Metal Magic – Must-Have Metalworking Kit

Previously, we have covered the welding kit you should have in your garage. However, welding is only one part of the dance that is metalwork. The other part is making the metal that you want to weld to your car. For popular classic models, replacement panels are often available, which is good. However, for many of us, there are no ‘off-the-shelf’ parts, which means we have to make them ourselves. We have to cut, grind, hammer and shape sheet steel into submission. And this is a line of work that is deeply satisfying, it has to be said. However, it’s only satisfying if you have the right kit. If you don’t, you’re just going to be shouting at a bit of metal as you aimlessly hit it with a hammer. 

We don’t want you to be in that position. Metalwork is fun, it’s involved and when it all comes together, it’s deeply satisfying. Get this kit in your garage and you’ll soon be a metalworking master. No wing, sill, A-pillar or windscreen surround will be beyond your remit.

1) Stanley Tin Snips

The first thing you’re going to need to do is cut metal, and for that you need a set of tin snips. These angry scissors will make light work of sheet steel, and we can vouch for them given our Ed has a pair that he uses on the regular. Sharp, but with plenty of available manoeuvring for cutting around shapes and pre-drawn lines, these snips will make light work of those initial cuts. They’ll also make car bodywork a breeze, so should you need to cut out any rust or replacement sections from scrap panels, you’ll be set. 

2) Metal File Set

Once you’ve cut your metal from the raw sheet, you’re going to need to bust out the files. If you don’t, you’re leaving yourself open to all manner of horrible injuries. This file set from Silverline comes with a range of files, so that you can take even the most aggressive, jagged edges down to a smooth finish. Furthermore, you can use these files to shape and hone the edges of the metal to create a better fit. Must-have kit, right here. 

3) Panel-Beating Hammers

You’ve cut your metal out, you’ve filed all the hard edges away, now you need to shape it. For this, you need some panel-beating hammers and dollies, like these from Hilka. Using these, you’ll be able to beat and tease your metal into shape. You get a range of hammers, meaning you can take on big sheets or finite forms, you get three different dollies to allow you to best replicate the curve and surface of your car, and you can also use the dollies in conjunction with a vice, for extra precision. Though you can use them by hand, meaning you can do work on the car itself. 

4) Metal Folder

One of the most difficult things to achieve in the home garage is the perfect metal fold. This can be frustrating if you’re trying to make something that needs a uniform fold like a sill section, or a bit of box section. To avoid the frustration, you should invest in this metal folder from Sealey. It can be mounted in a vice and it can fold metal up to 22 gauge in thickness. This bit of it will make your repairs and your replacement metal panels look truly professional – it’ll pay for itself in no time at all. 

5) Bead Roller

Now that your panel is cut, filed, shaped and folded, you might want to add some detail to it. For that, you need this bench-mounted bead-roller. With this, you will be able to roll bead detail (indentations) into your panels. Not only does this look good, it also adds strength, especially to large sheets of metal. You can also use this tool as a swager, to make stepped edges for better welding overlap. Is it cheap? No, but at the same time, it’s also something that will take your repairs to the next level. If you’re doing a major restoration, you need this.