Methods for straightening "pry-in" marks?

[tberk at sbcglobal.net (T Berk)]

Anson Clement wrote:

>> Jeff_Toomasson <area53@validpath.com> wrote:
>> I was wondering if anyone had any really 
 >> effective mothds for straightening out
>> door panels where some jaggoff had tried to pry in.
>> 
>> I was told once to have an assistant hold 
 >> a wood block on the inside and then
>> use another thinner, flat piece 
 >> of wood with a hammer and tap it out.
 >>
>> Doesn't sounds very effective though...
>> 
>> thanks, Jeff
 >
 > That's actually sound advice except for the
 > material of choice, your ass-sistant should
 > be holding a chunk of flat steel or better
 > yet a body dolly.
 >
 > Anson
 >


Anson, don't folks wrap a rag around those metal dollies?*  btw, one of 
the benefits for the DIY'er that wood holds is it's shapability compared 
to metal. Since the door has a curved surface it might help to fashion a 
piece with a slight curvature to better match the contour of the sheet 
metal.

If you see pro tools then you'll notice some look like shoe trees and 
others look like big ladles or soup spoons.

One last thing, when working with metal, remember the metallic structure 
off the material likes to 'rest' between shape changes. It helps to make 
changes in small increments, step back and adjust a little more. In 
between adjustments use a small hammer to lightly tap, tap, tap all 
around the 'work' to help the crystalline structure realign in the new 
configuration.

Sounds wacky maybe, but check it out.


hth,
TBerk
Stanford U doesn't have Cheerleaders, we have 'the Dollies'.
<http://www.stanford.edu/group/lsjumb/Dollies/dollies_info.html>