Fender Rolling?

[redline]

Anyone know of any good tech links for rolling fenders. I know the basics, heat is your freind and work in small incriments. Any links or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to JnJ, I will be in touch!

[TGilb2007]

Search vwvortex for some good how to's, espicially the mk3 forums. I am sure someone there can give you awesome advice.

[twastheglow]

Originally Posted by redline

Anyone know of any good tech links for rolling fenders. I know the basics, heat is your freind and work in small incriments. Any links or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to JnJ, I will be in touch!

Ditto!
*mike*

[TROLL]

i dont know a tutorial but i did mine and it wasn't as bad as i expected... just be patient and make sure you work in sections and keep things hot enough that when you put your finger on it you have to pull it away after a second or so to keep from burning yourself, but not so hot that it starts to burn the paint. with the roller just apply light-medium pressure and work back and forth over and over and over... once you have it in your hands you'll see the different adjustments on the roller to adjust the angle of the roller in order to bend the tab up or in depending on what direction you need to go.

[redline]

Advice and tips are welcomed also.

[lagos]

I need my rears done.
Who has a roller I can borrow?

[redline]

Originally Posted by lagos

I need my rears done.
Who has a roller I can borrow?

JnJ has thread where he is renting one out with a deposit. Just don't rent it when I need it!

[redline]

Originally Posted by TROLL

i dont know a tutorial but i did mine and it wasn't as bad as i expected... just be patient and make sure you work in sections and keep things hot enough that when you put your finger on it you have to pull it away after a second or so to keep from burning yourself, but not so hot that it starts to burn the paint. with the roller just apply light-medium pressure and work back and forth over and over and over... once you have it in your hands you'll see the different adjustments on the roller to adjust the angle of the roller in order to bend the tab up or in depending on what direction you need to go.

The kind of "first hand" advice I am looking for, thanks!

[redline]

As of right now I am going to Roll the fronts about 1/2 to 3/4 and trim the rears with a dremmel due to the spot weld that will leave a fender crease. I really don't want that on my fender. I can try to sand it down first but I haven't seen any evidence that it will help with the crease.

[twastheglow]

Hey Troll, how much time did it take you per fender?
*mike*

[RyanG]

Redline,
Did I pm you back or not?? I can't remember.


But since I feel that I have the most experience here about fender rolling I'll chime in with how I do it.

1st- clean the piss out of the fender, the fender lip and ANYTHING in there. I have seen people try to roll them with dirt shoved under the lip and eff it up beyond repair.

2nd- remove any and all rubber trim pieces. (toss them)

3rd- feel your fender lip. make sure its jsut an outer shell and isn't too thick. If its 2 pieces of sheetmetal or thicker than book of matches get out your cutoff wheel. Too thick and you wont roll it, you will just buckle the fender and will be calling the body shop next.

4th- HEAT IS YOUR DAMN FRIEND!!! Like Troll said. (didn't I do yours Troll?) get it hot. not omg my finger hurts hot... I mean HOT! Like the damn car is sitting outside all day baking. that hot. I can't remember the temp but its something around 110f

5th- go slowly starting from the middle out, left and right.

6th- its all in the angle of the dangle. The roller has a large amount of adjustments (mine has more :P) you want the roller to just hit the edge of the lip so you can start to form it upward. Then as it rolls (hence the name) you adjust it accordingly.

7th- WATCH YOUR FENDER AS YOU ROLL~!! if you hear a POP. well guess what, you pushed too far. What I look for is the fender to push in and out like leaning up against it would. Don't go too far. (this is where the heat comes in)

8th- HEAT, I can't stress this enough. Heat it fequently. The heat isn't for the paint as most people think...well kinda isn't.
It makes the metal softer and easier to bend. The paint will only stretch so far before it cracks.

9th- if you do crack the paint.. don't worry. just sand the edge down and shoot some primer and paint.

10th- enjoy with a beer.


REMEMBER, if you are not comfortable doing it... then DON'T TOUCH IT!!! We are cheap when it comes to doing it.


What most people do not do after they get them rolled is wash your wheel wells. If you leave dirt and shiit in there the fender WILL rot. Simple as that. keep em clean :P


Hope this helps

(I really should make a video of me fender rolling a car)

[twastheglow]

What do you guys charge to do 2 rears on an S13 coupe?
*mike*

[RyanG]

Originally Posted by twastheglow

What do you guys charge to do 2 rears on an S13 coupe?
*mike*

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/...ad.php?t=20320

[redline]

Originally Posted by AREA1320

Redline,
Did I pm you back or not?? I can't remember.


But since I feel that I have the most experience here about fender rolling I'll chime in with how I do it.

1st- clean the piss out of the fender, the fender lip and ANYTHING in there. I have seen people try to roll them with dirt shoved under the lip and eff it up beyond repair.

2nd- remove any and all rubber trim pieces. (toss them)

3rd- feel your fender lip. make sure its jsut an outer shell and isn't too thick. If its 2 pieces of sheetmetal or thicker than book of matches get out your cutoff wheel. Too thick and you wont roll it, you will just buckle the fender and will be calling the body shop next.

4th- HEAT IS YOUR DAMN FRIEND!!! Like Troll said. (didn't I do yours Troll?) get it hot. not omg my finger hurts hot... I mean HOT! Like the damn car is sitting outside all day baking. that hot. I can't remember the temp but its something around 110f

5th- go slowly starting from the middle out, left and right.

6th- its all in the angle of the dangle. The roller has a large amount of adjustments (mine has more :P) you want the roller to just hit the edge of the lip so you can start to form it upward. Then as it rolls (hence the name) you adjust it accordingly.

7th- WATCH YOUR FENDER AS YOU ROLL~!! if you hear a POP. well guess what, you pushed too far. What I look for is the fender to push in and out like leaning up against it would. Don't go too far. (this is where the heat comes in)

8th- HEAT, I can't stress this enough. Heat it fequently. The heat isn't for the paint as most people think...well kinda isn't.
It makes the metal softer and easier to bend. The paint will only stretch so far before it cracks.

9th- if you do crack the paint.. don't worry. just sand the edge down and shoot some primer and paint.

10th- enjoy with a beer.


REMEMBER, if you are not comfortable doing it... then DON'T TOUCH IT!!! We are cheap when it comes to doing it.


What most people do not do after they get them rolled is wash your wheel wells. If you leave dirt and shiit in there the fender WILL rot. Simple as that. keep em clean :P


Hope this helps

(I really should make a video of me fender rolling a car)

Nice wirte-up and if I was in the states I would trust you to do it in a heartbeat! I just don't have the resources here in Germany to get it done for the kind of money I am looking at.

If you feel comfortable shipping it here I will keep you as an option and expedite with air shipping back and forth. See what it costs between you 2. Shipping will cost more than the use of the roller but it's ton cheaper than having someone do it here!

[RyanG]

Let me know when you are ready to "rent" it. I'll be sure to give you a really really really good deal ;)

[redline]

Originally Posted by AREA1320

Let me know when you are ready to "rent" it. I'll be sure to give you a really really really good deal ;)

You the man! I'm PM'ing you now.

[TROLL]

yeah ryan did mine but didnt go too far with it and it was fine for street driving. however after auto-xing i was still rubbing some so i went back in for round 2 and rolled it a bit more myself.

[evomike]

Just be real careful with the fronts, I have read about horror stories of people pulling too much and tearing the fenders. I'm not sure where your located bit my fenders and quarters are gettin cut soon, so if you want ill let you practice on my car, since I have wide fenders in my garage and rear flares.

[redline]

Originally Posted by evomike

Just be real careful with the fronts, I have read about horror stories of people pulling too much and tearing the fenders. I'm not sure where your located bit my fenders and quarters are gettin cut soon, so if you want ill let you practice on my car, since I have wide fenders in my garage and rear flares.

Well lets just say i'm over 1000 miles away! I appreciate the offer but I would never do it. I always treat things as my own. And with my OC I will take it easy on my Love. I'd hate to have to pay for a respray on the rears. The fronts I am not to concerned about as they are only going about half way and not a full tuck. With heat I should be more than good, I don't even know if I need to but the security is good to know that when I put it on the lift I don't have to go back and do it again. I have always liked to be prepared!

[evomike]

Well then didn't know you were super far, figured I'd throw it out ya know might as well screw stuff up that's gettin tossed, but hey good luck I'm glad that you got a good offset