What tools for SS trim repairs?

Ken47

Ken47

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Supporting Member
My 47 Ford coupe (which has 46 trim (the ribbed style) so it is an early 47) project is progressing more slowly than I had hoped/planned. Today I got the boxes of trim out and decided to polish the trim up to have it ready when I need to install it. Most of it is in pretty good shape but some of it is a bit beat up. I was wondering what tools (obviously a hammer and an anvil) jigs, dollies etc folks have used to straighten trim and remove dents etc. I'm thinking jewlers tools might be a place to start. Any other tricks of the trade you'd like to pass along that would be appreciated too.
 
I use punches, chisels, pieces of hardwood and pretty much anything I can find in the garage that suits the dent or ding and the piece I'm working on. I make sure I work it all out before I file and sand, there isn't much material there to work with.
 
Thanks Relic. Do you shape the tool to match the trim profile at the dent location? There is a lot of areas where the rolled edge of the trim is bent. I'm trying to think of what I can use as a backer or dolly to get in there so I can hammer it out straight.
 
I don't have much experience doing trim, but I have a bunch that needs to get done when I get back on my Ranchero project.
Like Relic stated though, just about anything can be used. For the body work that I do, my best friend is my belt sander. I use same stuff he mentioned. Any size or shape of chisels, and soften all the sharp edges, and grind them to whatever shape matches what you are working on.
I have a couple drawers full of homemade dollies, chisels, and pieces of hardwood.
And you don't need hammers for trim work, let's just call them tappers instead, if you know what I mean.
It also works very well if you are able to, clamp your tool in a vice, so you can use both your hands, one for your tapper, and the other to hold your trim piece.
Show us your progress. Thanks.
 
Hi. Well I tried my hand at polishing a bit of the stainless trim on the 47. I tried the lower front fender trim first. It's actuall the 47/48 trim profile not the 46 profile on the rest of the car. There were lots of small dents in it. I raised up the dents with a hammer (tapper☺️) and various chisels and punches that I ground to suit. When it was close to smooth I used a file to file the highs off and identify any lows that needed to be raised up to get it smooth. What I learned in this effort was that the file I used was too coarse and left quite deep scratches that I got mostly out with 400 grit sand paper. I need to get a "smooth cut" file. I was able to polish almost all of the rest of the scratches out. I just need to spend some more time on the buffing wheel.

The picture at the link provided shows one complete piece and the other before working on it. I don't know how to post a link now that photobucket has decided I should pay for their hosting service lol. The pic isn't great but hopefully you get an idea of how it is going.
https://imgur.com/a/nCCbN
nCCbN
 
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I have used lead poured into the back of the trim, or over the front of the trim, in a place where it's straight, and used that as a dolley to take out the dents.
 
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