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SolarPoweredPickles
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2009
Posts: 1260
Location: California
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 Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2025 11:25 am Post subject: "Best" Manual Panel Flanger Tool for welds? |
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Hey all,
I am looking for a panel flanger, I am no longer running air tools, I am looking at Eastwoods panel flanger, and these other two off brands. Curious if anyone has had any luck with a specific brand, AND budget friendly. Im using this tool for one weekend so would rather not spend a premium. And I think Eastwood makes one than a little wider of a flange. I tried a few brands when I had an air compressor for my now long and gone Chevelle rear quarters prior to selling it, they were all mediocre, name brand and Harbor Freight, those were air.
Option 1
https://www.ebay.com/itm/234401734792?_skw=Eastwoo...BM4KS3g-xl
Option 2
https://www.ebay.com/itm/166152891234?_skw=Eastwoo...R-akt4PsZQ
Option 3
https://www.ebay.com/itm/232894692415
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Nacho_74
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2018
Posts: 82
Location: Norwalk,California
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:44 am Post subject: Re: "Best" Manual Panel Flanger Tool for welds? |
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| Why not butt weld the panel? It won't cost anything but some time & patience. |
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SolarPoweredPickles
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2009
Posts: 1260
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: "Best" Manual Panel Flanger Tool for welds? |
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| Nacho_74 wrote: |
| Why not butt weld the panel? It won't cost anything but some time & patience. |
It's alot of welding thats going to be seen, I am a good welder, but it would require extremely precise cutting for a conversion. Flange would be best for me . |
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SolarPoweredPickles
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2009
Posts: 1260
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: "Best" Manual Panel Flanger Tool for welds? |
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Any takers on manual flange tools? Maybe not the most exciting topic...  |
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viiking
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2013
Posts: 3132
Location: Sydney Australia
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: "Best" Manual Panel Flanger Tool for welds? |
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| SolarPoweredPickles wrote: |
| Nacho_74 wrote: |
| Why not butt weld the panel? It won't cost anything but some time & patience. |
It's alot of welding thats going to be seen, I am a good welder, but it would require extremely precise cutting for a conversion. Flange would be best for me . |
I have read (but have no personal experience) with flanging visible panels is that regardless of now well you weld them and finish them that sometimes the line of the flange appears as a "shadow" in finish painted surfaces.
I think that is why people advocate the use of butt and not flanged welds.
If you only want a good looking car and not a concours or show car then it probably doesn't matter. I have done the butt method on mine and whilst it is labour intensive it can give good results.
Another interesting technique is one by Fitzees Fabrication. He shows the method of overlapping the two pieces of metal and tacking the replacement panel in place in a number of spots. Then he uses a narrow zip cutter and by holding it at a 45 degree angle cuts between two of the tack welds through both the two pieces together and the resultant very well fitted section is then welded and then he just repeats until it is complete.
Looky here on his FB page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u31t13QO6A
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3 |
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SolarPoweredPickles
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2009
Posts: 1260
Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: "Best" Manual Panel Flanger Tool for welds? |
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Very cool method! I have an entire section of interior and exterior metal for 11 window conversion from a panel, so getting it to lay flat like that youtube fella did would not be possible unless I cut the interior metal apart, then welded it back together, I'll stare at it for a while until I find the best approach, that's a cool link I appreciate it!
I may consider a butt weld, angle cuts, and just measure measure measure, then cut, then start tack welding into place. My sections Im grafting in are pretty big, so its a bit of an extra challenge. |
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