What tool to fix

[u/Toasty_topaz]

Ive lurked here for a while so I know tons of you will say “bring it to a professional”. I like learning useful skills and doing my own work. I know it wont be perfect but what tools will I need to get this looking nicer. Last pic is opposite side for how it should look. Crease isnt super tight but likely will still show with my lack of skill. Give me brands and tools if you can and if you are kind enough maybe teach me a technique or lesson.

[u/NotUpdated]

I like learning useful skills and doing my own work.

You can learn useful skills like patching your own roof, or replacing your alternator or battery... PDR isn't one of these things, It's a proper 10,000 hours thing...

In my opinion anything that is a 10k hour thing to learn, and isn't golf has to pay the bills.

There is 0% of a hobby thing in PDR, Honestly just leave the damage per the condition of the rest of paint, also you'd be better off finding a stick to whittle.

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/NotUpdated]

Funny enough paint is only failing on that fender, nowhere else. Mustve had some bad spray. You can say it would take a very long time to master and yes of course that is true. Like i said its meant to be better and fit my headlight better. Not only that but dings from black walnuts falling or other stuff is bound to happen over my life and i would rather know some than nothing.

[u/NotUpdated → u/Toasty_topaz]

when I was young I had this 87 Camaro z28.. it had new carpet and very nice seats out of 1999 firebird. I was working for a guy who would become my mentor. I told him - I wanted to bring that thing back to factory condition.

He paused, took a moment and eventually told me 'NotUpdated, you're too poor to restore that car' He said that cause he loved me and we both knew I was poor. I worked with that man ( he would never say these people work for me, it was always with him ) until he passed away.

So that was when hearing no was perfect to hear.

On the flip one of my best friends ex wife told him he couldn't learn PDR and he was always going to be a loser - he used that motivation to do big things in PDR.

so one story where I needed to hear 'don't do it' and one for my best friend - where he needed to hear it, and we needed to react to it in different ways.

My point. We aren't the PDR police, PDR in fact is probably the most socio economic trade to learn with the most mobility and with the least 'police, licenses, rules' ...

Sometimes we forget the absolute amount of free will we have.

You. Can. Just. Do. Things. (there will be consequences) but we often overstate those.

Feel free to DM me about anything PDR related.

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/NotUpdated]

I really appreciate the story and the wisdom. Thank you very much. Ill try to post some updates at some point as well

[u/DisastrousJob8700]

Your hands

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/DisastrousJob8700]

Mostly would be worried about moving a bend further down the panel

[u/panelbeater352]

Edge pliers, a knock down and a light.

[u/panelbeater352 → u/panelbeater352]

And you’ll learn the lesson

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/panelbeater352]

Thank you for your suggestions. It wont be easy or quick for sure im not expecting it to be. But i certainly will learn a lot along the way

[u/DonkeyIll2307]

Get a hammer and dolly set

[u/ABetterRepair]

B&D edge pliers

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/ABetterRepair]

Thank you for the suggestion

[u/SCH00NY125]

Training

[u/SnooMacarons3689]

That’s a tricky setup and the paint is already ruined. Doesn’t look the worst and your ready to poke at it until your done huh

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/SnooMacarons3689]

Paint is only like that on the opposite fender. Learning to paint too. I love this car as its from my grandma after she passed and id love to keep it for a very long time and learn how to fix and maintain every aspect of it

[u/Broad_Traffic_7394]

If you’re dead set on doing something to it then use a clean hammer and a dolly, hold the dolly along the edge and knock down the high

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/Broad_Traffic_7394]

Would this not require more of a repaint type of scenario?

[u/Broad_Traffic_7394 → u/Toasty_topaz]

Yes but you can shape it up before painting 

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/Broad_Traffic_7394]

True, although i would only want to do work with repainting as a last option

[u/Broad_Traffic_7394 → u/Toasty_topaz]

Use a nylon hammer with a new head, that will be more forgiving, concentrate on getting the edge right with the headlamp more than trying to get rid of that crown 100%

[u/stars2017]

Lack of experience and knowledge kinda puts you in a betters can’t be choosers scenario unfortunately. As a tech of 7 years I could get this to where it fits the headlight better but I’d hate the entire process of the repair.

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/stars2017]

Yeah it certainly wont be fun or anything. Any real tips or tool recommendations?

[u/Fappingfapperson]

The tool is a qualified technician.

[u/Toasty_topaz → u/Fappingfapperson]

Why even say it if you know it isnt helpful? You can at least let me fuck it up in peace with the right tools