Rust and dent repair is one of the most time and money-consuming parts of the average project car, not to mention the body prep and paintwork needed afterwards. We’ve collected a handy series of yarns on how to form, weld, and fix metal panels for your car, to hopefully keep you away from the dreaded chicken wire and bog!
How to strip paint by media blasting
If you want to know whether your body is killer or filler, you need to strip it back
Butt welding basics using MIG and TIG welders
Chad Atkinson talks us through the basics of butt welding with both MIG and TIG welders
Guard rolling: How to roll your wheel arches
Bodywork interferring with your fat rubber? Time to make a little more room under the arches
How to apply pinstriping and graphic overlays to brighten your car’s paintwork
Our step-by-step guide to achieving stand-out paint
How to repair your car’s rusty door corners
Chad Atkinson’s guide to repairing rusty door corners
How to repair minor rust patches on your car
Five quick steps on basic rust repair for your car using a treatment with a good rust converter
How to use a hammer and dolly for metal shaping
An overview of metal-finishing with our resident metal maestro, Chad Atkinson
XP Falcon coupe body swap onto an EL Falcon chassis
How to turn two rusty Ford Falcons into a low-buck fun machine over a four-day long weekend
How to apply body filler to your car
How to apply bog like a professional
How to use an English wheel for metal shaping
Curious about how to use an English wheel for metal-shaping projects? Chad Atkinson from Silver Aces Custom Metal Fabrication gives you the drum
How to prepare your car for painting
The secret to sensational paint lies in what’s underneath it
How to make mini-tubs for your street machine
Metal magician Chad Atkinson gives you the blow-by-blow on making DIY mini-tubs for your street car
Sorting out the finishing touches on your project car
A pep talk from Dr Tim about finishing off your project the right way
How to shave bodywork on your car – tech torque
Chad Atkinson of Silver Aces Custom Metal Fabrication teaches us how to shave a C-pillar vent on an XC Falcon
Car show preparation – tech torque
Peter Fitzpatrick runs us through the do’s and dont’s of winning showcar trophies
How to make your own acrylic bubble windows
Keen to add some bubbly goodness to your van?
Lead wiping/filling restoration and repairs – tech torque
Lead wiping isn’t hard, you just need the right equipment and plenty of practice