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“Basics of Basics” Pogo stick dent and body pulling. By Brian Martin After owning a “Pogo Stick” for many years and hardly ever using it I went to work for a very innovative guy who taught me some great uses for the tool that I had never thought of. It quickly became one of my favorite go...

“Basics of Basics” Color matching, Alternates By Brian Martin This “Basics” not only pertains to matching the color to paint a fender on a late model car, but also to know whether that “perfect” color for your street rod you saw on a car at the new car dealership IS actually the color you...

I was using my offset snips yesterday to trim a little metal off a part and it hit me on just how valuable they are to me. There was a time when I thought these particular “tin snips” were for left or right hand cutting, like if you had a curved line to cut, if it went to the left you used the...

I don't know how many of you know this but there are a lot of "phillips" looking screws out there that aren't "phillips" at all. GM used them for years they are called Posidriv at least that is what MAC tools calls them and the ony name I have ever known. Many seventies and I think sixties cars...

“Basics of Basic” Floor welding tip By Brian Martin This tip isn’t only for welding in floors, it can be used anytime. But it works the best when plug welding a thin sheet metal to a thicker brace, frame or whatever. Welding trunk floors into late model cars that have been rear-ended is...

First I was stoaked to find this product at NACE last week, second, I am disappointed it that it isn't their there web site so I can show you "in the flesh". I found this at one of the first booths I walked into, from the folks at Medallion Refinish systems. I actually saw this technology at a...

“Basics of Basics” Templates for accurate cutting and drilling. By Brian Martin Making templates is something that a lot of guys have a hard time doing. It is not that it is hard to do, it’s that we hate to “waste” time. Let me tell you right now, making templates SAVES time. You can quickly...

“Basics of Basics” MIG Welding By Brian Martin Let me start with safety, DO NOT SKIP, YOU NEED TO READ THIS. The UV rays that are produced at the weld can and will cause damage to your eyes you know that. But did you know that it WILL damage to your skin as well? I have gotten “sun burn”...

“Basics of Basics” Trial fitting parts By Brian Martin There are few procedures that give you more ‘Bang for your buck” than trial fitting parts. Sounds simple, just common sense. However, it is something that comes with very hard learned lessons. Even after doing this work for over twenty...

Tom, the "Right way" is going to be different to different people. There are a lot of guys who have dedicated enough time to this subject that if you didn't weld the patch in, grind the weld and "Metal finish" (using no filler what so ever) and prime and paint with the back side of the repair...

“Basics of Basics” Spray technique By Brian Martin A perfect paint job would have a consistent thickness on every square inch of the car, agreed? To have four coats on the left fender, two on the right, five on the left door and one on the right wouldn’t be right. For consistent color...

I have to tell you guys, this is one of the best investments I have ever made in a tool. As I remember off the MAC truck they were about $100 for the pair. Email Unitec, the maker off the link below and see who you could buy it from locally and I would bet it will be much cheaper. The "Speed...

“Basics of Basics” Color choice By Brian Martin Color choice is so much more than simply picking a color because you ‘like” it. Not every color “works” on every car. Some will argue “to each his own” or “It’s your car, paint it what ever you want”. This is true, but you are painting it to...

“Basics of Basics” Surface cleaners By Brian Martin They are commonly called “Wax and Grease Removers” but many manufactures have changed the name to “Surface Cleaners” or similar names. I think the biggest reason is because the name “Wax and grease remover” implies that they will actually...

Well, I had heard about this for years and I finally got a few photos. The SR-71, the fastest plane ever built was started in the early years by a pair of Buick 425's (I think they were 425's). These starter carts were used into the seventies. It is rumored that Hemis and big block Chevies were...

I write these little things called "Basics of Basics" on body repair. After seeing a few threads here on Team Buick I thought it was time I posted this. Brian >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Confessions of a body shop owner. By Brian Martin “Anybody know of a good...

“Basics of Basics” Molding straightening/metal finishing By Brian Martin When straightening stainless moldings you are "metal finishing" just as you would metal finishing a ding on a fender. The following method would only be used on small damage of course, but depending on the time spent...

Sorry I havn't had any new "basics" in a while, hope this one can help you out. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Flat panel basics. When you have a large flat panel that is flexing the first thing you need to do is find out why. Sometimes you can stop it, other times you can’t. But...

What ever tools you use the trick is to not add the last "skim coat' till you KNOW that it is all you need. Don't try to block out that first coat, just use it as a base for the LAST skim coat. I was taught this procedure after doing bodywork for a number of years and it really works well...

Paint technology basics There are many different types (or more correctly, technologies) of products you can use in the restoration or repair of your vehicle. Some have a variety of uses while others are very limited with only a few of specific uses. Proper choice of products can help you get...