RESTORATION - 1954 VW bug oval window full restoration front end metal work to primer

[@Mikefngarage]

Painting a car using minimal amounts of filler takes a lot of time. then painting a car with no filler at all takes about 10 times as much time. if a normal paint job cost 10k USD.....do you think people would be willing to pay 100k usd to for a no filler paint job.......I think NOT!!!!

[@martinharris5017]

Agreed! Once the top coat is on, who's going to know if you used filler or not anyhow?

[@davemoulding8799]

When you say 10,000 paint job that’s including all the metal work and body filler primer to paint , no solid base coat , clear cost 10,000 I have done body work all my life

[@Mikefngarage]

@@davemoulding8799 on a small average build yes. But even that is too cheap today. If there is severe rust metalwork will be more than that.

[@martinharris5017]

@@davemoulding8799 I don't think he was being that literal Dave, just using a random relative figure :)

[@daveayres950]

So good work going on there mate your a craftsman

[@j6sj7]

So satisfying to watch. There's one word to describe your work when you patch the metal and prepare for paint... Artist.

[@stephenhenion8304]

I don't know anybody who works as fast or as smart as you. Great video Mike!!

[@Itsonlymeee1]

I think I’m addicted to your videos. 😆

[@zimms-world]

You make it look so easy. Awesome job!

[@douglasbarnhart3324]

Thanks for the video mike.

[@AirkooledKustoms]

been watching you for a while, love the tenacity and passion you are doing Spook said it reminded him of back in the day , when he had one bay of a 3 bay residual garage in AZ working a day job .. go dude

[@watchdog3605]

It’s nice to have advice from old school veterans like Mike

[@p52893]

Hey Mike, never a problem only a solution.

[@Mikefngarage]

or you can say like My friend pete....heres the situation. LOL. that guy is comedy.

[@mechanics4all405]

fantastic once again,people do not realize the every ounce of ability,you have in so many areas, I still remember when you first viewed this car, and had one moment of hesitation,if you wanted to take it on I knew the minate you showed photo it was made for you,few other people in the world come close to youre self taught ability and confidence Nick Lomas London England could watch youre work for ever THANKS

[@brettalfero6245]

Without a doubt you are absolutely fantastic!!!! Maybe one day I’ll be able to do my own restoration… have to find the car first 🤦‍♂️ the develop the skill… this I think will take much longer 🤦‍♂️

[@1of1RTR]

You accomplished quite a bit . Coming along nicely 🤙 🇺🇸

[@ronsre-creations5289]

Appreciate your Florida Tips ! Fran Bradenton, Florida.

[@Mikefngarage]

yea rust happens fast when you have bare metal there. especially in the summer.

[@hankh4305]

Nice work.

[@mikehammer4546]

Mike, your work if freaking amazing 😎

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

Car's coming along quite nicely Mike! Amazing how much better it looks once you get a coat of primer on it

[@MiniWarzone]

Great video - really enjoy watching it come together.

[@HubertusSchaper]

Hi Mike the bug comes well along.Nice work👍🏻-Greetings-HCS

[@cristianvera8506]

Awesome job mate,noice 🙌👏🇦🇺

[@JamesDavis-to1hn]

Mike your doing an excellent job! Keep up the great work 👍

[@brilog69]

Nice fitment!!

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks!

[@jmsdwh]

Ahhh the primer! My favorite step. Such a difference, keep it up!

[@Mikefngarage]

Yes! Thank you!

[@georgesmith-yl6dl]

nice job

[@annettegaskell4871]

Starting to look like a car again loved this vid

[@snowdogs59]

Great job Mike. She looks beautiful!

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks 👍

[@gsxr713]

I am loving this build your speed at sorting a problem is impressive we mere mortals are still deciding thanks for the lessons

[@Mikefngarage]

Glad to help

[@FeveredMind]

I have been loving your videos. Thanks for taking the time to share with all of us.

[@abimaheldelpilarcordova5500]

Is incredible what you do in those tight places where rust has eaten away the metal. You make sure that everything that’s not in plain sight is ok and that car will stand a long time rust free because you care to be so 👍

[@robertjean659]

Great work again, looks so much better in primer. 🇦🇺🇦🇺👍👍

[@aussiebeatle4049]

Nice job, as always

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks again!

[@georgelewis8904]

Thanks for the video, I have the same issues, glad you walk us through your experiences, there's hope for me after all.

[@michelecrown2426]

I love the method you used to put that patch at the top of the left fender. I don't think I've seen that done before. Tack a piece on, weld and cut and weld...genius :)

[@Mikefngarage]

Right on!

[@watchdog3605]

Nice work looking forward to seeing you finish it that’s a great project

[@martinharris5017]

Fantastic transformation Mike! I like the sound of that high build primer you're using, looking forward to more info on that product.

[@mikelove9832]

Nice ! Thanks

[@Mikefngarage]

Thank you too!

[@vayabroder729]

The metal work is coming out brilliantly. This car is going to end up awesome. Bigly, yuuuuge....😂🤣

[@tomdale1313]

always very amazing, total pkg...txs for sharing

[@carantigos9460]

Top

[@ronkemp9528]

Just like new.

[@tomswindler64]

Great video as always just keep doing what your doing 😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@FJ80Coop]

Just wait until the new buyer has it delivered to a resto shop and they strip it down to bare metal..

[@Mikefngarage]

Why......

[@GT.Bugger]

Looks great already! I'm currently working on the under dash and dash. Hopefully be painting soon. Really hope it comes out as good as the work you do.

[@Mikefngarage]

Fingers crossed!

[@krekautofunilaria9730]

Vai tomando forma muito trabalho top.... é nois Brasil

[@kurtwinkler6859]

Great job! Can you do a video with what primers and products your using that are affordable.

[@Mikefngarage]

Great idea!

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@williamtanner1372]

As I understand it now, AG47 over bare metal and then Tamco DTM on top of that?

[@rogerfrancis65]

People eonder ehy body shops charge so much for restoration/ resprays maybe if they had a go themselves they'd see why!

[@Mikefngarage]

yea it is lots of man hours to do a restoration. And to do it with no filler it is even more. about 10 times more. so if a paint job cost 10,000 usd to do with filler a paint job without would cost 100,000.....But people wont pay that....but they want it....

[@Paulman50]

👍😊

[@mastermatt289]

Are you going to pull body at some point or do it without separating? Just wondering if I should do mine without separating. Thanks for the great videos you make it look easy and give us hope we can do it ourselves.!!

[@davemoulding8799]

Why didn’t you just sand blast it to get all the rust out .

[@Mikefngarage]

I dont like to use one. they make a real mess. Could have taken it for a walnut blast but then I would have needed to do the whole car right away. not ready for that. so I went this way. results will be the same.

[@mastermatt289]

Hey mike what type of wheel do you use on your grinder to remove paint and surface rust?

[@davidconley3610]

Are you doing this for a customer or yourself?

[@toddbranst]

Hey Mike nice work! I have the same welder, struggling to find the right settings. What do you have yours set at to do the patches?

[@Mikefngarage]

13.2 the lowest setting and about 160 on the wire. I vary from 13.2 to 14.2 from 140 to 170 on the wire speed. on that sheet metal. When using 20 gauge for a patch. If I use original metal I am about up to 14.5 or so. same wire speeds. Dont use harbor freight wire. Get welding store wire. and .23 wire. gas as low as 10. works just fine. 10 to 12. depending on weather your welding up or down.

[@JolicoeurAbear]

what is the red magnet holder for keeping pieces in place while welding called?

[@ajlanmrsa7229]

This work is topical amateur work.