file tools

[spinaltap1]

Hi guys, just looking at some videos on youtube of the Gangster of Stainless Steel Mr Nicholson removing some dents. He uses a bullseye pick to poke dents out and the wolf wheel but I'm wondering what the purpose of the file tools he uses that makes the stainless ultra shiney before regraining. Thanks.

[JBaker4981]

File is used to even out the surface and remove any burrs or contaminants... I assume.

You should simply reach out to Chris N. and ask

[spinaltap1]

i see. do the files actually remove some of the stainless steel material?

[JBaker4981]

i see. do the files actually remove some of the stainless steel material?

I do not mean to sound like a smart ass but if you are filing on something, you are removing material.

[dn010]

When I took the dent(s) out of my rear quarter panel, passenger door and front left fender, I used a file to get rid of the little pin point dents or raised areas that ultimately extruded from using a pick and other assorted tools. They were filed down so the surface was even and then you can regrain. Maybe Mr. Nicholson was doing the same.

[JohnnyK]

Yes, a file removes the high spots. I think you only have about 0.030" to work with. But, if you're asking what a file does, I think we're going to run into problems well before that comes up.

[David T]

I have seen him also work with a hacksaw blade to remove the high spots. When he uses the file it helps him see where the high spots are besides removing them. What you are trying to do to remove dents is to make them pop "outwards" or towards the surface a few thousandth's of an inch. You can't beat it flat because the metal has been stretched. You then file or grind the spot flat. Because the metal is over 30 thousandth's of an inch thick, you can remove some of it and still have a lot left. Once you have leveled it to the surrounding area you finish it off by scratching, aka, graining the metal. In some areas you can't use a file because it is not flat. To do it well is an art. You can't hide your work with body filler. Watching Chris work makes it look so easy but that is because he is so good at it. They call this process PDR (Paintless Dent Removal) and it is much easier on modern cars because it is softer steel and a lot thinner. The S/S on a Delorean is a LOT thicker and because S/S has a much higher tensile strength it takes a lot more work to shape it. Some guys who do PDR can do a Delorean but they aren't going to regrain the surface. You can do that yourself, start with 80# sandpaper and use some masking tape as a guide to keep your strokes straight. Finish with a course Scotch-Brite pad.

[spinaltap1]

in my head i thought he was using the file tools to smooth over any repair marks on the surface before the wolf wheel. i'm suprised he actually removes stainless steel material with the file tools. he makes the repairs look so easy. does anybody know how Chris got involved with working on the Delorean. was he a self taught owner or was he a panel beater.

[dn010]

When you're knocking the dents out of stainless, you'll end up with little ping marks and tool marks that extent outwards, it is very difficult to knock the metal perfectly flat/level again. You get it as perfect as you can and filing the rest away is the only way to make it flat or level in whatever contour is there if that applies. I'm no Nicholson but I can work on stainless, it just takes me probably five times longer.

The more you hit the metal and move it around, the more distorted it gets and as stated, it is not painted so you can't mask the repair. Like they said in BTTF, the stainless is like "tinfoil".