Hello from Little Rock

[Shawn P]

Hi, guys. I heard about allmetalshaping.com while checking up on Koji's MR2 body project over on Fiberglass forums. I'm not much of a poster, I mostly like to read what other people post. I have already checked out a couple of the projects on the automotive section, but I think I can't see a lot of pictures because I wasn't a member. So I signed up.

I hope to learn a lot about metal shaping. I find it really interesting. The first project I want to tackle is adding some reinforcement in my convertible. It shakes so much going over bumps that I don't drive it much. I want to learn the right way to shape strong but light chassis reinforcements.

I have a two car garage with a good number of tools, but not much in the way of metalworking tools. I have a 110v migwelder, some tin snips, drill press, bench grinder, cut off tool, vice, air compressor, powder coating gun & various hand tools. I am interested in checking out what kinds of projects other people have done & what kinds of tools they use. I'm also interested in home built tools, I think a home built English wheel, bead roller, a metal brake would be something I'd like to build & learn to use.

My longtime dream is to build a car, but I'll probably settle on building a more modern body for my convertible. Similar to what Koji is doing with that MR2 of his. I love reading about peoples projects.

[Joe Hartson]

Shawn, welcome and thanks for the great introduction. Hope you post a little when you get started with a project. Lots of information to help you get started with metal shaping. Thanks for joining us.

[HEATNBEAT]

Welcome to Allmetalshaping Shawn!

[David Gardiner]

Hello Shawn and welcome to the forum.

David

[Peter Tommasini]

Welcome to the site Shawn
Peter

[Shawn P]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I want to add some chassis bracing to stiffen up my convertible & reduce the cow shake. I have already gotten some ideas on how to do that. Now I just need to get some metal & start pounding out the details.

I can weld good enough that I don't worry about my welds breaking, but they don't look very nice. Luckily the first parts I'm going to make won't be seen once the interior goes back together. Instead of just getting a bunch of tubes & welding another couple hundred pounds of steel into my car, I want to hammer out some thinner lighter chassis braces. I think I could get a lot of the same structural enhancement without the huge weight penalty by adding lighter weight sheet metal braces that have been bent & hammered to provide the needed strength in the direction needed only.