[Joe Hartson]

Shaping metal is not something that you are going to learn in a short period of time. The TV shows have given a false impression that it can be learned by anyone over night. That just isn't going to happen. Before you can even get close the being good in this craft you have to be able to read the metal and understand what it is going to do when you hit it. Davids DVD is the best for showing how to work the metal with hand tools and teaching you some of the techniques used to make panels. If you don't already have it, buy it if use want a good teaching aid. If you don't learn how to shape metal with hand tools first it will take you longer to understand what it takes to make the metal move where you want it to go. Starting off with machines will allow you to make a lot of pretty scrap faster. Putting shape in a piece of metal is easy, making it fit something is not. It is very helpful to have someone show you the basics, taking a class or having a one on one session with someone that knows how to shape metal. Practice and patience are what you need to do next. You will make scrap, that is part of the learning process. If you are not willing to put in the time you will never learn to shape metal.