Model A parts being hand made at national metal meet

[RockHillWill]

Jim and I just got back from the 2017 metal meet annually held in Oblong, Illinois. Here are some pictures, but first I would like to take time to thank those that interrupt their lives to host such a great event. Doug Haydorn and Doug Ganschow have always been my go-to guys, but they are only part of a great group of folks that include Kelly Tracey and his wife Susan, Steve Bowden and his wife Susan. Like Johnson always seems to be around helping some one in some way. Prayers and best wishes for Doug Hawkins and his wife Cindy as they were unable to attend this years event.

Below, Jim Hery and Robert Anton practice the setup on the English wheel for using the go-cart tire attachment to make the upper panel for a Model A hood.
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Below, jim and Robert get close to the shape they are looking for.
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It's hard to see in this picture but the shape is getting very close to what they were looking for. The panel that they will actually use will have the hinge segments cut in on the water jet prior to rolling, and then the hinges will be rolled.
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Pat Brubaker from hasting, Nebraska has formulated a series of upper and lower components to use an arbor press to form tucks that facilitate shrinking the edges of metal panels.
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In this picture, it shows a wooden fixture that he will use to make a rear Model A fender.
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The young man with Pat in this picture is a young man visiting the US as part of a grant provided by the English government to study the art of metal shaping for the use in auto restoration.
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Below, Pat is using the English wheel to smooth the edges created on his arbor press machine.
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Here, Pat is comparing his work to the original Model A fender.
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Pat is making great progress here. As unbelievable as it may sound, Pat has homed his skills so that he can actually make a complete Coupe fender out of three pieces, TIG weld it together , wire edge and add the character line in ONE DAY for the hot rod guys. I make the re-enforcement inserts that go inside and they can be added later to use as original style fenders.
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This is at the start of the test piece being shaped.
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Pats creativity and the speed of this new English wheel drew a crowd all during this 5-day event in Illinois.
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[Terry, NJ]

Thanks for sharing , Will! Always a pleasure to see guys making things that are "Unmakeable". Interesting use for a small arbor press! I'm considering the conversion of my vertical log splitter into a hydraulic press.
Terry

[M.W.Miller]

The hand made national metal meet.Great to see such instruction, and talent. Where could I find more info on this event and is it held more then once a year?

Mike

[RockHillWill]

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Mike, the meet is held right at this time of year on an annual basis. Regular input on these events are available on some websites. I am an administrator on Allmetalshaping.com, and we have other gatherings as well. they are all posted plenty of time in advance. I host a metal meet in South Carolina around the first week in April. I often have it in conjunction with hosting a class put on by really well known metal shapers, from Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Nebraska and other places as well. I have grown very fond of attending these events, because folks there share their knowledge rather than list their accomplishments. Watching Pat make a fender in one day was an awe inspiring revelation. generally. This event in Oblong, Illinois is $100 for a weeks attendance. Other events are on a donation basis, only. You always learn things that you never knew existed, or an easier way.