Using a Chisel to Strip Metal from a Car Body

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Duration:   6  mins

Craig Hopkins teaches you how to utilize a chisel when working on the door jamb of a stripped car. He demonstrates a few essential tips and techniques for properly using a chisel to peel a quarter-panel away from the door jamb in order to get the metal down to single plane. By doing this, you make the metal more pliable and easier to bend.

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12 Responses to “Using a Chisel to Strip Metal from a Car Body”

  1. jeff

    From the video and the comments, I’m confused. Have the spot welds been drilled before using the air chisel or is Craig “tearing” the spot welds as he separates the metal?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Jeff,

      The technique Craig is demonstrating here is strictly using the body chisel to remove panels. He starts by cutting away all of the excess and flanged metal then uses the chisel between the layers of steel to cut through the spot welds and peel back the unwanted metal. with a sharp chisel it won’t tear the metal but rather cut it.

      Of course there more than one way to get this job done, including drilling out the spot welds with a “spot weld cutter” or using a stone grinder to thin out the metal at the spot welds, then using a seam splitter to separate the panels.

      -Mark
      Classic Car Restoration Club

      Reply
  2. Gregg

    Love that action and the chisel…who is the manufacturer of the pneumatic chisel impact tool…clearly the chisel is very sharp and the old steel is like butter!
    Also, I paid for membership (I think last year)
    and you ask again…

    Reply
  3. hammer

    Ticket# 15777 So that first piece of metal you took off was not spot welded to anything, was it?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello,

      The first piece of metal was not spot welded… it was removed to get the edge down to a single plane to make the rest of the removal easier.

      Wrench Safe,

      Mark
      Classic Car Restoration Club Video Membership

      Reply
  4. Hammer

    Would you not drill out the individual spot welds and separate the pieces after that?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello,

      Spot weld cutters can be used instead, but many professional auto body guys prefer the method shown by Craig as there is less risk of damaging the base metal beneath the panel that is being removed.

      Wrench Safe,

      Mark
      Classic Car Restoration Club Video Membership

      We’d love to have you be a part of our community. We are convinced you will enjoy the benefits of becoming a member and having access to the best instructional how to videos and professional tips. We would like to offer you a special promotion for your first year membership.
      https://go.ClassicCarRestorationClub.com/C12080

      Reply
  5. Keven

    The camera work here is really bad. I can’t see much of what he’s doing. This series would be drastically improved with some better camera work showing more of the action.

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Keven,

      We appreciate your feedback and it has been forwarded to the proper department. Your comments are important to us and help with the development of new programs and offers. We will continue to listen and work hard for your complete satisfaction.

      Thanks,

      Becky
      Classic Car Restoration Club Video Membership

      Reply
    • Customer Service

      Yes the drill and chisel (panel splitter) method gets the job done too.
      I have seen many professional restoration guys moving away from drilling out spot welds, as the bits are expensive, the potential is still there to drill through both panels, it’s slow.. and time is money to the pros. But like many things in the car hobby there is more than one way to get the job done, and ultimately that’s what we’re all trying to achieve.

      Reply

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