Register now to get rid of these ads!

Anyone "lead" any more ???

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Magnum Wheel Man, Jun 22, 2012.

  1. Magnum Wheel Man
    Joined: May 11, 2011
    Posts: 424

    Magnum Wheel Man
    Member

    I remember getting lessons on it ( more to just get familiar with it ) in my auto body shop class I had a long time ago, back in highschool...

    in starting on my Studie truck project, I think the base of the windshield frame is shaped / filled with lead... it still looks great after all these years, & I'm going to do my best not to disturb it...

    but got me thinking... does anyone lead any more, or has everyone gone to plastic body filler ???
     
  2. the metalsurgeon
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,237

    the metalsurgeon
    Member
    from Denver

     
  3. jimi'shemi291
    Joined: Jan 21, 2009
    Posts: 9,499

    jimi'shemi291
    Member

    I never had the resources to learn lead (though I sincerely wanted to), but I'm a believer in its durability, especially for older vehicles with heavier-gague sheet metal! Main advantages of plastic filler are: fast and light.
     
  4. cuznbrucie
    Joined: May 1, 2005
    Posts: 2,567

    cuznbrucie
    Member

    Buddy Palumbo does lead.....

    CB
     

  5. What material are you using? Does the newer 'alloy' work as well as the 'old stuff'?
     
  6. Magnum Wheel Man
    Joined: May 11, 2011
    Posts: 424

    Magnum Wheel Man
    Member

    perhaps if this is a dieing art... I should shape up some paddles, & try using it as filler when I channel the front of my truck ???

    I honestly don't remember too many details... that was long ago... I have a bunch of pure lead cane ( from FIL's old stained glass hobby ) or would I be better off using an alloy... ( I have about a ton of bullet casting alloy ) or could just stick a couple wheel weights together to make my lead stick ???

    & if I remember right, we used ( an acid ??? ) in a spray bottle as flux to get the lead to flow on the steel ???
     
  7. 351cmach
    Joined: Feb 2, 2010
    Posts: 83

    351cmach
    Member
    from Ma

    I just started to learn how to lead. Self teaching. Unfortunately it is a dying art.
     
  8. Kripfink
    Joined: Sep 30, 2008
    Posts: 2,040

    Kripfink
    Member Emeritus

    I'm pleased to be able to report that it's alive and well over here in England in the capable hands of my friend Jim at Royal Kustoms. Here is the lead work he did on my running boards to turn them into Lake pipe housings.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. the metalsurgeon
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,237

    the metalsurgeon
    Member
    from Denver

     
  10. bonesy
    Joined: Aug 14, 2005
    Posts: 2,999

    bonesy
    Member

    My friend in Albuquerque still uses lead at his collision shop, even for standard insurance work.

    I think that is so cool.
     
  11. the metalsurgeon
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,237

    the metalsurgeon
    Member
    from Denver


    on new,regular sedans?

    my weekly metal work blog www.themetalsurgeon.com
     
  12. bonesy
    Joined: Aug 14, 2005
    Posts: 2,999

    bonesy
    Member


    Yes sir. I bet he's one of the few in the country left.
     
  13. the metalsurgeon
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,237

    the metalsurgeon
    Member
    from Denver


    sorry,find that hard to believe.It wouldn't make sense/cost effective to lead a new car that never had that treatment in the first place.


    my weekly metal work blog www.themetalsurgeon.com
     
  14. hillbilly4008
    Joined: Feb 13, 2009
    Posts: 2,924

    hillbilly4008
    Member
    from Rome NY

    I've been wanting to learn for years. My father knows how to do it, but I can't get him to teach me. His response is usually "why the hell would you want to lead anything?"

    I tried to buy an old timers leading stuff, but he wouldn't sell. "I still use it sometimes"

    I signed up for Gene Winfield's class in a few weeks. If anyone can teach me it will be him.
     
  15. the metalsurgeon
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,237

    the metalsurgeon
    Member
    from Denver


    come to Denver, i will teach you for free.

    my weekly metal work blog www.themetalsurgeon.com
     
  16. bonesy
    Joined: Aug 14, 2005
    Posts: 2,999

    bonesy
    Member

    Ok. Don't believe me.
     
  17. DAVEO!
    Joined: Dec 4, 2011
    Posts: 291

    DAVEO!
    Member

    i lead! self taught to i dont think i do to bad
     
  18. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,454

    oj
    Member

    I picked up on it last year or so and do it often. I just find more and more ways to apply it - like those holes for toggle switches added to an old dash, i stick a piece of brass behind the hole and lead it so quick you'd almost miss the whole thing.
    Whenever i tig in a patchpanel i have my leadstuff right there. I set back the tig torch and lead it right up while eveything is still warm - i don't mean it is warm enough to melt the lead i still have to use the torch etc.
    I haven't tried to do anything deep with it, like the guys that can do the customs. That is another skill level, i saw a headlight surround a guy on here leaded and parts were at least a 1/2" deep and i bet controlling the lead and heat to be able to do that is difficult.
     
  19. odins701
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 387

    odins701
    Member

    Watch this and you'll be leading in no time.
    <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SD98LDc0GAI?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="420"></iframe>
     
  20. F-6Garagerat
    Joined: Apr 12, 2008
    Posts: 2,652

    F-6Garagerat
    Member

    i work for Ford, New Model Programs/Prototype. we build bodies and have a whole department that leads seams and small imperfections. same way at the assembly plant.
     
  21. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,454

    oj
    Member

    Do you guys have a way to get the lead to a 'plastic' state and apply it with a trowel? I have seen films of assembly plants and the body guys 'wiping' the lead on.
    Can you describe it, or take a camera to work and, like, you know, make us a training film? I promise we will all ignore the secret and classified work on the newest, latest and greatest body styles.
     
  22. falcon-61
    Joined: Nov 21, 2010
    Posts: 61

    falcon-61
    Member
    from Chicago

    I do it. I haven't in a long time but it's a good skill to have. I filled some swiss cheese in the back of some really cool headlights for a hot rod at a shop I used to work at along with some rocker panel holes. It's good for that kind of repair too if you know what you're doing. It would of been a pain to cut out the bad parts of the headlight and weld in new steel. Hardly needed any body filler too. Eastwood's kit is a nice start, make you're own paddles for specific contours if you need them. Just give it a try, it's easier than people think you just have to prep it right and keep your heat low so your half a days work doesn't slide off and on to the floor. I hate when that happens! haha
     
  23. metalman
    Joined: Dec 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,297

    metalman
    Member

    I'll vouch for Bonesy, yeah his shop still is a lead only shop and they do late model stuff. Don't really know why and he tells me it's getting tough to find body techs (go figure) that can do it. He once told me I have a standing job offer if I ever wanted to get back into collision work but that's not going to happen.
    I still do only metal finishing/ lead work in my shop, no bondo but I don't do it very often, not many willing to pay for it these days.
    I had a retired body man teach me lead work back in the 70's. He started me on a dent in the side of a 1/4 panel, told me to take off my shoes. Said when that hot lead ran off I'd learn heat control real fast that way:eek:.
     
  24. F-6Garagerat
    Joined: Apr 12, 2008
    Posts: 2,652

    F-6Garagerat
    Member

    as cool as that would be, i like my job a whole lot more than i like you guys:D no offense fellas. there are no cameras allowed on the property without an authorized photo pass, both of which i have. electronic photos are traceable, even my camera on my phone is registered with the company. i've had a crash course in leading from the guys here. they use paddles and all sorts of tools (wood) they made themselves. never seen it spread on with a trowel. flux, lead stick, torch.
     
  25. the metalsurgeon
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,237

    the metalsurgeon
    Member
    from Denver


    ok,im looking at the angle of cost to lead a new car after accident damage.Why would the insurance pay for this,when the next collision shop would just throw mud at it ,less than half the cost in materials and labor.

    I understand these lead procedures and using them initially at a car plant having spent 20 years working in automotive prototype design shops


    my weekly metal work blog www.themetalsurgeon.com
     
  26. odins701
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 387

    odins701
    Member

    its expensive but you can grind this stuff! lead free

    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gX5YjrsD_Pg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  27. odins701
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 387

    odins701
    Member

    Dad is an old school factory guy and he sais the only reason the used lead back in the day was cause they didn't have plastic filler. lol
     
  28. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,454

    oj
    Member

    How do you guys get the old junk metal clean enough to take the lead?
     
  29. odins701
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 387

    odins701
    Member

    check this out:
    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KZCFcxf5IBw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  30. odins701
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 387

    odins701
    Member

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.