Bean Bag Dolly

O

Outlaw

All I have ever done is hobby restoration so I am lacking a lot of experience compared to a lot of members. I had some #12 lead shot laying around from my old skeet shooting days. I had my wife sew 7 pounds of it in a light canvas bag and used it for off dolly work. It was awesome. I have a bad wrist and it eliminated all shock from a standard steel dolly. It also fit the contour of the inside of the dent and applied more pressure, more evenly. I was really impressed how it performed. I also laid it on a roof and went inside the cab and did some metal work with it holding itself in place and did an excellent job of helping me get a minor dimple out of the sheet metal. It was one of those places you need a helper to hold the dolly while you hammer on it. Where I could reach in the rear window and windsheild areas, I removed about 8 big dents in nothing flat with no oil can or stretching.
 
Typically a hammer on bag will allow the metal to stretch quicker.. However when I use a bag it's on stump and I'm usually putting some knots in it to rapidly stretch some metal for shaping
 
I've got a small leather shot bag and it is very useful. It is nothing like a regular shot bag. Thing I like it for is in place of a dolly when folding over a door skin. It virtually eliminates any distortion that I would get using a dolly (even the rubber coated ones). Nothing I hate more is seeing someone slathering a new doorskin with body filler because they don't or can't use a dolly properly. When working a dent it will let the metal move quickly without stretching it. Definitely has it's place in your toolbox.

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/keysco-shot-dolly-22115-p-12273.aspx
 
The trick for using regular dollies to install skins without damage is to tip the dolly slightly so only the bend is in contact and go slow. And use the right shape dollies and hammers for each contour.
 
Bob Hollinshead;n80506 said:
The trick for using regular dollies to install skins without damage is to tip the dolly slightly so only the bend is in contact and go slow. And use the right shape dollies and hammers for each contour.
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Good tip Bob.On the late model stuff using a regular dolly even like you say I'll get some minimal distortion. When I tried the shot bag I found I could do a skin damage free.This is late model stuff where the panels are thin. I like it for collision repair when I have to use panel bond on the skin and I don't have time to go too slowly as it sets rather quickly. (especially in the summer) I can do a skin with a regular dolly no problem but I like this better for late model stuff with the thin panels and odd contours that you find on current vehicles.
 
I am still learning so I think a benefit of the bag is that is fits the contour of the dent better than me tryinig to place it in the exact location. I have used the steel dollies and got them to work, but not as fast and easy as the lead shot. For me, it was night and day difference.
 
Chris_Hamilton;n80510 said:
Good tip Bob.On the late model stuff using a regular dolly even like you say I'll get some minimal distortion. When I tried the shot bag I found I could do a skin damage free.This is late model stuff where the panels are thin. I like it for collision repair when I have to use panel bond on the skin and I don't have time to go too slowly as it sets rather quickly. (especially in the summer) I can do a skin with a regular dolly no problem but I like this better for late model stuff with the thin panels and odd contours that you find on current vehicles.
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Have you tried 3M 8115? It's slow enough for me, and I'm pretty slow! Even in summer it takes nearly an hour to kick, when it's cold we have to help it sometimes with an IR lamp, or just leave it overnight.
 
I use slow fusor for bonding, I had a situation once where I had to pull a bedside back off for an unforeseen adjustment before it set up! It was enough of a mess as it was but it would have been a really really bad deal had the adhesive kicked.
 
At the end of the day , results are more important than methods. Before I had a leather shot bag to shape metal on , I laid several layers of cheap carpet together on the ground & got pretty similar results.

Never tried a small shot bag for repair work yet.

2 legged dolly don't look to bad for 70 years old.:)​
 
I use a small shot dolly for when I want to move or gently bump something, or even use the dolly as a hammer to spread the load out. Works well for many applications. I still prefer the feel of a solid steel dolly when metal finishing, though.
 
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