Classic Ford – August 2019

29

The final shaping Robin finishes with a course file

— you don’t want anything too fine because it will

clog and it’s extremely difficult to clean again.

August 2019 91

28

31 32

23

25 26

30

Get the finish with tools rather than sanding the lead

as this creates harmful dust, for which you will need

a proper dust mask to keep it out of your lungs.

Therefore, MBVR’s advice is to do the final blending

and shaping with a thin skim of filler over the top.

how to: lead loading

The corners will need attention and you can use

anything to cut into and shape the lead — here, the

blade of a Stanley knife, but you could also use a

wood chisel or a fine rasp to achieve the goal.

...and thoroughly wiped clean, ready for filling and bodywork.

The last step is to clean all the tallow from the area
— a solvent solution is sprayed over the lot...

...but basically, you work the body solder until it’s still proud, but more blended to the surface.

The teeth are extremely course, meant for cutting

into the soft lead and shaping it.

The surface will still be proud now, so Robin knocks
off the high spots with a body file — this one has a
flexible base that can be bent to fit the shape you
need to achieve.

24

27

In the corners, you use a small shaped paddle

allowing you to push the lead right where you need it

— don’t worry too much about getting it dead right as

we’ll be shaping it in a second.

This is the basic level to which Robin got the

filled seam.