Tools & Their abuses - a bodywork tale

[Jeff]

If you repair bodywork, stop what you are doing and go out now and buy a feather edger.  There is no exception to this...

After years of prodding by a professional painter friend of mine, I picked one up.  Oh my GOD.  This makes repair work so incredibly easy!  I'm replacing holes the size of my fist in the tail section, and you'd be pretty hard pressed to ever tell there was a hole there by the time I'm done.  

The only downside to it is that it consumes a LOT of air.  Like enough to kick my 33Gal compressor on in just a few seconds, and it'll drain the tank after about 10 mins (while the compressor is running).  This isn't really a huge deal though since by then I need to set the edger down and clear the dust/etc.  

This is an absolute must-have...

I picked up a 6" ingersol-rand from sears on scratch & dent for $42.  The same model goes for about $150 new...  Well worth the money...

[am_#65_john_deere]

i got a cheap one at menards for $20

works fine

body work looks like new.

[EM JAY]

  Ok, give me a big "DUH??"  if you want but what the heck is a feather edger??   ???

[Mark Bernard]

 Ok, give me a big "DUH??"  if you want but what the heck is a feather edger??   ???

If I'm not mistaken it feathers out the paint and primer so the new paint dont show a ridge when you get finished spraying.

[Jeff]

random pattern air sander.  Uses 6" (or 5") discs, and with a 400 grit pad, you will "feather" any 2 surfaces to a finish that you cannot feel the difference between them.

If you were to close your eyes and run your fingers across my bodywork you couldn't tell where the fiberglass ends and putty begins (in the spots that I'm finished on).

[EM JAY]

  Awesome, I will for sure look into getting one!  ;D

[Team_nuclear123]

You can get a cheap "DA" dual action sander online at Harbor Freight

www.harborfreight.com

If you do your own work, ya gotta have one!

Will

[Jeff]

The big thing is to get the air sander, not the electric.  The variable speed of the air sander is far better than anything electric when it comes to providing a perfect finish...

[the_weggie_man]

Been using my own two hands to do this for years. Nothing better than a soft rubber pad and wet sanding to make a perfect paint surface. ;D ;D