This tool is designed for bench mounting or to
be used in a vice (Figure 3.33). The fixed rollers
produce a smooth, uniform stepped panel edge on
a straight or curved panel. The bottom roller is
adjustable to accept varying gauges of material up
to 1.2 mm (18 gauge) mild steel. The swaged or
joggled edge can be used to strengthen panel edges
or to create a flush-fitted lap joint when working
on panel replacement.
Shrinker and stretcher machine
This is a versatile sheet metal working tool, and
will quickly and easily pull curved shapes into
steel up to 18 gauge (1.2 mm) or aluminium up to
14 gauge (2.0 mm) (Figure 3.34). It shrinks or
stretches the metal into smooth even curvature
with a radius as small as 3 in (75 mm). It is used
to fabricate and repair panels where curves are
needed in angle sections, especially around headlights,
edges of window frames, door edges and
wheel arches.
3.17 General-purpose assembly and
dismantling tools
Having the right tool for the job is a sign of a
prepared body repair worker. Knowing how to
use the tool is a mark of an experienced repair
Figure 3.32 Sheet metal folder (Skyes-Pickavant Ltd)
Figure 3.33 Swaging tool or edge setter
(Sykes-Pickavant Ltd)
Figure 3.34 Shrinker and stretcher machine
(Frost Auto Restoration Techniques Ltd)
106 Repair of Vehicle Bodies
worker. Knowledge and experience come with
study and time, but without the right tools, even
the best body worker cannot carry out quality
repair work.
Spanners or wrenches
A complete collection of spanners or wrenches is
indispensable for the body repair worker. A variety
of vehicle body parts, accessories and related parts
all utilize common bolt and nut fasteners as well as
a range of special fasteners.
The word ‘wrench’ means ‘twist’. A wrench is a
tool for twisting or holding bolt heads and nuts.
The width of the jaw opening determines the size
of the spanner, so that it fits around a nut and a bolt
head of equal size. The larger the spanner size,
the longer the spanner: the extra length provides
the user with more leverage to turn the larger nut
or bolt. Spanners are drop forged and made from
chrome-vanadium steels.
Open-ended spanner
This is the most commonly used spanner. However,
it has the disadvantage that it fits the nut or
bolt on two sides only; consequently there is a
greater tendency for the open-ended spanner to
slip off the bolt or nut, resulting in rounded nuts
and injured hands. Open-ended spanners can be
single-ended, or double-ended to fit nuts of consecutive
sizes. The head of the spanner is usually
set at an angle for use in constricted spaces: when
the spanner is turned over, the nut can be
approached from a different angle. The openended
spanner fits both square head (four-cornered)
or hexagonal (hex) head (six-cornered)
nuts. These spanners come in sets ranging in AF
from in to in and in metric from 3.2 mm to 42
mm (Figure 3.35).
Ring spanner
The ring spanner is made in a variety of sizes,
points and offsets, and may be flat or cranked.
It fits the nut all round by means of teeth cut in
the inner surface of the ring. This is a very popular
type of spanner as it enables the nut to be tightened
quickly and can be used where movement is
restricted. The ring spanner is much safer to use as
more force can be applied without slipping and
rounding the corners of the nut. The handle of the
ring spanner can be straight or offset to provide
hand clearance. Each end is usually a different
size. The ring spanner does have limitations, for
there must be sufficient clearance for the jaws to fit
over and around the head of the nut or bolt. Ring
spanners are available in 6, 8 or 12 points. The
advantage of the 12-point ring spanner is that it
can hold the nut in twelve different positions,
which is ideal for working in confined spaces.
Ring spanner sets are available in AF in to in
and metric 6 mm to 50 mm (Figure 3.36).
