Panel work

If your interested in watching a young guy doing old school panel beating, on You Tube, a series named "Japhands", all facets of body work.
Good to watch, looks and sounds like a Kiwi, doesn't mind being a bit heavy handed, but finish of his work, without any filling is something to see.
A real pro, got all the right gear in a fully equipped shop!
Suggested watch.
Dave_64

I watched a true tradesman apply his craft as a panel beater on his sons Cortina. It was side swiped by a telegraph that jumped out in front of him on the way home from the pub. Anyway, after weeks of weekend work and no oxy at hand he panel beated this car back to shape and a metal file finish. The amount of filler used from front to rear was less than a mug full. I could not believe this mans talent. He was employed by one of those high end panel shops that do only Rolls Royce and alike.

Cobba,
In the main, seems like a lot of these types ofold style tradies, rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
Got a mate of me bro in laws down the Otways, must be in his 80'a now, watched him working on a pair of rear mudguards for a pre WW2 Chrysler, or Dodge, made em out of flat steel sheet on an English wheel.
Rebuilt just about the whole car, with only leading and brazing, had nothing but contemp for any body builder who even mentioned body filler!
Called them "bog merchants".
Done his apprenticeship with some mob in Sydney, used to import high end Yank sedans and make Hearses out of em, showed me a few photos of before and afters.
A bloke who truly took pride in his work!
Dave_64

One of my uncles was a gun panel beater. Ended his days lecturing at trade school.
All the apprentices would build an item that demonstrated the facets of panel work. It looked a bit like a Jack Brabam era formula 1 body, about 4’ long. I made one into a go kart for my boys.
All file finish, no bog.
Before he enlisted, he received some award for his superior method to fabricate the wing root fairing on aeroplanes.
I was so envious of his kids. They had a scaled down Cat dozer with a Renault engine/box. Tracks were Bandag treads.
He’d buy hail damaged cars and remove the dints using the oxy and water. When finished you couldn’t see any dint.

The reason I got out of the trade after only 2 years was the disappointment of being taught to be a remove n replace or plastic surgeon. SO I jumped on earth moving gear for around 14 years.

You would be surprised how many younger people can use an English Wheel and fabricate from scratch.

I agree the vast majority are past retirement who can use shrinkers/stretchers, brakes and wheels but there are plenty of examples on car building Forums of what these young guns can do.

Just watched a Pommy rebuild an old English Wheel then low and behold an add came up showing a new model that uses a 6" diameter rubber wheel on the fixed post. This apparently gives good traction but better control.