Rasslin fenders

R

Royal Ryser

Well-known member
I am trying to work on fenders, off of the car. It's like wrestling hogs! I'm wondering if any of you has invented some kind of frame to fasten the fenders to while you are working on them. I'm doing the metal work right now, but a frame would be good for painting, too.
Thanks for any ideas.
Royal
 
When I was working on my 55 fenders I had an old coffee table about 4ft x 2ft and fixed it to a metal frame about 4ft high. Gave me a very stable working platform that was at a comfortable height. I am 6'1" and don't handle bending over stuff too good these days.
You could use a panel stand which is like two u shaped frames hinged in the middle to form an X with chains to adjust the width of the support area. I find them a bit flimsy for fenders but great for doors which are a bit heavier.
My coffee table platform allowed the front of the fender to hook under the top to stabilise it further.
 
I made the stand rick is describing from 1/2 in black pipe it is sturdy I had a 7 1/2 ft plow blade on it to reskin it last summer also made it for a 64 caddy I was working on most of the ones on the market are lite weight
 
When I worked on my fenders I just had them layin on my carpenters bench which is 2,6m long. It was only thin steel wool and oil though, so wrestling with it was no issue.
To paint you can try to mimmic the fender supports that come from the car's frame. 2 points fixture should be enough, I guess.
Show us what you came up with.
 
I use saw horses constructed of those cheap sheet metal "horse makers" and 2 X 4 studs. I then cut another stud in half and screw it standing up across the top of the saw horses just in from the ends. The fenders lay on the horse to work the lower half and hang on the end to work the upper half. I then cover the horses with news paper and hang them on the ends again for painting.
 
I have a 6' plastic top folding table that I use for the garage and don't care too much about. (Wood top would be even better) I let the fender drape off the edge of the table and use 2X4's and 2X2's to sort of brace the fender in whatever position I want it in, and use wood screws to secure the braces to the table top and the fender. I cut, weld, straighten, Bondo, block, sand and prime the whole thing with this set up. I do the finish blocking and painting after the fender is installed, but it could just as well be done on the table.
 
If you do any hammer and dolly work in your fender restoration, do it with the fender still on the car. If you do your fender dolly work off the car, the fender may no longer fit the body lines of the car. Always pre-fit your fender to the car before you get around to putting color on the fender. That way you won't be wasting any of that expensive paint on a fender that no longer fits your car.
 
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