Special body pliers

I'm not sure what to look for to find the pliers I'm looking for- but the goal is to put a small crease in a panel, just thick enough to have a body panel slide right over it, and have a clean weld.

I have seen some vice grips that someone put a special end on it just to do that- nice little lip so that there's a place to weld to.

Anyone know what that is calle?

Flange pliers?

http://www.classicindustries.com/truck/parts/x9853.html

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-panel-flanger.html

In reply to EvanB:

That's it- thanks!

I have an air tool that does this and flip it over has a 1/4 punch so you can plug weld. works good but it single stroke per lever push. dreamed for doing it with and air hammer for fast long panels.

I warn you. Those flange pliers SUCK! Two offset plates of steel welded poorly to some vise grips.

A lot of effort for an uneven flange.

HF used to sell a pneumatic flanger that made those seem like garbage.

Ditchdigger wrote: I warn you. Those flange pliers SUCK! Two offset plates of steel welded poorly to some vise grips. A lot of effort for an uneven flange. HF used to sell a pneumatic flanger that made those seem like garbage.

This the one?

In reply to Karacticus:

Yep. That's them. Easy to get a nice straight and consistent flange with those.

Karacticus wrote:

Ditchdigger wrote: I warn you. Those flange pliers SUCK! Two offset plates of steel welded poorly to some vise grips. A lot of effort for an uneven flange. HF used to sell a pneumatic flanger that made those seem like garbage.

This the one?

I've got one of those. It works, and then it doesn't. I mostly bought it for the punch to do a bunch of plug welds. It didn't release very well and I had to use a screwdriver to pry apart the jaws after every punch. I went to use the flanging function a few days ago and the jaws wouldn't come apart at all. It is now a great paperweight. The flanges weren't all that deep to begin with.

I made a flanging tool with a pair of vise grips that look much like the ones pictured above, but it didn't work all that great, either.

If you are serious about it, you might try one of these, though I haven't used one:

http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Tools-Flange-Punch-Crimping/dp/B002GQAUQU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_8?ie=UTF8&refRID=0AX8DE00N1C8NVRHGJV4

I have a pair of the wide Eastwood flanging pliers that I've never used. They're 2 1/2" wide and based on genuine Vise-Grips. If'n you're interested, make me an offer.

http://www.eastwood.com/panel-flanger-set-regular-and-x-wide.html?reltype=2&parent_id=309

Woody wrote: I have a pair of the wide Eastwood flanging pliers that I've never used. They're 2 1/2" wide and based on genuine Vise-Grips. If'n you're interested, make me an offer.

Cool- are they narrow or wide? http://www.woodwardfab.com/sheet_metal_fabricating.htm about 2/3 the way down...

Not sure how to offer.. new I can get $20 or $33- and can drive up to their address. How about $15 shipped?

edit- nice edit How about $25 shipped?

Karacticus wrote:

Ditchdigger wrote: I warn you. Those flange pliers SUCK! Two offset plates of steel welded poorly to some vise grips. A lot of effort for an uneven flange. HF used to sell a pneumatic flanger that made those seem like garbage.

This the one?

I have one of those - it's a favorite - nice little holes for plug welds all along the new rockers in the triumph and nice flanges when I patched up the e36. It only jammed once because I didn't empty out the old plugs - turned it upside down, gave it a tap and was back in business.

Change of plans, I think I'll hang on to them. Sorry.

I've got a set in my tool box, never found a lot of use for them but they did come in handy a couple of times.

In reply to Woody:

no problem. never know if a challenge car may pop up...

Is it true that welding two panels together in this manner is not as good as butt welding the two panels together? Something about the overlap collecting moisture, generating rust?

There is metal work in the near future for my '72 Nova. I want the best type of panel patches so this is of interest to me. The flanged panel sounds easier, but is it better?

The flange method is far easier and faster than butt welding but yes you do get a stacked metal that if you don't protect can become an issue. A spray of weld through primer before welding or a wipe of seam sealer afterward are all that is needed.

If you don't have access to the back of the panel so you can hammer weld I highly recommend flanging. The doubled up metal resists heat shrinking that you have to stretch back out when butt welding.

If this is your first attempt I say flange it. It will be easier and your results will be better.