I just made a slap file and have been messing around with it for the past few days,
Iv been putting a dolly on the underside of the low spots and dropping the file onto the dolly to bring up the low spot wich is working.

just after some tips to make using it easier.

 

wow sounds great!! but what are you talking about? pics would be nice

 

^ Slap file is one of the tools for cold working sheet metal.

It is a toothed flat rod that is slapped against the sheetmetal to shrink it (the metal stretches as well as distorts when dented in) as well as bend the sheetmetal around the dolly behind it.

 

My only tip is to play around with it a bunch. Nothing beats hands-on experience!

I used to make armor in my youth and then 20 years later when I wrecked my 7s rear quarter behind the wheel I was able to hammer it back out perfectly with a body hammer and a block of wood. Zero autobody experience.

Cracks in the paints clear coat were the only clue it had ever been bashed under and I even had to reform some body lines there.

 

People who've used the tool know exactly what I'm on about.
The slap file is a metal file bent like a dinging spoon but doesn't have the curve on the face it's flat instead, its used to bring up low spots. I can use it better than a body hammer, it's my tool of choice at the moment for dints and ripples.

Search slap file on YouTube and have a look around.

 

Yea I'm currently working on a Series 1 rx7 stone tray bringing up the little ripples/dents.
Hands on is the best way Iv learned a bit just giving it a go.
But when Iv seen other people use the slap file they bring the dents up quicker for me it takes a thousand goes.
Do I start in the middle of a low spot or go form the edge and work it across the middle? I like the slap file better than a body hammer when I use a hammer the metal seems to do nothing I'm either not hitting hard enough or my technique is wrong.

I'd struggle to make armor but have herd other people doing that also.
My boss once did a auto body course one of the teachers got a flat piece of metal and made one of those old school Volkswagen hubcaps took like 30 mins but my boss reckons it came out perfect.

I remember you telling me about how you fixed your rear quarter, learning to make that armor payed off for you.
I struggle using the body hammer and wouldn't be able to knock a rear quarter out to almost perfect.
Why did you use wood instead of a dolly? Or did you use it so it wouldn't damage the the paint as much.

 

I just used what was in my garage at the moment. Wrecking wasn't really planned and the repair wasn't really either.

I just figured I wouldn't be able to make it look worse... and then lapsed into the zone.

 

That's the way to think about body work, most people would be too scared to knock out there dents.