Name is Michael

[64VWand54VW]

Hi Everyone!! The name is Michael and from my name for the forum..64vwand54vw..I have both of these cars that need a lot of metal work..One of the biggest reasons to join is developing the skills to restore them..To create whole and repair panels from scratch..For there is one class of vehicle that was let down by the aftermarket sheet metal repair industries..The VW!!..Anything that you try to repair with said panels..you might as well make your own..especially for the real old cars such as mine..The repair panels just are no where close to fitting..

Anyway, I look forward to learning..I am a total reader...read read read..hopefully, I will be a poster when I have something to contribute to this forum..When I have something to show on these VWs I will most certainly will show you..

I live in the central San Joaquin valley near Exeter, California..Where a lot of Farming goes on..

So there you go..Oh one more thing, I designed and created my own CNC plasma cutter..works great and I am sure it will contribute towards metal pieces to restore these old bugs..If anyone is interested in knowing how one of these machines work, I am more than willing to show it off..

All the best to everyone here!!

Michael

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi Michael welcome to the forum
Peter

[David Gardiner]

hi Micheal, welcome to the forum.

I am sure you will pick up a lot of tips here. If it is possible to buy repair panels even though they may not be perfect it is often quicker to use them and modify them to fit than start from flat sheet. It depends on what is wrong with the panel. Once you have some understanding of how the metal can be shaped it becomes easier to read the panel and often a few changes can make a good panel out of a poorly fitting one. That said if time is not a factor then making your own repair sections is very satisfying. The same basic skills are needed for both approaches. If I can buy a panel cheaper than I can make it and it can be made to fit easily I will use bought panels even though I can make anything I need. I buy panels in sometimes find they are not too good and return them, at least this way I have tried to save the customer money, sometimes the panels are very good.

here in the UK the VW panels I have tried have been pretty good.

David

[HEATNBEAT]

Hi Michael and welcome!