Swaging tool or edge setter

This tool is designed for bench mounting or to

be used in a vice (Figure 3.33). The fixed rollers

produce a smooth, uniform stepped panel edge on

a straight or curved panel. The bottom roller is

adjustable to accept varying gauges of material up

to 1.2 mm (18 gauge) mild steel. The swaged or

joggled edge can be used to strengthen panel edges

or to create a flush-fitted lap joint when working

on panel replacement.

Shrinker and stretcher machine

This is a versatile sheet metal working tool, and

will quickly and easily pull curved shapes into

steel up to 18 gauge (1.2 mm) or aluminium up to

14 gauge (2.0 mm) (Figure 3.34). It shrinks or

stretches the metal into smooth even curvature

with a radius as small as 3 in (75 mm). It is used

to fabricate and repair panels where curves are

needed in angle sections, especially around headlights,

edges of window frames, door edges and

wheel arches.

3.17 General-purpose assembly and

dismantling tools

Having the right tool for the job is a sign of a

prepared body repair worker. Knowing how to

use the tool is a mark of an experienced repair

Figure 3.32Sheet metal folder (Skyes-Pickavant Ltd )

Figure 3.33Swaging tool or edge setter

(Sykes-Pickavant Ltd )

Figure 3.34Shrinker and stretcher machine

(Frost Auto Restoration Techniques Ltd )

106Repair of Vehicle Bodies

worker. Knowledge and experience come with

study and time, but without the right tools, even

the best body worker cannot carry out quality

repair work.

Spanners or wrenches

A complete collection of spanners or wrenches is

indispensable for the body repair worker. A variety

of vehicle body parts, accessories and related parts

all utilize common bolt and nut fasteners as well as

a range of special fasteners.

The word ‘wrench’ means ‘twist’. A wrench is a

tool for twisting or holding bolt heads and nuts.

The width of the jaw opening determines the size

of the spanner, so that it fits around a nut and a bolt

head of equal size. The larger the spanner size,

the longer the spanner: the extra length provides

the user with more leverage to turn the larger nut

or bolt. Spanners are drop forged and made from

chrome-vanadium steels.

Open-ended spanner

This is the most commonly used spanner. However,

it has the disadvantage that it fits the nut or

bolt on two sides only; consequently there is a

greater tendency for the open-ended spanner to

slip off the bolt or nut, resulting in rounded nuts

and injured hands. Open-ended spanners can be

single-ended, or double-ended to fit nuts of consecutive

sizes. The head of the spanner is usually

set at an angle for use in constricted spaces: when

the spanner is turned over, the nut can be

approached from a different angle. The openended

spanner fits both square head (four-cornered)

or hexagonal (hex) head (six-cornered)

nuts. These spanners come in sets ranging in AF

from in to in and in metric from 3.2 mm to 42

mm (Figure 3.35).

Ring spanner

The ring spanner is made in a variety of sizes,

points and offsets, and may be flat or cranked.

It fits the nut all round by means of teeth cut in

the inner surface of the ring. This is a very popular

type of spanner as it enables the nut to be tightened

quickly and can be used where movement is

restricted. The ring spanner is much safer to use as

more force can be applied without slipping and

rounding the corners of the nut. The handle of the

ring spanner can be straight or offset to provide

hand clearance. Each end is usually a different

size. The ring spanner does have limitations, for

there must be sufficient clearance for the jaws to fit

over and around the head of the nut or bolt. Ring

spanners are available in 6, 8 or 12 points. The

advantage of the 12-point ring spanner is that it

can hold the nut in twelve different positions,

which is ideal for working in confined spaces.

Ring spanner sets are available in AF in to in

and metric 6 mm to 50 mm (Figure 3.36).