Austin 7 special - part 11 - making a pre war boat tail

[@90FF1]

I watch in awe at the skills of metal shapers like yourself. Some of this has to be in one's natural DNA, just as with artists of all kinds, who possess an innate talent which allows them to rise to the top. You sir, are certainly one of the chosen.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

I think it’s down to being dyslexic, I can’t read or write very well at all but I’m very creative and possibly think differently to others 🤷‍♂️

[@TheProco2020]

Literally just found this as in the process of buying an Austin 7 Special. This looks stunning.

[@brucestephenson1886]

Inspirational but overwhelming at the same time. Leaves my efforts feeling like a draft-horse lining up for the Grand National….

[@daviddjerassi]

I Love your detail no rushing just patience and a skilled crafts man at work im late because i didn't get a notification from youtube ?.thank you for the video.

[@richardw3294]

Absolutely amazing thanks for showing us

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@simonbarringer3415]

Looking good👍

[@dougwernham5209]

Very interesting video thanks Tom.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Doug 👍

[@besenzon1]

Great work. Looks amazing !!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks a lot!

[@iandonkin6762]

Awesome work Tom 👍 Great to see your subscriber numbers on the increase too. Looking forward to the next episode already 🙂

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you Ian 👍 Yes it’s steadily growing, I’m Really Happy with its progress. I’d love to be at 25k by Christmas but that’s a huge ask!

[@iandonkin6762]

@@Metal_shaper_tomwe’ll all look forward to celebrating the 50k subscribers with you in no time at all 😉

[@richardhintonracing]

Really lovely work, you have a great touch and endless patience the end result is hugely impressive . This is going to be so nice when finished . I would put in a vote for dark solid navy blue paint .

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you Richard. Thanks very nice of you to say 👍 a dark blue is stunning and was an option we talked about 🤔🤔

[@StefanMarjoram]

Fascinating stuff! It's looking really great.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers Stefan 👍

[@matthewmoilanen787]

Very nice work on those panels Tom! I find those panels with not too much shape the hardest to do. Really going to be a cute little bugger when you're finished. The only problem is the steering wheel is on the wrong side. Hello from Minnesota by the way.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

😂😂 thank you 👍 yeah it should be a nice car when it’s done 🤞

[@Resurrected_metalshaping]

Killer build man

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 🙌

[@davidsamways]

It's beautiful!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thanks 👍

[@robbell4339]

Great job Tom - this is coming together really nicely 👍

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you rob 👍

[@asciimation]

Looking forward to getting that slapper! I'll need it to wrap my ali around the ash frame. I also looked into the whole flat vs radius thing for wheeling. Lots of opinions there. I just use what I have. One thing a well known metal shaper kept saying was how can a flat anvil work since the metal is curved but they seem to forget metal bends and is springy. I honestly don't think you can explain how it works in words it's all down to feel and experience I find. I have little experience so I struggle and make lots of mistakes. I wouldn't worry about not talking when you do it, you really can't explain beyond the basics which anyone can read in a book. On my A7 when we made the tail we didn't wheel the corners. My mentor taught me to anneal the edges then just fold them 45 degrees (by hand!), do the same on the sides, weld then together then hammer and dolly it all into a smooth curve. Lots of different ways to do things. I am really struggling on my Riley since there is so much shape in it.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hopefully it’s with you very soon ! Please let me know when it arrives. If I had to choose I’d choose flats they raise shape so easily. They way I was told running it through the wheel is just like a continuous hammer blow. It’s stretching all the time / every pass. There are many ways to skin a cat that’s why I never say in my videos it must be done this way! I just leave that to the Americans 😂

[@johnfields7936]

Fantastic craftsmanship! Love it!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you John

[@thebracketfactory]

Nice work Tom!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Cheers mr bracket 👨‍🏭

[@bensmetalshapingshop]

Thanks Tom for showing the grippers...Ben

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

There great Ben. I really liked them 👨‍🏭

[@The_Cotswold_Cyclist]

Lovely to watch a master craftsman at work. Looking spot on there. Its nice of the Spitfire to fly over every Saturday just for you, can't beat the sound of the RR Merlin. A well spent day off!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍 yeah it’s an amazing sound and you can tell straightaway it the spitfire

[@thedoingnotthedone.6292]

As ever great watching you work and seeing the progress. Love the wheel type explanation / demo. Rolling the straight edge over the panel was really clear as well. Colours? I'm googling Amilcars looking at blues that don't shreik "Bugatti", but then there are a kot of shades of blue on Bugattis as well. Maybe a belgian racing yellow? If in doubt ask the mrs!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

I’ve had lots of conversations regarding blue! A really bright French racing blue was top of my list for a long time

[@nicholasrodgers4360]

Superb quality panel work Tom, I'm really enjoying this boat tail fabrication and looking forward to the next episode as always. 👌

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you nick 👍

[@bobg9873]

Another good one Tom, thank you!! The flat vs full radius anvil explanation was particularly good. Sorry, need to ask you to reveal some of your secrets regarding panel welding: Type and thickness of sheet aluminum, rod type, and amperage? Thanks again!!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

🤫🤫🤫 don’t tell anyone but it’s 1.5mm Ali and 1050 grade and a 1050 (pure rod) around 65 amps.

[@bobg9873]

@@Metal_shaper_tom not to worry, the secret is safe with me...

[@robcarver3080]

I did a bit of aluminium welding back in the 1970s. We cut strips of the aluminium sheet to use as filler rods. That was all oxyacetylene then. Now i’m retired and want to try my hand at this but using TIG. Would it still be OK to use strips of the alloy as filler as we used to?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@robcarver3080 yes it would be fine but rods are cheap enough I don’t think it’s worth messing around with

[@robcarver3080]

@@Metal_shaper_tom Thanks for the quick response. The reason I was given for using strips of offcuts was more to ensure compatibility of the filler with the sheet as opposed to saving money. Having said that the place I worked held a tight reign on the cash! Forgot to mention how much I enjoy your channel, really in awe of your skills, thanks.

[@Joe.Doucette]

That is looking very nice, Tom. It's great that Simon was able to get the gear box and clutch fixed. I'm not used to working with anything except steel. I see you and others tape off the area around the weld seam. Then after working it smooth you sand it down, which leaves a defined band of sanding marks, essentially two edges. Could you explain why that is done rather than feathering the area? Thanks.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@@Joe.Doucette it’s just a neater way of finishing the job rathe than a load of random marks everywhere and looking a mess. These no edge to it. Is smooth to touch and no lip on it.

[@Joe.Doucette]

@@Metal_shaper_tom Ok Tom. Thanks for replying. I just expected there to be a lip. Excellent.

[@gerryoneill8881]

Looks great well done.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👨‍🏭

[@paulfisher1160]

Looks awesome and thanks for explaining the wheel and all the dies. Must must get myself one. Plans are to build one. Why do you tape each side of the dressed weld? Looks amazing but does it not end up with a stepped line? Keep it up and show us more Regards, Paul

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hi Paul thanks for the message. The tape just leaves a neat line rather than a random scuff. There’s no step at all completely smooth as i is a really fine grade.

[@charleskinney6022]

i love it . keep going

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍

[@daleskidmore1685]

Fantastic panel work. Do you ever have trouble with work hardening and having to anneal the work? Caught you on a couple of my favourite channels' vids at Prescot. The hill climb channels on YT now are wonderful too, live coverage all over the weekends; love it!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you. Yes I knew I made it on Ivan’s and Bryan’s. I don’t have any issues doing anything like this. I use 1050 and it works really well

[@daleskidmore1685]

@@Metal_shaper_tom Thank you, Tom. I once made an ashtray with 2mm, or so ally, to try out a sand bag, and it got work hardened really quick;y.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

I’m currently using a 3000 grade Ali at the moment at work and it’s awful to use and goes hard really easy!

[@georgeclements2742]

Polished finish is nice but high maintenance if you want to keep it looking smart. Navy blue, as already suggested, or British Racing Green would be good options in my book. Best wishes.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you 👍 I’d favour the blue over the green if I had to choose.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

At 13:20, when you were discussing the flat area, the reflection from the ceiling made it quite obvious. I have seen on videos dealing with no paint dent repair gridded lights which highlight low spots. Do panel workers like you use something similar?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

I don’t use them but I’m sure many others do. It’s a great idea 👍

[@tonygray4811]

Loving this series and its great seeing it come together, keep 'em coming 👍Out of curiosity, what sort of time would something like that top section take? Cheers

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you Tony. Probably around 10 hours. It’s hard to keep a track as I only do a little bit each night.

[@tonygray4811]

Cheers Tom. It may be a problem at my end but the paint pot donations doesn't seem to work for me, I get an error when trying to donate 😢

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@@tonygray4811 ah ok . I’ve just put up a new link, it’s also on my last 2 videos. Thank you for trying though 🙌

[@tonygray4811]

All sorted, used an earlier link in the end 👍

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@@tonygray4811 thank you Tony I really appreciate it 👍👍👍

[@martinhacche1329]

Could I use the same process to make a bonnet? (With the rubber band)

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Yes that how I’m going to make mine 👍

[@seanalexander9531]

Fantastic work, Tom! What's the purpose of the multiple tape lines at around 18:20?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Hi Sean . It’s just to stop it getting scuffed up when I was grinding the penetration on the inside

[@seanalexander9531]

@@Metal_shaper_tom doh. There I was looking for a hidden metal shaping secret! 😂

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@seanalexander9531 😂 I can’t give all of the secrets away!

[@vianney36]

Nice job !! How many hour for total building of this part of this video ?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

About 10

[@T3glider]

What is the purpose of the tape on either side of the weld when sanding? I have seen that result before and I didn’t know how it was done. Now I know how, I just don’t know why!

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Just for presentation. Finishes the job off neatly

[@750triton]

Polish it. Paint is heavy 😁

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

😂 filler is the heavy part! Hopefully I don’t need to much!

[@martinhacche1329]

Do you offer master classes? I’m desperate 😮

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Not a master classes no just a lesson to help anyone that wants to learn.

[@roadrallyrace]

Link to buy slappers?

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

@@roadrallyrace hi email is in the description below the video

[@edwardbuck1687]

Tom what thickness Aluminium are you using? Thanks

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

1.5mm

[@thedoingnotthedone.6292]

There's a yellow Austin Ulster in this film - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJPOlJVsnZ6jqbs Yours is much more "Amilcar" in shape but some idea. Lots of good Austin 7 content on his channel. I have a trailer he built the month I was born.

[@Metal_shaper_tom]

Thank you for sharing that. I’ll have a look later 👍