⚠️MD Inspection Alert: Your 2000-2005 classic needs expert metal repair to pass. Handformed precision protects value.

Metal Finishing

Beyond the Patch: The Process of Metal Finishing

Metal finishing is a time-honored craft that separates a quality restoration from a quick repair. It is a painstaking process of manipulating the bare metal back to its factory contours using specialized tools, including a variety of body hammers, dollies (hand-held anvils), and body files.

Metal work showcase

A newly installed (welded) and painted frame or body mounting bracket to replace a structural support point on the vehicle's chassis.

A new cab pan and floor has been welded in place and prepped for rust prevention.

Following a frame repair, our expert technicians have prepped frame for rust prevention coating.

Floor pans have been welded in place and prepared for finishing.

Bare Metal Rebirth

The Foundation of a Factory-Grade Restoration.

We meticulously stripped down this classic 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback Mach 1 to its bare metal on both the exterior and interior, including the floor pans, firewall, and dash support structure.

This extensive process exposes all prior repairs, hidden corrosion, and factory inconsistencies, giving us the absolute cleanest possible starting point. Visible in the cabin are new or heavily repaired sections of metal, confirming that the essential bodywork, including any necessary rust repair and panel replacement, is being performed to ensure structural integrity and flawless surface geometry before the first layer of protective epoxy primer is applied. This meticulous metal preparation is the non-negotiable step toward achieving a show-quality, lasting finish.

Classic Jeep Body Restoration

Exceeding Maryland State Safety Standards

Our goal here was "metal finishing" using tools to get the panel as straight as possible, minimizing the need for thick body filler. We welded a new sheet metal patch panel into the lower body to replace rust damage, and the area was smoothed and contoured to prepare it for primer and paint.

Removal of Subpar Weld

We removed a subpar weld that failed Maryland safety inspection.

Rust/Damage Repair

We cut out and replaced the original metal in the lower corner (a common area for rust and damage on Jeeps).

Bodywork/Metal Finishing

We ground smooth and contoured the surface of the new metal. Here, the shiny, silver area is the bare, fresh metal where the grinding has occurred.

We applied a thin layer seam sealer along the edges where the new panel meets the old, olive-green painted body. This was used to smooth the final transition and seal the welded seam.

Cowl/Windshield Repair

You can see in this photo the corosion in the body seam.

We fabricated a custom-shaped patch panel (the shiny bare metal piece clamped in place) to repair the area just below the windshield glass line. This is a common area for rust on classic cars due to water drainage.

The new piece is being carefully clamped and fitted to the existing structure. This step ensures the complex curve of the cowl is perfectly matched before the panel is welded in permanently.

The shiny bare metal patch has been precision butt-welded, which integrated it seamlessly into the car's body.

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