Polishing and Welding Custom Hairpins - 1930 Ford Model A Roadster

Now that the filler panels for the hairpins have been cut out, it’s time to polish everything a weld it together. Matt starts out by welding the two pieces of the filler panel together and grinding the welds smooth. Andrew then begins to sand the panel eliminating any scratches or marks with 120 grit and then sands the entire panel with 220 grit up to a final sanding of 1500. Matt then takes the pieces to the Eastwood Buff Motor to give them a nice polish. He starts out with a tightly sewn wheel and a stainless compound, and ends on a loosely sewn wheel and the white rogue compound. After clamping everything in place he welds everything together with the Eastwood Digital Tig 200. The final product is amazing and will really set the Sweetheart Roadster apart from the rest. Let us know below what you think of the customized hairpins!!!
Get 15% Off Your Eastwood Order With The Coupon Code ITG15 At Checkout * Some Products Excluded -
Tools Used
Eastwood 2" Surface Prep Tool - www.eastwood.c...
Rockwood 6" Air Orbital Sander - www.eastwood.c...
Eastwood 1 HP Buff Motor - www.eastwood.c...
Deluxe Polishing Automotive 18 pc Kit - www.eastwood.c...
Eastwood TIG 200 Digital Welder- www.eastwood.c...
Eastwood True Color XL View Welding Helmet- www.eastwood.c...
Wanna send us something?
Iron Trap Garage
PO Box 6
New Berlinville, PA
19545
Amazon Wishlist - www.amazon.com...
Matt's Instagram - @irontrap - / irontrap
Mike's Instagram - @mhammsteak - / mhammsteak
Email us - [e-mail]
Get Your Iron Trap Merch Here - irontrapgarage...
Music Used -
Iron Fist - Dj Williams - KZbin Music Library
Smashing Punks 11 - Stefan Metsman - Epidemic Music Library
Don't Look - Silent Partner - KZbin Music Library

[@rhettbrun9594]

You will find that quicker polishing results will occur if you apply the compound directly to the part after it heats up. Load the wheel with compound initially then switch to smearing the compound directly onto the part as it build heat. With this method, as you move the part into the wheel, fresh compound will be constantly introduced to the wheel interface. You need to realize the compound is what does the work. This works especially well with lower melting compounds like red rouge. Elroy showed me this technique. Try it. Elroy told me you'll like it

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for the tip we’ll try that next time!

[@TrendsbySterling]

Turned out very nice Matt. High five for Andrew as well. Hope you guys are standing the distance and keep you from the virus.

[@colinhyde1951]

Get some "picklers paste", it'll make the color go away on the welds without polishing. They use it in the marine world when fabricating stainless components. Your local welding shop should have it. Nice fab work! : )

[@IronTrapGarage]

Good tip! We need to give it a final polish once we do final assembly on the car in the future!!

[@robertszymanski7804]

Fantastic job!! Love you including the hours of time it takes for the polish. Taking the Masters! time and multiplying it by 3 or 4 should give a pretty good guideline for us amateurs, lol. At least I have found this to be preety close on my projects. Enjoy the day!

[@IronTrapGarage]

We try to give a realistic approach to the tasks. A 25 min video could have take 2-3 days to complete

[@mikeyt3940]

Very cool hair pins. They have great old school vibe .

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@study650]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm always amazed at your infinite patience and attention to detail. You do good.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you Gene! It isn’t perfect but it’s good enough for this stage of the build. Everything will get a final detail and polish when we get closer to final assembly way down the road

[@davidwaters3259]

AWESOME job Matt

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@REMBRANTTUBE]

SPECTACULAR JOB MATT!! .....THE VISION IS COMING TOGETHER!! OUTSTANDING!!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@craigcaggiano431]

Like the additional videos that you put out with steps to customize the hairpin bars .. gives it your personal touch

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Craig we’re glad you like it!

[@bigmikex2333]

Glad to see you protecting your hands when you're welding!

[@thomasbrighton6159]

This was welding artistry! The results look great- but then you are a maestro!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@dennisschickling5759]

Matt. I just watch a Video by Eastwood. Build a Chassis. And it was you Building the Chassis. Great Video.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Matt built the majority of the Pagoda City Coupe at Eastwood!

[@carlwilliams8602]

Great work , nice touch with the hairpins and the chrome , it will be great to see the car finished with all the custom work your doing keep it up

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Carl we’ll be back on the car soon!

[@garycamara9955]

Can't wait to see the car outside.

[@es7614]

CAR ART. Love it. Like the rainbow effect, too. My brother does some cool custom metal pieces and uses that technique a lot in his artwork.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@kenswitzer4133]

Wow! They look great Matt. 👍🇺🇸🤙😃

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@JONMEREDITH]

Your welding skills impress the hell out of me!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Jon, nothing out of this world, but I do ok for a glorified amateur :p

[@freddiebates5539]

It's a beautiful day and this sounds like to much work, think I'll run on down to tadpole Creek and sip on a cold one.

[@danmay9728]

Thanks for the video, love your work. Be safe. Peace.🇺🇸

[@motorfreaknew]

👌beautiful result! mirror-polished stainless steel is an excellent alternative to chrome plating, and as it does not suffer from corrosion, it requires little maintenance. I have often used it on my custom bikes 👍

[@IronTrapGarage]

Agreed! It’s a great way to save a few bucks and some time waiting for chrome plating thanks for watching!

[@TrueNorthModels]

Now that was some fancy welding, nice job. Cheers

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@patmclean1951]

Dude!! Those look so good. The addition of wire type and voltage info was great.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Pat! I am trying to do that more as we have had a lot of requests of settings and setup of the tools/welder so I am going to do that more where it seems fitting.

[@jezza159]

@@IronTrapGarage That would be great Matt and Mike, like I have said before I am not a mechanic or panel beater so the more information you give us novices the better. Thanks guys Jeremy Downunder

[@paulwhite9076]

Matt everything looks great 👍 love your videos stay safe and thanks

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks! Will do!

[@rogermiller8262]

Well that was a lot of welding. Came out very nice. I'm seeing that this car is, in your words, "going down the rabbit hole"! 💰🤑 It'll be worth it....

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha yes this car is 100% going down a major rabbit hole but at least this one I planned it from day 1!

[@chrisadams628]

Those look great! Makes me wish I was able to try tig welding back when I had welding class in high school.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Not too late to learn now!

[@chrisadams628]

@@IronTrapGarage True. Let's hope the house I'm moving into has a 220 circuit in the garage.

[@rustbucketranch]

You make tig welding look easy! Meanwhile I couldn't tig to save my life! 😆

[@IronTrapGarage]

I'm a glorified amateur. I don't weld often enough to be super consistent like some guys but I do ok I suppose!

[@gregjobson4844]

Matt the hairpins look good, I am impressed with your tig welding as i am trying to master the process atm but still have a ways to go. Cheers from Aus

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Greg! I'm a little rusty as I don't get to do "normal" welds like this often as I am mostly doing sheet metal but I spent a couple years practicing technique before I was even up to welding anything structural for a car. I appreciate you following along!

[@BrunoWiebelt]

I have been there polishing stainless, better then alu ... all locking great

[@michaelguinn5736]

Hey Matt & Co. as I'm sitting here in my recliner looking for new videos from you & a couple others....WOW, another great video, awesome job on the hairpins, you & Andrew have a bunch of hours wrapped up in to them, it shows, great looking welds too.....the rainbow colors in the welds is what you are supposed to have & as you mention this can be polished out....keep the project going...as I mentioned in a previous comment, I used to know of a Olds J2 motor, it may be a bit before I can contact them due to this stupid virus.......anyway......Build on Dudes!!!!!

[@thomasst.martin3308]

Love the sound effects as Matt uses his scratch pad

[@GasserGlass]

*Hairpins are looking great, nice job! .... Be sure to use safety wire type nuts & bolts thru the Clevis pins!*

[@MrRoach-yo3mz]

yup, safety wire is a must on a clevis end.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you I definitely will when we do final assembly!

[@allanperry6507]

Another great video Matt for days in isolation from the virus. 🙂Huntsville Ontario Canada 🍁

[@robertpradella6550]

Man i love that tune. I love you're work.i love the look! Thankyou!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you for watching!

[@19garner28]

They are turning out great they going to look perfect on the car

[@ajperotti2551]

I believe the Old Skool Kool term is BITCHIN' !!! They look great. That adds such a better look as apposed to a wide open hair pin. Excellent job to all.

[@IronTrapGarage]

It does look Bitchin!! Thanks for watching!!

[@douglasjucoff6476]

Good work Matt that was my job before I retired

[@IronTrapGarage]

It can be very therapeutic for me in short spurts like this but I'm sure it get monotonous on the daily. Thanks for watching!

[@dennisc.1189]

That is some nice and clean welding beads that you lade down a great job.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@porchestra]

Wow, I thought these were store-bought... These look Amazing, man!

[@Ecosse57]

i love the starsky and hutch polishing montage music... you jive turkey! man you guys have a ton of work in those hairpins! respect!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@mikeslattery8715]

Very professional,, Job Matt! ☝️😎🧐☝️

[@stephengordon8968]

Nice work that's nice !

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@mick_1949]

Really nice work matt! excellent control too!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@ericargo9157]

As always, well done Matt.

[@AndyGeesGarage]

Those hairpins look great! I have Speedway hairpins (not stainless)front and rear on my T and you’ve helped make up my mind. I’m going to make my own braces instead of using the supplied ones that look like the Speedway S. I’m going to just make a couple of short pieces not the full length and drill them full of half inch holes like you see on a lot of early race car stuff. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing these videos.

[@IronTrapGarage]

That sounds like a great look! Those little details will really make your car stand out! Thanks for watching

[@joell439]

Beautiful 👍👍

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching!

[@HanstheTraffer]

The din of singing DA's ...love it.

[@davidbartch8917]

It may help you when you prep for buffing to switch to hand water sanding in grits 600 and finer. The difference in appearance helps to see where you are it with scratches. The oscillating pattern of a DA does a lot of camouflaging. And we all get to the buffer and try to get that 320 grit scratch instead of going back trough the steps.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Definitely agree. I skipped through some steps and was mainly trying to get the hard to reach spots roughed in before welding. I will definitely go back and refine these more when the car is going through final assembly/detail. Thanks for the tips

[@gerrymilidantri6457]

Beautiful job on the hairpins Matt. This shows the amount of time it takes too have detail on visual components of a Custom Hot Rod. I can't imagine what the cost of those hairpins would be if you tried to purchase them completed. Great video !

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you Gerry! As you know this sort of stuff takes forever and I can't imagine charging someone to do it.. they'd be thousands into a set of hair pins! haha.

[@newagaingospel]

Matt, I have just found and subscribed to your channel and have spent the last 3 or 4 days watching your informative videos. Enjoying them greatly. Don't know how you find your cars but I'm guessing they are leads from friends or subscribers. I have a great possible lead for you on a salvage yard in Lagrange, Ga with 30's, 40's, 50's and later cars. May be some earlier models too but can' tell from the road. I'm doing some investigating to find out who owns it. If interested in checking it out, let me know I have some pictures from Google earth of this HUGE yard. Again, thanks for your info and your passion for the older cars. (At 72 years old, I love the old stuff too.)

[@newagaingospel]

Matt, I have the name and address where the tax notices are sent. Not sure that's the address of the yard though. Found out it's an 18+ acre yard. Let me know if you have an interest and how I can get the information to you. Greg

[@IronTrapGarage]

Oh wow thanks Greg for the lead and thanks for subscribing! You can email us more details at: [e-mail]

[@arildstoltenberg691]

That’s rad! 😃👊

[@thomasst.martin3308]

Nice welds

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@tradrodsandcustoms]

Watching my way through this series again and see that its still not done and been 9 months since an installment!? Cmon matt gotta finish the sweetheart roadster!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Getting back on it shortly.

[@tradrodsandcustoms]

@@IronTrapGarage glad to hear it, that car feels like this channels opus. The worked and reworked hot rod/custom!

[@geraldbellows2977]

Surprised you don't have a different area for buffing that stuff goes everywhere. Love the look of them will show quality and care in build a lot more than your body mods to the average person.

[@IronTrapGarage]

We don't have space to have a dedicated buffing area.. just spend a while cleaning up afterwards is all. The struggles of being out of space..

[@Mercmad]

The reason that rodders went to the four bar link set up was because the hairpin style bars are incredibly stiff. You are running ball joints (Heim joints) and another thing is ,they do not live on the street in suspensions unless you do very little mileage. Sure plenty of people used them over the years but how many miles on the road,as opposed to running on the track did they do? So a a combination of very unmalleable material ,stiff constructing and ball joints means you will need to keep a close look at the front suspension as you clock up the miles,and often,it's the actual axle that becomes the twisting member . Tupe axles make it even more interesting ,in that vigilance becomes very necessary. Fords axles will allow for lots of twist but those new style drop axles will snap long before allowing twist. Seen that enough times to avoid them.

[@waynespiteri122]

Good job !

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@shanewright6958]

Great job. They are looking good 👍👍🇨🇱

[@jasonkocinski2387]

Looks Great. Nice stuff

[@robertbrady9597]

hi to you all the guy on here from Danville pa

[@johnditch6357]

best part is you hand buffing with scotch pad and sound of air grinder, are you man or machine comes to mind.

[@dantomlinson4407]

Wow nice job!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@onehotpinto]

Beautiful! Only problem I see is now you Have to build something comparable to mount the rear end LOL. With every project on the car you set the bar a little higher, keep it up.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha this is true! I actually have a set of rear 35-36 wishbones holding the rear in. I will be strengthing them with a similar style bracing as we get further along on the project. If I go far enough down the rabbit hole those might get chromed too... haha

[@onehotpinto]

@@IronTrapGarage You ought to talk Eastwood into offering one of those spray chrome kits, not the paint, the dip process.

[@JamesDavis-to1hn]

So cool

[@jezza159]

Thanks again Matt enjoy the work. Coming along nicely what are you guys doing regarding COVID-19 would be interesting to know what it's like there compared to here. We are isolating now here in Australia there will be no Easter long weekend camping trips here everyone has been told to stay at home and self isolate. Lots of people are pitching tents in their back yards and camping at home having fun with the kids. I'm going to do that with Jed. Social gatherings of more than 2 people is not allowed. I have already seen people down my street with about 3 or 4 cars in the driveway. Please stay safe everyone. Jeremy Downunder.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Basically the same. All business are closed besides the essential ones. No visitors have been coming to the shop, but we are trying to keep content coming for everyone stuck at home

[@jezza159]

@@IronTrapGarage Thank you guys tc

[@jeffsnyder2051]

Really nice looking welds MATT Thanks from here in ST helens Oregon!!!!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@thegallahers1887]

very nice

[@dombutler7685]

Quality work!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Much appreciated!

[@jeffchecchio5026]

Great job

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thank you Jeff!

[@jimandlinsnow7002]

Wicked! Nice job.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks!

[@rdecoster1]

Beautiful welds!! Not your first time welding!! What made you decide to weld the full length over short 2-3 inch stitch type welds? Pretty Trick parts!!!

[@davelowell3008]

rdecoster1 I was thinking that too, it's stainless so the edges won't rust. Three inch welds would look better.

[@IronTrapGarage]

I set the hairpins on the car and stood back and looked at them and all my eye saw was the unwelded seam area and it looked odd to me. I welded them fully so when they are polished it will all blend together and there isn't a seam where the plate meets the tubing. Just a personal preference thing, was unnecessary strength wise.

[@Zillustration]

Nothing worse than your boss shoving his fingers into your work area... "Sorry Boss!!! Didn't mean to abrade your nose picker! Don't fire me!" 5:35

[@IronTrapGarage]

LOL was my fault for sure!

[@buchananautosalesllc7855]

thanks you rock

[@joodlebug]

Dude nice shirt

[@davidmspinelli8951]

Man dude! Those look awesome! I do have one question though. How did you get all that work done in just shy of 22 and a half minutes? Impressive man, you're good! LOL just kidding. Be safe, stay healthy and build on bud! Thank you for continuing to post, we REEEEEEEEEEALLY need and appreciate the entertainment!

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha its TV magic that's how! Thanks for watching David we appreciate it!

[@richardt2k1]

Awesome

[@timothynewkirk2654]

RAD ! ! ! ...Newk from Kentucky

[@briquetaverne]

Cool.

[@atleeriksen8514]

Great videos Matt. Looking for you over at The Hamb. Whats your nick over there??

[@IronTrapGarage]

IronTrap on the HAMB

[@mountopia77]

That took longer then expected.

[@fredfranklin1965]

I used to circle my spots with a lead #2 pencil on body work. What do you use on stainless? Ooo nice video and always love watching thanks for teaching us...

[@IronTrapGarage]

Great tip! I usually circle with my greasy finger but your method is probably better haha

[@shartne]

Real nice which car is that going on?

[@horshak1]

i just started Mig welding. i have for 40yrs done oxy/accel and stick. How do you srike an arc with Tig? Nice work Matt.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Modern Tig welders use a high frequency start that jumps the arc from the tungsten to the workpiece. Old days you had to scratch start like arc welding

[@TheCrackerBox]

wish I can give you a lot more 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks for watching

[@richardwelcher4836]

They look good. Does that mean the roadster is getting paint?

[@IronTrapGarage]

Yes the roadster will be probably nicer than the Free-T when done.

[@joecirillo4985]

I spy some ardun heads or just valve covers in the backround😮

[@markgriffin4888]

Good eyesight, they are incomplete, minus valves,springs and rockers. I tried to find the episode where he purchased them and a whole lot of other stuff as well, if you find the episode, you're either a secret admirer or you will give it a thumbs up ( read my comment then you will understand)

[@IronTrapGarage]

Where’s Waldo of hot rod parts is a common game to play in my shop! Haha

[@karlpechotsch9769]

Hi they look really good. Is Andrew doing any work on his T?

[@IronTrapGarage]

We have been pushing him, but there hasnt been a ton of intrest.

[@karlpechotsch9769]

@@IronTrapGarage Interest from him or the viewers?

[@kmcwhq]

If they were steel, what would it cost to have them chromed these days?

[@theodoreko2700]

You didn’t show or say but I assumed you polish both sides of the plate.

[@IronTrapGarage]

Yes all sides are polished and welded!

[@dennisschickling5759]

Matt, are you Teaching Andrew how to Tig?

[@IronTrapGarage]

I've given him some lessons, he can sorta do it but isn't proficient yet. He also is taking welding classes at high school and is learning the basics of welding MIG and ARC right now.

[@dennisschickling5759]

Great. I have Stick, Gas and Mig but never Mig. I have a Stick and a Mig Welder and will not Buy a Tig. $$ Great seeing people learn. #STAYSAFE.

[@lawrencephaneuf2977]

Who taught you to weld?

[@dennisschickling5759]

#STAYSAFE

[@rafatrill]

Does the polish effect ur weld?

[@IronTrapGarage]

It does not

[@bobbosco9378]

Well worth the effort, looks good. Seems like everyone wants to be cheap , lazy and spray paint everything black...ugh.

[@nickyscarfo136]

Super bitchin......iron trap garage is the shit ....east coast hot rodding

[@IronTrapGarage]

Thanks Nicky, we really appreciate it!

[@rexdrabble4988]

A far better and FASTER way to polish it,, Use standard 80 grit sanding disc/pad on 5 inch grinder,using front of disc and go length wise on job. Repreat 120 then finer 160 or so. Then 80/120 on orbital sander followed by buff,black/green rogue. TWO hours tops!! Done it hundreds of times. Do ALL at each stage to save time changing discs. I can see imperfection in your work from 4/5 feet away. No insult intended.you only know what you know. I wasted a lot of hours doing it wrong.

[@IronTrapGarage]

As mentioned we’ll be going back over the part when done we were trying to get the initial polishing done first. Plus we ain’t perfect either so not trying to win any awards. We’ll refine it but also not worried if it has some minor imperfections at the end of the day.

[@omercolclasure8895]

I like your vids and watch them when they are available. But I thought you were building a hot rod that the average guy can build, yes I know the average guy can polish metal but unless your building a show car switch I hate it dont need to be perfect it needs to look like an old school rod that was built in a garage or in the back yard under a tree. Just saying

[@IronTrapGarage]

We have multiple builds going at once. Some are “average backyard” builds and some others like this are of a higher quality and then some are just revitalizing old forgotten hot rods. Each one is for a different type of viewer. I’d refer to our 39 forgotten hot rod build for that style of car.

[@jamesinkeys]

Perfection so boring.. Like wearing a tuxedo, desire it to look a little frayed, so looking you're not wearing a tux for the first time.. Ferrari, a little hammer marks along the inside edges highlights, denotes handmade exclusivity..... : )

[@IronTrapGarage]

Haha all of my stuff definitely has imperfections. I’m happy just making a nice home built hot rod that’s presentable!

[@Titsmorone]

Nice👌🏁

[@lacossanostra]

rain x a glass cleaner !???