all the strength there. I’m literally just highlighting the high spots, the last thing I want to do is start taking away material.

[@justinwilkens1620]

Wow. Amazing

[@christinefernandez4551]

Great job

[@danielrunge7294]

Not going to need much filler with that! Good job

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Shame the demonstration was on a scrap panel just for this video 😬

[@danielrunge7294]

@@Metal_shaper_tom ha ha oops I missed that

[@frederickjohnson8217]

Good work

[@richardhintonracing]

That is impressive .