Here's a Q for those good for body work. Would you suggest a 6 TPI or 9 TPI file for dressing up panels, have no idea which one it the way to go. Fine or coarse?
Bodyfiles
Started by
_nzstato_
, Jul 15 2010 12:24 PM
15 replies to this topic
#2
_Bomber Watson_
_Bomber Watson_
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Posted 15 July 2010 - 05:48 PM
I prefer fine, they dont grab as much and leave a nicer finish.
Not that im any good at file finishing panels haha, just use it to knock the highs off before bog....
Cheers.
Not that im any good at file finishing panels haha, just use it to knock the highs off before bog....
Cheers.
#3
_nzstato_
_nzstato_
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Posted 15 July 2010 - 07:04 PM
Thanks Bomber, I thought the fine for that exact reason. Hell I'm sure I'll be pretty crap at it, I'll post up my first attempt when I 'finish' it.
#4
_yldlj_
_yldlj_
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Posted 15 July 2010 - 07:59 PM
if you are metal finishing you want the finest blade as they to groove out the metal and they guide along the panel the way they are supposed to when metal filing. the courser blades are for bog. then they have the even courser blade and that is for plastics i will post some pics of what sizes they are for you to see.
#5
71xu1
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Dave
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 12:35 PM
Clint is spot onif you are metal finishing you want the finest blade as they to groove out the metal and they guide along the panel the way they are supposed to when metal filing. the courser blades are for bog. then they have the even courser blade and that is for plastics i will post some pics of what sizes they are for you to see.
Cheers Dave
#6
_nzstato_
_nzstato_
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 01:15 PM
Cheers guys, so this one would be worth it?
File
What's the difference between that and a 'banana file' never heard of them.
Banana file
File
What's the difference between that and a 'banana file' never heard of them.
Banana file
#7
_dirtbag_
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 04:16 PM
I assume it's called a banana file due to the curved blades of the file??? Just a different name for the same thing I'd guess.
Be very careful using a body file. Remeber you're only playing with 1mm of metal. The body file is to show you where high and low spots are, so they can be beaten flat. Don't use it to file down high spots, the panel will get too thin.
Also, make sure you get an adjustable handle to bolt it to. I also bolted a long board (sanding board) to an adjustable handle and it's great for bog work on curved panels, as the long board base is only alloy and rubber, so curves well.
Be very careful using a body file. Remeber you're only playing with 1mm of metal. The body file is to show you where high and low spots are, so they can be beaten flat. Don't use it to file down high spots, the panel will get too thin.
Also, make sure you get an adjustable handle to bolt it to. I also bolted a long board (sanding board) to an adjustable handle and it's great for bog work on curved panels, as the long board base is only alloy and rubber, so curves well.
#8
_nzstato_
_nzstato_
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 05:22 PM
Yea I realise its not for filing the bumps down, I've got a slapper and dolly to sort that out 
, I'm eyeing up an adjustable holder at the moment as well. I'm also getting a local engineering shop to make me up a shrinking disc since no one in NZ appears to sell them, though they're pretty slow in the process.
I'll post some pics of the work later and ya can all tell me what I'm doing wrong
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, I'm eyeing up an adjustable holder at the moment as well. I'm also getting a local engineering shop to make me up a shrinking disc since no one in NZ appears to sell them, though they're pretty slow in the process.I'll post some pics of the work later and ya can all tell me what I'm doing wrong
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Edited by nzstato, 16 July 2010 - 05:23 PM.
#9
_yldlj_
_yldlj_
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 08:45 PM
my computor is slow atm so i cant see the pics in the link above but what i think they mean by bannana file is that its the one where you can adjust it to make a curve. imo i wouldn't use one of them they are shit for doing straight panels as they always adjust on there own. unless you have curved panels of coarse. at work i have both i have a bannana file and a body file that i have made.i hardly EVER use the bannana one i reckon i only use it for door skins. dont worry to much about filing to much out of the panel if you are working on an old car. use your slapping iron slowly but if you slap it up to high just file it down 
i will go into work tomorrow and take some pics for you of the different blades and the body file i have made. they sell hammers that are for cold shrinking they work soooooo good.
i will go into work tomorrow and take some pics for you of the different blades and the body file i have made. they sell hammers that are for cold shrinking they work soooooo good.
#10
_dirtbag_
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 09:09 PM
Hey clinton can you suggest (or can I buy through you?) somewhere decent for a new slapper and a shrinking hammer? There's nowhere around my area that deals with that stuff. The slapper I have now is an old bastard file I reshaped with the oxy : ) It works well, but I could do with some proper tools for this sort of stuff.
Cheers.
Cheers.
#11
_yldlj_
_yldlj_
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Posted 16 July 2010 - 09:39 PM
ill try sort some tools out for you i bought all my stuff 8 years ago when i started my apprentiship but ill see if the tool shop is still there for you. im unsure if they will have the cold shrinking hammers kos i have only seen them once with a bloke that i worked with a few years back. ill let you know mate
#12
_yldlj_
_yldlj_
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Posted 17 July 2010 - 03:41 PM
here is a picture of all types of blades left to right is, metal file, bog file, plastic file
this pic is my home made metal file base and the peice of crap adjustable one that they sell lol
this pic is my home made metal file base and the peice of crap adjustable one that they sell lol
#13
_Viper_
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Posted 17 July 2010 - 05:17 PM
Why is the adjustable one a peice of crap? Ive got one, Ive barely used it... but yea just wondering (honest question)
#14
_yldlj_
_yldlj_
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Posted 17 July 2010 - 06:54 PM
they never stay straight!!!!!!! there good for curved panels only i hardly ever use it and i metal finish every day
#15
71xu1
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Dave
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Posted 17 July 2010 - 07:31 PM
Banana files are file blades curved along their width. Used for reverse contours for example around the wheelarches of xabc falcons.
Cheers Dave
Cheers Dave
#16
_nzstato_
_nzstato_
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Posted 23 July 2010 - 08:34 AM
Might be worth checking out these guys dirtbag
PFERD
All german made and excellent quality so I hear. After your guys speal on the adjustable files holders I think I'll just buy the file and make my on holder or adapt a wooden paper holder to it. Cheers for all the advice.
PFERD
All german made and excellent quality so I hear. After your guys speal on the adjustable files holders I think I'll just buy the file and make my on holder or adapt a wooden paper holder to it. Cheers for all the advice.
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