Larry’s Product Reviews
This Shop Pro Looks at a New Body Hammer, a Drill Bit Gauge and a New DVD on Welding Techniques.
The Perfect Strike Hammer
Back in the old days, one of the tricks we used to get a body hammer to stop marking the panel as we worked was to bevel the edges of the flat head and create more of a domed shaped head.
Then the hammer makers figured out what we were doing and began producing body hammers with the heads already domed. That was a great help, but it still didn’t put an end to hammer marks, especially when working on newer vehicles made of thinner metals.
Then Eastwood sent me their latest hammer creation to put to the test. The Perfect Strike metal forming hammer is the first of its kind as this hammer truly puts an end to hammer marks on thin sheet metal.
The Perfect Strike hammer has a small, slightly domed head, which instantly reduces the chances of leaving hammer marks. But what separates this hammer from the rest of them is that the domed head is actually spring-mounted in the hammer body.
What this means is that the hammer head floats and will conform to the shape of the panel with each tap. No more ring around the dent, so to speak. That equates to a reduced chance of stretching the metal and that equates to less time taking out dents and straightening metal.
My main thing is body repair, but if metal fabrication is something you do a lot of the time, this hammer is so far above the rubber forming hammers used to tap out those intricate detailed shapes that there is no comparison. Try one and you will see what I mean.
The Perfect Strike Hammer #51470 is made of carbon steel and comes with a hickory handle. It is only available from Eastwood and it retails for $59.99.
The Eastwood Company
263 Shoemaker Rd.
Pottstown, PA 19464
Easy Gauge
What size is that drill bit? Who knows, the lettering on the shank was rubbed off some time ago. Is it a 1 ⁄4-inch, or a 9 ⁄32-inch, or is it metric?
You’d know if you kept an Easy Gauge in your pocket. This handy little tool allows you to instantly measure the diameter of any size drill bit up to one-half inch and metric sizes up to 13mm. It really is one of those “everybody needs one” tools.
For more information on purchasing this tool contact:
NCB Finer Sales
33 Haven Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
“Weld Your Ride” DVD
You, the readers of Auto Restorer, asked for it, and at last it’s here. I’ve put together almost a full hour of great MIG welding information on this DVD.
You won’t find repetitious tutorials on how to “lay down nickels” to get that perfect weld. Instead, what you will find is real world information on how to weld the car in your garage. Getting blowouts? Can’t fill a hole? Can’t stop the heat from warping your panels? Not getting enough penetration to make the weld stick? You’ll find answers to all these questions, and then some.
“Weld Your Ride” is available from LPL Body Works, LLC. The price is $32 (including S&H).
LPL Body Works, LLC
5815 Contented Lane
Amarillo, TX 79109
