Finding high spots

[Ianb]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

I have filled alot of the worse dents (it has loads!) when sanding the filler down I am struggling to keep the curved shape and the fillered areas end up too flat rather than curved like the tank. Any suggestions on how to avoid this? I see professionals on bodywork using special blocks that can be set to a curve, but this is much smaller and I don't have any of those long blocks.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I have filled alot of the worse dents (it has loads!) when sanding the filler down I am struggling to keep the curved shape and the fillered areas end up too flat rather than curved like the tank. Any suggestions on how to avoid this? I see professionals on bodywork using special blocks that can be set to a curve, but this is much smaller and I don't have any of those long blocks.

You can use the palm of your hand. Only flat at 90 degrees to your finger direction and flat lightly feeling the shape with your hand as you go. Difficult to describe but it should make sense when you do it.

 

[Ianb]

Thanks, I will give it a go, I hadn't previously as always read not to use your hand.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Thanks, I will give it a go, I hadn't previously as always read not to use your hand.

Good advice, you can get finger size stripes. If you must do it, do as I said at 90 degrees to your fingers.You are using your whole hand as a conformant backing pad, if that makes sense?

 

[Ianb]

Good advice, you can get finger size stripes. If you must do it, do as I said at 90 degrees to your fingers.You are using your whole hand as a conformant backing pad, if that makes sense?

Yep, that makes sense. Thankyou

 

[keithski122]

I go against the grain, I also wet flat primer and also use my hand for sanding. Mind you most of the paint jobs I've done have been scooters so mor curves and less flat panels. I've always gone gently and sanded with my hand sideways to avoid finger grooves.

 

[oldbikedavey]

I have an aluminium motorbike fuel tank that has alot of dents, I understand that when dents are created, they can also make high spots.

How do you go about finding the high spots around the dents? As I don't want to fill a dent and then find their is a high spot that needs knocking down.

Just wondered if there is some trick to it?

Thanks.

Ride the seven shades out of it, then people will be distracted and not ask silly questions...

 

[Ianb]

Ride the seven shades out of it, then people will be distracted and not ask silly questions...

Haha, it's an old thing, it's one of my dad's. The tank is bare aluminium, I told him to leave it as it really didn't look bad, it just added character.

He wants me to try to fill the dents and then paint it, painted before but never had to fill dents.