Knee dents - how????

Have had a good search, but cannot find the answer, so please excuse what could be a dumb question....

Have read about this chap producing very authentic 'knee-dents' in his tank, and was wondering how this was achieved?

https://caferacer.forumotion.com/t435-1976-cb750f1-cafe

I am handy with the spanners, but that body shaping certainly has me flummoxed!!!!

CT

My understanding is you use a ball-pien hammer and gradually tap the dent in using a sort of drumming method. That pushes the metal in gradually rather than great big thwacks which will stretch it and possibly even puncture.

Obviously the 'pros' roll the dent in using machinery prior to welding the tank up, but on a ready made tank I think it's a case of go slowly and check often. Having said that I know it's outside of my skill-set (and comfort zone!)

I know how Id do it but unless you can work sheet metal and have access
to a mig leave it to a pro
Steve

I had dents put in my tank by a fella that knock dents out for a living, the dent man, he put dents in the front for the fork legs to increase the turning circle,see if there is one local to you, give em a ring you never know

Oncas wrote:

I had dents put in my tank by a fella that knock dents out for a living, the dent man, he put dents in the front for the fork legs to increase the turning circle,see if there is one local to you, give em a ring you never know

Cheers for that - that must have made his day to get a call from someone asking to put dents IN their bodywork as opposed to trying to get them out !!!!!!!

every time you hit metal you stretch it.

like paul said, a thousand small taps are better than one big wack.

outline the area you want to alter, start in the middle and work out.

you'll be surprised how far metal will stretch.

though you cant go backwards and take the indents out again, your always going to have to put a skim of filler over it anyway.

will be doing my own tank soon now i've got time to get back on the bike project and will happily do progress pics.

He said he had never had a client ask for dents to be put in, when I told him what it was for he was round in minutes, he was into his bikes, sat there for over 3 hours and only charged me £40, top fella

top feller needs a business plug if you ask me

Thanks for all the replies folks - although I fear that I lack the skills for bashing tin to such a standard as would be acceptable to me........Beekeeper? I think you may be getting a visit from me come the autumn with a tank that wants a hammerin'!!!! I am looking forward to your posts about doing yours......

Carl

Pud wrote:

top feller needs a business plug if you ask me

Gave him a couple mate, he was mentioned in the Streetfighter & 100% Biker features

A nylon hammer is better than a ballpain, file the nylon hammer to what you need it to do , also , rather than use nylon against metal , use a peace of leather , or a bean bag, i'v never done this before but i'v been told it's the best way, even doing it this way i agree with paul, thousands of small hits are better than a dozon of big hits, good luck,

been told buy an old school metal man if you pressurize the tank first either with air or water the metal is slower to move than if it is empty therefore you have more control over the formation of the dents might try it on an old tank and see

just bashh it in mate 30 minits on thes dents skim of filler job sorted

[quote="walker brothers"]just bashh it in mate 30 minits on thes dents skim of filler job sorted

you make that sound so easy now wheres me lump hammer

[quote="miffa"]

walker brothers wrote:

just bashh it in mate 30 minits on thes dents skim of filler job sorted

you make that sound so easy now wheres me lump hammer

haha it is mate just mark the spot out and bash it all over