Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Quendil]

Hi All,

Has anyone got any tips for lead loading for body repairs. I have started to have a go at this and will doing some more in the upcoming months.

Thanks

Dave

[UKdave2002]

Hi Dave

Take a look at this post;
http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=4892&highlight=#4892

have a go, lead loading is not as difficult as some people would have you believe, Frost do a good starter kit.

Cheers Dave

[magic9r]

Have a wooden tray on the floor under the work area, collect & re-cast for re-use when you put that bit too much heat in
Nick

[Jim Walker]

The tip about collecting lost solder is very good. solder is expensive.
Further tips are:-
Use only plumbers solder. It has an extended plastic state compared with tinmans solder.
Clean the surface until it is bright and tin with liquid solder which can be brushed on to the heated surface. It is expensive though.
Use acid flux - killed spirits or Bakers Fluid etc. and wash the surface off well as soon as you have wiped the solder.
The fill should be wiped with a moleskin (it does not pick up solder), while the fill is kept malleable with a non-oxidising flame. ie. one which uses atmospheric air, not oxygen.
Finally. do not fill over holes or seams with gaps in. Corrosion will eventually creep in behind the fill if you do, causing the fill to lift.
_________________
Quote from my Late Dad :- "You only need a woman and a motor car and you have all the troubles you are ever likely to want". THAT was pre-computers!

[Greeney in France]

I have done it a few times on the Jaguars its a bit frustrating on a vertical panel until you have mastered the heating method. Until you get it right it will indeed be dropping off or melting down the panel so all good advise above
Try not to breathe in the fumes and don't sand it without a mask, Get the special course files for it too, it will improve the method no end
_________________
www.OldFrenchCars.com

We do these things not to escape life but to prevent life escaping us

[ukdave2002]

The one thing I would add, is that its not as difficult as many folk make out , follow the cleaning and tinning instruction properly, practice on a horizontal surface first and you find its quite easy

[magic9r]

Use a solder bearing tinning paste, follow the instructions on the pot, quick and always 100% results.
You can use DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid to lube your bat (all the bodyshop pro's I've ever worked with do).
You can make your own bat from almost any decent hardwood.
Get a good bodyfile for shaping, good ones have an adjustable rod between front & rear handles to allow it to be set convex, flat or concave.
Regards,
Nick

[P3steve]

Check out this site it has some good clips that might help
http://www.sovereigncoachworks.com/page2/page2.html