The best way is to learn how to shrink is without a backup dolly. The cold metal surrounding your heated dome is actually your dolly. The only time I use a backup dolly is shrinking an edge of a panel. I avoid using the wet rag till the panel cools considerably otherwise it will harden the metal. I heat larger areas than most people, it gives me a higher dome but it’s key to keep that torch moving quickly, otherwise you will have a dreaded hole. the best thing is I can shrink anywhere, not just places I can reach with a backup dolly. Fifty years in the business and still doing it, but at a slower pace. ~ John Buchtenkirch

15 years in the metal working industry and ive always wondered how you work with sheet steel. found your vids yesterday and have binged them all since then. you have answered so many questions ive had for so long, not only answered them but educated to why and how. Thank you so much for sharing your skills and knowledge. i really appreciate it. THANK YOU!!!!

This brings back memories. I'm a 72 yr old retired bodyman, started in the body business at 15. This hot shrinking method you show here worked great on the thick sheet metal of old but as metal became thinner shrinking methods had to evolve. I was fortunate to work with an old metal man that taught me all methods of shrinking, many he developed himself, as well as how to torch weld aluminum sheet metal used by RR and other foreighn cars. By 20 he had taught me how to hammer weld fender extensions on racing Porsches. It wasn't until I was about 25 we even considered using bondo and that was usually for cheap repairs for a used car lot. We either metal finished or soldered everything. Those old shrinking hammers were all but useless unless you knew you were going to solder the panel to finish it. Never use them if you plan to metal finish it. Oh and when I say soldered I don't mean the hack method of drilling 1/8" holes all over the area and them soldering them closed after you've filed the area straight. Only would-be bodymen used that method. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!!!

Exactly, I've watched many people demonstrate it but I've never grasped it until now. Great job!!!

Hi Karl. I am about 150 miles south of you. Greatly enjoy your videos. I love gas welding, especially sheet metal. In 1973, I cut the body of a Triumph TR4 into, thru the middle of the doors. Necessitated by being rear-ended by a big Chevy. I welded another back half on using coat hangers as welding rods. Hey, I was poor back then, AND, back then coat hangers were high quality steel. The welded joint never broke or cracked, even after 100,000 miles of wear and tear. Just more proof you don't have to have fancy stuff to get the job done. It is far better to have good quality used tools instead of fancy, new pieces of crap. Keep the videos coming, please!

I'm an old guy that's just getting into this stuff, I've always been a gear head but I avoided bodywork like the plague. That was an awesome demonstration, thank you! I just subscribed.

@11:55 a gas welding video would be cool to see! (This video was really good as well, thanks for sharing it.) 👍🍻

I love it when craftsmen like yourself encourage guys to give it a go, and you show some good methods.

Great explanation, this is how I was taught. It might also be helpful for others if you did a video on shrinking a flatter panel that has an oil can effect in it.

Props for an explanation that's detailed enough that I know why I'm gonna do what I'm gonna be doing, and shows me *how* the old guys (guys who were retired back in the 1970's) were doing it when I saw it as a kid. Got a '54 Dodge truck with some damage, a hotwrench, and now - the understanding of how I'm gonna go after a couple of those spots...

Anyone who dislikes this video or disagrees with this technique has a lot to learn. This is one of the best explanations that I have seen on a very technical subject.

I really can't imagine that people like this exist. i I have gone to learn work in 2 garages. But they don't say they are working. I am at a certain level now. I have seen heat shrinking (not done). Most people don't know the method of just heating it and hitting it with a hammer. I always watch your videos. I highly appreciate your explanation. Keep this star 🌟✨️

I will be waiting for your gas welding tutorial as I used to do quite a bit of it forty years ago when I worked as an agricultural fitter. I was the only one to just use the torch to weld not using rods. I called it 'self welding' because it was the only way I could discribe it, because it used the metal itself when I had more of it. I just found your channel a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed watching very much, I live in the Northeast of England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿,near Durham City. I hope you never run out of topics to talk about. Keep up the great way of explaining your profession. The way you tell it is easy to follow. 👍👍👍👍👍

I really love your teaching, you are a natural.

I knew you weren't cross with your truck,you don't seem the angry sort of guy. Awesome explanation,you're a great teacher/demonstrator,I've learnt a lot from watching your addictive videos.keep them coming dude.👍👍

I have watched many videos on this subject trying to understand, ,,,,,,your explanation of this is hands down the best I've seen,,,,,,, I could see I understand exactly what you're doing now!

Love to see you do a "Pick and file" vid.. educating people on how to work the metal.

Loved this. As a Blacksmith, this makes perfect since to me. Could you please show how this would work on a large " Oil canned" area. Would you still need to upset/push the metal? or would it be just a heating and cooling technique? Thanks again for such a great explanation of this.

I have to say you just taught this old dog an old trick, and saved me a fortune. Thank You

Thanks for your public service, mister. Good videos. It's grest some good folks make consumer tests (Project Farm), DIY videos (like you) and product reviews.

When you shrink you decrease the surface area and increase the thickness of the metal in the area of the shrink. That is where the extra metal goes. The area of the shrink is now thicker. Sometimes it takes many shrinks to remove the stretched metal....... Also the stretched metal is thinner than the original sheetmetal..

SUPER!!! Thank you for making a clear detailed explanation of how this technique works.

That is the best explanation of heat shrinking ever. They taught us in college to heat up the cherry then throw a soaking wet rag on it no dolly work

You did a very good job on explaining how to do that? I've been waiting for someone to go into detail like you have. Thank you!

You have the heart of a teacher, thank you

What makes you a great teacher is the way you're relating to the novice not the expert. Thumbs up!

Karl, A highly experienced panel beater explained to me how he does it and it's a little different to your technique. He said when the hot-spot pops up he puts the dolly under and starts hitting around the hot-spot and pushes the metal into the hot-spot and then taps the centre at the end, he described it like squeezing a zit (pimple) on your face! The end result is the same, just a little different approach. I asked him what he thought of shrinking hammers with the serrated face, and he said the same as you - they are a total waste of space; this made me feel better because I couldn't get it to shrink anything. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Thanks for this information! I'm a DIY'er and learning through these videos!

*SCIENCE* You're a great craftsman and a great teacher. Thank you for putting these videos together. I'm almost 60, but love to learn new techniques and skills every day as a life long learner!

Gas welding was my first introduction to metal fab. I will be forever grateful for that skill.

You make this stuff look easy. At 41 years old I'm making my first foray into sheet metal work by patching a rusted out hole in my old truck's tailgate and learning pretty much everything from videos like yours and watching what the metal does as I work, all with very basic hand tools and Jerry rigged forming apparatuses. So far it's going okay, but this is definitely a big challenge for a first timer.

Awesome demo! Thanks for sharing.

I remember learning to shrink I was 14 and hated it , now 59 love to shrink metal if I can in different techniques , amazing when you understand metal. it is fun to the point you can make the metal perfect !!!!!!!!!

There is one more way to do it. Just heat it up and cool it instantly down with a wet piece of cloth. The metal shrinks by itself and gets more tension. Your vids are the best I have found on KZfaq, I have learned so much more. Many thanks from Germany.

Excellent explanation. Thank you for doing this.

Thanks for the video. Great job of keeping it simple.

You are just full of knowledge and you share it so well. Thank you.

Great explanation and instructions. Thank you

Been working in bodyshops since age 15 full time + weekends couldnt explain it better well done

Only guy on youtube that uses a brazing tip for heat instead of a cutting tip. I may be exaggerating but not far off. I use my cutting torch for cutting,and a brazing tip for heating. I remember gas welding. Did a lot. Its not easy. Finally get to watch shrinking with a great explanation. My Dart had a roof dancer,and im not cutting roof off. Thanks Karl!

I gotta say Karl, this absolutely works! I am taking out dome spots in my 1956 Chev shortbox bedsides and boy, I thought, hmmm, how am I going to get those out? Well your video did it for me. I purchased a small MAP gas/O2 torch of Amazon. It worked surprisingly well, for what I needed. MAPP is no longer available, only MAP Pro, glorified propane. Anyway, after some 20 hot spots, my panel is flat and no oil canning. Perfect! Big Shout Out to KZfaqrs like Karl and Brent!

Bro... you genuinely couldn't have explained that more clearly. I have a crystal-clear mental image now of how this works. Side note (just for clarity here): there's no part of me that cares about cars or restoration. None. But this channel is strangely enthralling. Sub'd and liked! I have enormous respect for a fellow craftsman. I came here looking for a lesson on how to fix a bad ding in my rolling toolchest. Thank you for teaching me.

A great way of explaining heat shrinking.

Great job. Just found Make it Kustom. I've been binging them all! Great teaching. I hope you're in the new shop!

I have used this technique for many years ,, but if you use to much heat on panels to shrink and remove dents and other things ,, the metal is more prone to rust ,, which you will have to address and sort out ...... ..... Your videos are great you never stop learning 😇........ Across the pond 🇬🇧

Well done, you explain things very well.

High value video, bro. You made me think of using a razor blade and a straight edge to create a grid on the sheet metal, then stretch the lines, then shrink them. Just to see how it works.

Very nice and clear explanation and demonstration, subscribed.

Thank you for taking the time to explain how you do it. Well done.

Brilliant demo and explanation

This is a really good demo. Thanks for making it. Am giving it a try along with the shrinking disc on my old Blazer

I’m just getting into this stuff and this demonstration really helped

I really wish this channel was around when I first started working on my truck. I had a really bad stretch in the quarter panel and I tried to heat shrink it and I just ended up stretching it more until I ultimately ended slicing a chunk out and rewelding it together. I even ended up buying a shrinking dolly, which was a giant waste of time and money I'm pretty sure those waffles in the hammers and dollies actually stretch the metal. I've learned a lot from this channel and I'm very grateful for you

Splendid explenetation , Thanks . I will start practising and try to learn the technic.

I understood it years ago and have used it several times. Tried to explain it a couple of times, though not hands-on. Most folks can't grasp it using "sign language". It requires a live demo or video as you have admirably done. Great job .

That is the best explanation of heat shrinking I have come access, makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for the demo!

Bloody brilliant, thanks, now i understand. Wishing you all, all the best. Greetings from Norway.

Best class I've had in 40 years.

Amazing tutorial and explanation of a process that has always been a mystery to me!

Well done. Thanks for that

I wasn't going to comment but what the heck. That old school shrinking hammer probably is effective in some cases. Especially like you said, in the autobody business. Skim coat of filler and its good to go. Filler primer and 2 coats of paint. Clear it and call it good. Your truck is raw! Thats the best way to describe it i think. Thats a compliment by the way. Its cool A F!!!

Your explanation of how these techniques work is excellent! Very informative.

You explain everything so well bro another solid video full of juicy info!

Well enough explained... congrats!!

Very well explained. It is hard to find a good heat shrinking video and I feel this is the best one yet. The explanation at the beginning with the marker was key. Explained so anybody can understand. Good stuff. Will share.

Nice Explanation! Thanks for the tip.

I'm really old school. 65 old. Oxy/Acet is still the best way for metal work. You're constantly heating and shrinking the metal. Making it do what you want. This mig stuff where you have to grind down hard tack welds is just a "quick - fix" for body shops. A nice slow relaxed method is much better 😉

Man. That’s what I love about KZfaq. When you have a great channel like this one… it actually give you the confidence to do it! It’s so well explained!!!

Loving the videos Carl. Awesome way of explaining this. I’m getting stuck back into one of my projects so I’m appreciating all the tips and tricks

Easily the very best explanation and video that I have ever seen on the topic....this one is timeless and will be teaching folks for years. Nice job !!

Thanks for explaining it like that , I will definitely try that next chance I get, thank you

I’ve learned so much already from you! You do a great job explaining the whys and how’s of what you are doing. Great job and thanks for the videos!!

Dude, I don't EVER comment. But I have to say after welding school and what they teach about basics of metalwork, your video and your descriptions of what you're doing and what's actually happening.. just amazing. liked and subscribed! Thank you! Quality content.

Awesome! Thank you for the great explanation and example. Never had any luck fixing dents with heat but I now feel like a expert lol

Fantastic! I can't wait to try this on my Hot Rod.

You’re right, it’s a very effective technique-Nicely demonstrated ✅👍

Awesome explanation. Cheers.

This is the best example and explanation!!

Great video Karl, I have just started trying heat shrinking, definitely takes practice to get it. One thing I hoped you would have mentioned in more detail is heating speed. Meaning saying Do Not attempt this with a typical Propane torch. The flame is to large and not hit enough, attempting to use a propane torch will result in a huge effected heat zone adding warping to the panel.

Now, finally, I understand! Thanks, JD

NOW I understand the process! Thanks for sharing, seriously! Enjoy your weekend! Be safe!

I have been doing this stuff for over 40 years and this is by far the best explanation of heat shrinking that I have come across!! Thanks.

I am a middle aged guy who is a gearhead, but I have never tried much body work. I always looked at it as Voodoo. Now I have a 54 Belair that I am re-doing and I am gonna tackle the bodywork thanks mostly to your videos. I could never afford for a bodyshop to do it. Thank you so much for your very enlightening and informative videos!

Your explanation was spot on. Great channel you're putting out!

I really appreciate your knowledge and the demonstrations you provide, I'm doing some body work on an old 65 pickup truck and your You Tube videos have been so helpful. Thank you.

Your teaching technique is great! You make everything easy to understand!! Thank you

Very good explanation

I love it brother thank you for your time

Thank you máster. If people don't learn the way you teach and explain things, they shouldn't be trying to learn this industry. Thank you again, greatings from Baja in México.

Perfectly explained thank you :)

Great explanation man. Thank you

Very nice demo, on shrinking.. Somebody once told me, if metal don't act the way you want it to, you're either heating or beating the wrong place.... Those are words to live by, in my opinion.

Heat shrinking... such a loosely used term until now thanks to you and that Brian Zuck guy👍👍👍its nice to know the science behind a method of work👍👍👍

Excellent work. I always feel like I hammer too much or nothing is happening. Thanks for the inspiration!

hitting the raised high spot after heating is doing most of the shrinking. You have a ^ shape and you punch the centre down gathering all that metal into a flat area, once that has happened you could cool it and you have a shrink, the extra hammering around will gather slightly more metal as you remove the wrinkle around it but mostly it helps planish the area back flat again. On a real buggered panel you can also use that time to dolly up and hammer down the immediate surrounding area of the heat shrink. Another thing you could show is on a terribly stretched panel you can gather the metal by having a point of a dolly on the underside and hammering around it to create a big high lump to shrink down.

Gotta love guys like this...paying it forward for the rest of us. Thanks for the lesson!

More excellent stuff! What a great way to learn!

You have a natural talent for teaching. I just discovered you also. Wish I had seen this when I was restoring my 51 Chevy pickup a few years ago. Keep up the good work.

Dude you explained it perfectly. After many years of struggling to understand shrinking metal, I get it! 👍🏼🤘🏼 I’m getting my Oxy-Acetylene rig out again. I had to quit when I broke my spine but now I can give it another go