AUTO RESTORATION TOOLS
If you’re going to start a DIY auto project, check out these auto restoration tools which are great for beginners.
Updated Dec. 15, 2024
The first thing you’ll need for auto body restoration is a hammer/dolly set, an angle grinder and a welder.
We waited till Black Friday and bought an Eastwood Multi Process Welder 10% off. But you don’t have to wait for a sale. You can get 10% off by using code THEBUILD10 on www.eastwood.com
The MP140i is a multi-process welder that can flux, MIG, TIG, or even stick weld. It also runs off of common U.S. 120V electric outlets. Eastwood’s online shop has a much larger lineup of welders which can be used to weld thin automotive sheet metal to super thick chassis steel.
An angle grinder works fine for cutting sheet metal, but for longer cuts it can be a pain. This is where electric sheet metal shears shine. We can cut 18 gauge or even 20 gauge sheet metal at different angles and curves with the the Eastwood Throatless metal shears.
Bead rollers are great for stiffening interior body panels for replacing rusty floor pans and firewalls. We got the smaller 8 inch mechanical bead roller. It mounts directly to our bench and doesn’t take up much room when not in use.
Having a sheet metal brake prevents us from having to form 90 degree bends on sheet metal with a hammer. The brake has a built in clamping system which easily bends sheet metal up to 16 gauge and it mounts directly to standard welding tables.
When you get to parts of your automotive restoration that needs curved sheet metal pieces, then that’s where a stretcher and shrinker come into play. One can shrink the sheet metal or stretch to help form different curves.
A few other miscellaneous tools that are very helpful, but not 100% necessary are a right angle die grinder with accessories, an english wheel, and a bench vise. These tools will help you form and sand metal a bit easier than having to go back to a hammer/dolly and angle grinder.
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