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  •  » Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

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    4/23/2016 8:08 PM  #1

    Daze
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    From: Kalispell MT
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 1,135

    Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    I just finished my first door skin, and it went well.  I did lots of research and felt good going into it.  I used the technique of grinding the edges off and splitting the seam to remove the skin.  

    Once I had it apart cleaned and ready to go back together I stopped to think things through. Most of the research I did people complained about the bottom edge, they said it was challenging to get lined up and the edge took a "besting" with all the dolly and hammer work.  Nothing major but no way to do it with out needing body filler.  My solution was to not use a dolly but rather a long piece of steel.  I took a pice of 1/4" plate and put it under the lip then I propped the door up so that the lip was flush against the metal.  From there I positioned it and clamped it into place.  






    This allowed me to hammer the edge down with things shifting and it left my bottom edge perfectly smooth with no body imperfections.  I am very pleased with the results.




     

    If it isn't broken...modify it anyway! http://www.DazeCars.com https://galaxieforum.boardhost.com
     

    4/23/2016 9:02 PM  #2

    6sally6
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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,913

    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    Nice!!
    Before you weld-it-up...be sure and trial fit it on the car to ensure all the edges and "lines" align up. Hung my door(with just a couple of tacks) and aligned everything with the door hanging and made more tacks to hold it in place.
    6s6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    4/24/2016 11:00 AM  #3

    boomyal
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    From: Vancouver, Washington
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    Good job, Daze!

     

    4/24/2016 12:33 PM  #4

    terry
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    From: vandalia, illinois
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    you know they make a tool for that!!!  It chucks into an air chisel!! Probably costs an arm and leg!  I just watched one of my buddy's employees use one a couple weeks ago.   
    Great way to improvise!!  

     

    4/25/2016 7:56 AM  #5

    DC
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    From: Marshall, MI
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    Nice job Day, I did one very similar. One of my workbenches has a hard rubber top, so I clamped like you did to it an used my rubber mallet with a very short handle (to keep me from being to aggressive ) to fold the edge a little at a time all along the length.

     

    4/25/2016 8:25 PM  #6

    65james
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    Registered: 4/02/2013
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    Nice work as always

     

    4/25/2016 8:48 PM  #7

    Grabber Blu
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    Registered: 10/13/2014
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    I was taught to use a rubber sanding block as a dolly

     

    4/26/2016 3:52 PM  #8

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    No matter what you use you will still have a little distortion from hammering along the very edge.  I found that using the draw-filing method with a semi-fine hand file would provide a smooth straight edge.

    All I used was a ballpeen hammer and a wood 2x4 followed up with a piece of 2" x 4" x 1/2" steel plate.  I think Josh owns that door now...

    I actually have a NOS Ford 65/66 Mustang passenger door skin in the attic.  Only one I have ever seen!  And of course, I needed a DRIVER side!

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    4/26/2016 4:59 PM  #9

    Daze
    Forum Moderator & Bash host 2011

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    From: Kalispell MT
    Registered: 1/24/2013
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    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    MS wrote:

    No matter what you use you will still have a little distortion from hammering along the very edge. 

    That is the advantage of the way I did it.  Since the bottom edge is secured, it came out perfect, no deformation or issues.  The sides will need a little love but the bottom is pristine.

    If it isn't broken...modify it anyway! http://www.DazeCars.com https://galaxieforum.boardhost.com
       •Thread Starter
     

    4/26/2016 7:28 PM  #10

    DC
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    From: Marshall, MI
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,251

    Re: Reskinned a door. Came up with a great way to do the bottom edge.

    I was in a plant in Windsor Ontario a couple of years ago and they were making hemming dies for Chrysler. The skin went in the die then the inner panel and a quite large press made one bang and it was a door. No rubber, no hammer, just crunch and it was done. Don't remember any ripples or marks, just a nice smooth door.

     

     

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