Wray's late Feb Sheetmetal shaping class

[Wray Schelin]

One more day to go for my late Feb. class and everything is going great.:grin: Everyone is super motivated and we have been very focused working on very unique projects. I helped JVO build a new decklid assembly ( skin and inner structure), for his 1926 model T roadster, pictures to come tomorrow. Archie is making a complete new rear door ( skin and inner structure) for his 1942 Dodge Carryall. Pictures tomorrow. Bob Baisden and Bill Firth are working together on a very cool project that Bob initiated. He found some drawings of a 1938 Auto Union racer and he and Bill used the drawings to build a wireform. From the wireform .060" aluminum skins ar being made. Here is a teaser shot of the 3/4 scale rear body tail section. This will also have a full body pan. We hope to finish it up tomorrow. Lots of reverse curves on this shape!!!

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3698/medium/sideview.jpg


http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3698/medium/Audiracertail.jpg

[underdog57]

Wray ,

With all these projects running at the same time , I swear you are a Wizard!!
This just blows me away !!!
Looking forward to follow ups on this post ...
Hope to take a class in the near future ...

Bob

[rookie]

Neat piece, Wray. Looking forward to seeing John's decklid and Archie's door.


Phil

[FriarTuck]

With all those "accents" in one shop, must be fun, like having your own Olympics. Cool projects, looking forward to more pictures. Great work, all of you.

Tuck

[Bob Baisden]

Hi,

I got back from Wrays at 6:00pm, yesterday, and woke up at 7.45 am. Was late for work. lol. those 15-17 hour work (fun) days were killer. I'll post pictures and add comments when I get caught up at work.

Wrays class was fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone from the complete beginner to the advanced metal shaper. I had the best time!

I've got a helve hammer, but after seeing Wray's in operation, mine in not in the same class nore is it being implemented correctly. I can't wait for his plans to be ready. We also got a sneek peak at his innovative wheel ;) . its going to be very cool.

I'll add more comments when I wake up.

Thanks Wray!


Bob Baisden

[Archie]

Hi,

Wrays class was fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone from the complete beginner to the advanced metal shaper. I had the best time!

Thanks Wray!


Bob Baisden

Ditto here

Wray was able to keep 4 guys busy on there projects and teach you the whole time. If your thinking about doing one of these classes go for it. You come away with so much knowledge. Just sleep well before and after.

Thanks Wray and Thank you John for all the work you did on my project I appreciate your help.

Archie

[Pete's Metalshaping]

Ditto here

Wray was able to keep 4 guys busy on there projects and teach you the whole time. If your thinking about doing one of these classes go for it. You come away with so much knowledge. Just sleep well before and after.

Thanks Wray and Thank you John for all the work you did on my project I appreciate your help.

Archie


Sleep? It took me over a week to get caught up on the sleep that I missed.

[Bob Baisden]

Hey guys,

I'm including some of the photos that I took at Wray's. The class was the best! You guys need to really make the effort, to get to Wray's. total worth the time and money. I'm so excited about the progress Bill Firth and I made on the rear of the auto-union cyclecar. We totally exceeded our expectations and abilities. Duplicating the left side of the cyclecar from the completed right side was a real trial. We got the left side top panel to clamp into place at 1:58 am Monday morning, with two minutes to go. woohoo!

JVO and Archies projects were over the top. To see those guys scratch build a complete model-t decklid and tailgate for a 1942 Dodge carryall was incredible. The detail of their projects was amazing. Hopefully, Archie and John took some more photos.

Here's the photos:

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0450_1.JPG


http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0451_1.JPG


http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0455_1.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0453_1.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0470_1.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0467_1.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0464_1.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0478_1.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3959/IMG_0477_1.JPG (http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=15960&limit=last7&cat=3959&page=1)

[jlrussell4]

Hi Bob,

Looks like you guys had a blast. In your third picture, what is Wray doing with the chisel? Looks like he's chalking a bead or ???

[Bob Baisden]

Hi Jim,

Wray's cleaning up the edge of bead in the new inner panel of John's decklid. I didn't see all of the process, but they didn't use a bead roller. hopefully, John got some photos of the process.

Bob

[Kerry Pinkerton]

WOW! That's impressive guys!

[Bill Firth]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Baisden
Hi,

Wrays class was fantastic. I would recommend it to anyone from the complete beginner to the advanced metal shaper. I had the best time!

Thanks Wray!


Bob Baisden



Ditto here

Wray was able to keep 4 guys busy on there projects and teach you the whole time. If your thinking about doing one of these classes go for it. You come away with so much knowledge. Just sleep well before and after.

Thanks Wray and Thank you John for all the work you did on my project I appreciate your help.

Archie
__________________


WOW and what they said

This past weekend blew me away.JVO's trunk lid was great and then Archie's rear door for a power wagon.the picture does not do it justice.There is so much attention to detail it was amazing,right down to fabricating the cage nuts that slide up and down for adjusting the hinges ( just like original ) and every part was made this weekend.
Bob and I worked on the tail section of his custom cycle cart.That was a lot more complicated than it looked.Bob did a great job on it.He had to finish it by himself because I turned into a pumpkin around 12:00 AM.I got 2 hours of sleep before a 6AM flight home so I could be at work by 8:00AM. What was I thinking?

Wray did a fantastic job !!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I laughed so much my side is still hurting.

Thank you Wray for a great 3 days
Bill Firth

[Wray Schelin]

Hey guys, thanks for all of the compliments and positive feedback!:D I had a great time and I learned a ton too.

One thing I learned was when I skip my nap after supper there is a cost.:o I was toast on Monday and I'm still in catch-up mode.:D How Bill made it to work Monday I have no clue, that was beyond the call of duty.

I have a few pictures I will put up later this week, right now I have to concentrate on getting some Jag orders out first though.

Wow, what tough projects, JVO's Model T decklid must have been used as highway blasting shield in it's past life. I've never seen a panel so screwed up as that one, until Archie came in with his 1942 Dodge Carryall rear door. :o Yikes! There was nothing left, but tin worm turds.

That was our information base to build the projects, which made the job a less than efficient task, but the results speak for themselves, we pulled it off.

Bill and Bob worked like mad to build the wireform and panels for the 3/4 scale Auto Union racer tail-end. What a great job they did!

I think everyone left with a firm belief that we can build the Bugatti at MetalMeet this year in the Fall.

Thanks guys for your enthusiasm and dedication, that's what makes it so interesting and fun.

[jvo]

Okay, so what can I say that the other guys haven't already said? Wray absolutely would not let us pull any short cuts, even at 2:00 AM on your last day, all the details must be done right. You're dead dog tired, but don't get to go home till he shows you how to fix your mistakes.

I went home early on Sunday night, only stayed till 1:50 AM 'cause I could barely stand anymore. I'm sure Wray could have gone all night. I was going to make a smart alec post about all the lights going out in Massachusetts (BeeGees), but it somehow doesn't seem fitting, as I'm not sure the lights at Wray's house ever go out. Wray, you're about the same age as me, and in some respects you make me feel old, yet I come away with renewed enthusiasm for life, and you make me feel like I'm a teenager again. Now that I have grey hair and I've been bitten hard a few times on my journey thru life, I occasionally get cynical and bitter. Then comes an encounter with Wray Schelin and it restores all my confidence in the human race. There is obviously an enthusiam in Wray, and it doesn't appear to be in the search of riches. We are so lucky to have a man of this calibre to encourage us and push us to our boundaries. Wray does not seem to have a competitive spirit, as most competitive people tend to keep trade secrets. He is like the coach at the recent olympics who was criticized for helping someone on an opposing team that had dropped a ski pole (I think that was what it was). He is more than willing to share his knowledge and creativity. Keep in mind that this is what he does to put food on the table for his family. It is a rare person that can have their work and their hobby as one, and be able to put up with his students using and abusing the tools of his livelihood, and still be passionate about his craft. He is the driving force that kept us in the shop till almost 3:00 AM. He is the one asking the four of us at midnight if we want to put in a few more hours. Wray is like the proverbial energizer bunny walking around with a big hammer. I honestly don't know how he does it. Always an approving smile and he never seems to get angry about anything.

Archie and I brought rusty old junk. We ended up building totally new panels, right down to the latches, captured nuts, every little piece of hardware. Wray will not let you put any rusty old junk back onto your project. Nothing seems to faze him. Nothing is impossible. You tend to start off with tongue in cheek, thinking "Yeah, right, sure we're gonna build that". Then you're pushed to measure and make patterns and blue prints of every little piece and he shows and teaches you how to build each piece.

I come from a somewhat redneck environment, so the off-topic conversation in the shop is pleasing. You tend to think you're spending time with a university professor. He doesn't spend much time on mindless topics. Wray gives you the impression that he is well read, and there is always intelligent conversation in the shop.

This course is not for the faint of heart. Wray will push you to your limit, then back off, but only a little. He will teach you whatever you want to know. It is not possible to leave his class wishing it had been something other than what you wanted. If you do, it will be your own fault, for not asking. Ask, and you will be taught. What is so pleasant is that it's painfully obvious that Wray has the answers to all the questions. At one point, Bill and Bob's project had a piece with a "knot" in it, late(and I mean late) Sunday night and I actually heard Wray say, "I don't know". But, within about 20 minutes he fixed it with a washover pass on the e-wheel, then Bob was able to change the panel arrangement slightly and they solved the problem. I find it incredible that he's able to bounce around the shop, and spend a little time here and a little time there, and still be able to fix an extremely complicated panel that was built by someone else.

I was fortunate to take the class with Bob, Bill and Archie. We had a ton of fun and had a lot of laughs. I think I gained about ten pounds also, 'cause we also ate a lot of food. I'll have fond memories of this weekend for a long time to come. I don't have time right now to post any pics I have taken, maybe tomorrow.

Who's next? We have a Bugatti to build. I'm going to hone what little skills I have (more than I had a week ago), over the next few months so I'll be ready for a Bugatti marathon in October in Oblong. MM05 is already 4 months behind us, MM06 is coming soon.

My course, for those that don't already know, was won at MM05 as a raffle. Wray gave it away for free. I had already intended to take the course regardless, and someday perhaps I can make it up to hime. I don't know how to say this other than, Wray Schelin, I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. John V.O.

[Wray Schelin]

Hi John,

Wow, I hope you win the free lesson that I'll donate every year at MetalMeet.:D I have had quite a few visitors come to my shop in the past, and in some cases nothing was ever said to the group about the visit. I always found it puzzling and disappointing that nothing was said. You have made up for all of the quiet visitors of the past.:D

Thanks!!!:D

[jvo]

See, I told you guys he was a pretty schooled-up feller. I gotta go find me a dictionary to see what that there word "paean" even means. John V.O.

[jvo]

Some guys asked for a blow by blow, so I'll post some pics, and add some dialog to go with it.


http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2140288.JPG

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This is the old deck lid, its hard from this pic to tell how rough it is.
Next up, are some pics of the turtle deck, that the decklid fits into.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2140282.JPG

This is a pic of the inside of the old decklid. Wray told me if I wanted to, we could have put the dimples on the edges, same as stock, as well as the big holes in the inner structure. I told him its a hot rod, not a restoration, so we could keep it simple and clean looking.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2140286.JPG

[jvo]

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2160014.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2160015.JPG

This photo posting goes backwards. Puts the new edits at the top of the post. Anyway, here's a couple shots of the "better" turtle deck.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2160006.JPG

Side profile of old decklid.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2140279.JPG

I did a bunch of templates before I left home, and sent the templates and measurements of the opening to Wray, along with this rusty old decklid. He laughed when he received it. I did up some metal and paper templates at home so we could try to build the decklid without having to have the body present. Each side of the decklid opening was traced onto paper and metal, in order to determine how much crown there was from side to side, as well as the shape of the opening on each side. The left side was also slightly different from the right side. I tried to document as much info as possible in order to build a reasonable copy. It is still, in is semi-finished state today (March 8) without the inner structure welded to the outer structure, so I can "tweak" it slightly if I have to. Then I will be able to spot weld the skin to the inner structure. The panel in front of the decklid opening is still in rough shape also, but by laying a yardstick across it, and measuring it, I determined it had 3/4 of an inch crown in the middle. I might have to build a new panel for it (actually I'm gonna repair it, but don't tell Wray). There isn't any rust other than surface rust, as that panel is high up on the body, just a slight deformation on the driver's side. The panel below the decklid is a different matter. I sent the repro panel with the rusty decklid to Wray's, and we determined it wasn't useable, as it has no crown in it whatsoever. I have a friend who used one of these panels on his roadster, and also built a new decklid from scratch, but it looks goofy, because there's no crown in either of his panels. It sorta looks okay, but when you look at it closely, it just doesn't look right. After building the decklid, this lower panel should be a breeze, as there's no inner structure to reproduce. There is about 3/8 of an inch of crown on the lower panel which was hard to measure, because its also pretty screwed up. All I have to do when I build it is match the 3/8 crown we built into the decklid. As I'm editing these posts, I will try, best as I can, to have this make sense. More below.

[jvo]

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2240031.JPGI'm trying to edit this post to be a little more descriptive of how this procedure took place, and its not necessarily in the order of how it got done, because the pics aren't in the proper order. Oh well. After the outer skin was shaped, and the edges tipped over, we started on the inner structure. The beads are quite wide, approx. an inch, and were rolled on Wray's big e-wheel, with a godawful big bead wheel, or whatever he calls it. This part of the process is a little trickier, as we stretched the bead area first, then rolled the beads, and as one previous photo shows, the edges of the beads had to be fine tuned in a couple places. We laid out the bead pattern, and e-wheeled the bead area till it was noticeably stretched. After that, the beads themselves were rolled in slowly and methodically. When all the beads were in place, Wray showed me how to get the panel perfectly flat again, with no distorted areas anywhere. Once the panel got back to that stage, it was placed on the bench, and supported on one end of the beads where the decklid rolls down on the one end. It was manually pushed down, with Wray's big mitts. I will probably have trouble doing this by myself, as it took more pressure than I could generate to do it. I'm sure I'll figure out how, though, for the next one I have to build. After that, its just a matter of measuring about 20 gazillion times, and going back to the tipping wheel to start turning over the edges of the inner structure. To fine tune the curvature on all four sides, the big shrinker/stretcher was used with very, very light pressure. The inner structure would have been more difficult to build for a reproduction had we put the original dimples along the sides, and the big relief hole in the centre. I wanted a simple clean look, so we avoided those problems, as this piece is going onto a hot rod, and it can look like whatever I decide. That's about all I can think of to add to this post. John V.O.


http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2240029.JPG

Another pic of the layout process and some paper templates, on their way to being metal templates.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2150002.JPG

And there's obviously not enough pics taken, but Wray keeps ya pretty darn busy in the shop. Here is the flexible shape pattern with the partially done new decklid skin under it. Wray figured the shallow dents on the surface of the skin weren't deformed too badly, and would still allow a decent shape pattern to evolve. Guess what? He was right. We didn't even pound out the dents, as they merely looked like someone had stepped on it, and the surface wasn't kinked or crinkled anywhere. I guess you have to listen to the metalshaping theory part of Wray's class, if you don't understand the area and arrangement discussion. In the case of the old decklid, the area (shape, I think) was still there, it was just not in the proper arrangement.

More info. The first thing I did when I got to Wray's on Thursday afternoon, about 2:00 PM, was I got told to hang my coat over there, we'll get started on your decklid. Wray gave me some lacquer thinner to wash it down, and clean it up. After that, he showed me how to take a piece of 1" wide masking tape about 8 inches long, put my hand gently on it, and drag it across the whole surface of the metal to clean it up, sort of like using a tack rag. Once there was no crud on the surface anymore, we did a flexible shape pattern of the decklid surface.

Next up was to shear a piece of 19 gauge and start running it through Wray's e-wheel. There was no hammer stretching on this decklid at all. It was totally done with the english wheel. This is a very educational procedure working directly with the master, one on one, on the other end of the piece of sheet metal. As you go back and forth he explains how to do the pattern to get the stretch where you need it to be, all the while checking periodically against the flexible shape pattern. Its hard to say how many hours we spent doing the skin, but I'm guessing about 3 to 4 hours on the e-wheel, maybe more, maybe less.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2240027.JPG

And here is the outer skin almost done.

Once the outer skin has the needed shape, it was time to tip the edges. Because of the curvature and crown, it can't be done in a brake. The lines were marked on the outer edge of the flexible shape pattern, keeping in mind the dimensions of the decklid opening that was not physically present. I think we might have added an eighth or so to the width, as the original doesn't necessarily have nice even gaps around it, as it was built over 70 years ago. Once the size was determined, the lines were drawn, and we went to the tipping wheel to begin the process of gradually tipping the edges to 90 degrees. We trimmed the excess material away, so there wasn't an abundance of extra metal also. There would be a little shrinking and stretching of the turned over edges after the inner structure was built.

[jvo]

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2250073.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2250072.JPG

That's about all I can post on my decklid for pics. I have a few more in my camera, but as luck would have it, when I took them, it just happened to be leaning against something in Wray's shop that's still in the R & D stages, and if I posted those pics, he'd probably send some big dude around with a baseball bat to break both my legs. Don't worry folks, we didn't see all of it either, just the main structure. If you wanna see what Wray is working on, you gotta go to his place to see it. I ain't saying no more on that topic.

I know Wray took some pics of my decklid up on the bench, and as soon as Roger sends him one of his round tuit's, he will probably post them.

Next up, I'll post some pics of Archie's small pieces that we built. Ordinarily, most of us would have put these original pieces into the blast cabinet, and re-cycle them back onto our projects. Not the case here. We spent a few hours drawing up patterns for new stuff, and it was manufactured new and pretty.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2260084.JPG

[jvo]

Here's a couple shots of Archie's stuff, also.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2260092.JPG

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/3516/medium/P2250069.JPG

We could make this thread really interesting if enough guys asked Bob and Bill to post a blow by blow of their project, also. P.S. I know they took a lot of pictures. John V.O.

[Archie]

it just happened to be leaning against something in Wray's shop that's still in the R & D stages, and if I posted those pics, he'd probably send some big Italian dude around with a baseball bat to break both my legs. Don't worry folks, we didn't see all of it either, just the main structure. If you wanna see what Wray is working on, you gotta go to his place to see it. I ain't saying no more on that topic.




John

Wrays from Wusta, like Charlestown there is a code of silence that one must adhere to. Watch your wording:)

Thanks for the shots you are a fine person full of kind words for all.

The real truth is we had a blast and laughed our asses off. Ate like pigs and learned more in three days than one could have imagined. I'm hoping this will be a yearly event for the four of us.

Archie

[jvo]

That sounds like a real good idea, Archie. Maybe next year we could built something really intense. Lets give that some thought. I'd probably fast for a week before I go again, though. John V.O.

[Ernie Ferrucci]

Looks like everyone had a great time and turned out some nice work. I've attended Wray's class and had a great time. I don't think one can do any better elsewhere taking a metal shaping classhttp://www.metalmeet.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif


JVO wrote:
and if I posted those pics, he'd probably send some big Italian dude around with a baseball bat to break both my legs.


JVO,I am sorry you feel that way about Italian people http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/images/icons/icon9.gif http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/images/icons/icon13.gif.

[jvo]

Just kidding, Ernie. Just kidding. No offense meant whatsoever. You should be like me, of Dutch descent in an area where there's lots of us. I get lots of ribbing. John V.O.

[Tisdelski]

hi john ,
the decklid looks like it came out great, but i thought you said your old decklid was rusty? don`t you guys up there call it surface rust until its big enough to stick your fist through.

archie, your rear door looks great also, do you have any before pics?

bob and bill; that cyclecar is downright cool, hope to see more of that project.

gary

[rookie]

Good article, John. I see what you meant about making new bracketry and such. The new pieces look identicle. It looks from the the pics that you and Archie spot welded a lot of the pieces on. Is this correct or no?


Phil

[Archie]

Good article, John. I see what you meant about making new bracketry and such. The new pieces look identicle. It looks from the the pics that you and Archie spot welded a lot of the pieces on. Is this correct or no?


Phil
Hey Phil

Wray has this real cool spot welder it made thing easy.

Archie

[edwardd_]

John,

I think this is an example of a great post of what Wray teaches and how you can immediately use the knowledge to get-r-done. :lol:

I hope the remainder of the pictures can be posted along with the narrative.

This teaching, sharing, camaraderie, and fantastic results make MM great and will lead to the Bugatti build in MM06 being real.

[jvo]

There Gary, I added a bunch more info on how my decklid was built. Hope you can grasp it. Its not necessarily in the proper order of how it was done, start to finish, but the pics aren't in the right order, either, and I don't know how to change that. Once I get it home, I can post a few more pics again, maybe block it into the decklid so we can see how well it fits. I know Wray took a few pics before we left, and he said he was going to post them. John V.O.

[Tisdelski]

thank you john!
john edited his original post about the decklid in this thread so go back to see this.

gary

[jvo]

I took the morning off today to go to the border to get my decklid that's been sitting there for a couple weeks. My buddy was nervous about picking it up, as it has no attached value, as far as Canada Customs tax revenue is concerned. It only took about 20 minutes to cross over, pick up my stuff, (including 2 Bugly shirts that I still have to send the money to Roger for and I'd insert a smiley character here, if I could figure out which one it is that's supposed to mean I'm embarrassed,thanks Roger.) then I headed back to try to get back into my own country again. I rolled up to the window and tried to explain the the officious fella that I didn't know what value to put on the decklid in the big box. He wrote something on the paper he gave back to me that looked kinda like a doctor's prescription and told me to park and come inside (me starting to get nervous now). I waited for some little old lady to pay the tax on the several bottles of booze she was importing and watching one of the busier guys playing with his drug dog. Makes you more nervous when he keeps running the drug dog close by to me, I want to ask him if he thinks I look like a drug addict, but I have to be on my best behavior even though I really want to make a smart-ass comment. So now its my turn to talk to another equally officious character......no, let me correct myself, this guy is kind of a jerk. He reads the note from his partner, and asks me, what do I mean, I don't know what the decklid is worth? I try to explain to him, all the while trying not to tell him he works for me, and he's nothing but a tax collector, but I don't know how to put a dollar value on it, as you cannot purchase a piece like this, only in fiberglass or in a far lesser quality piece with no real shape to it. I thought that maybe he could politely look at it, and put his appraisal on it (that's what I really thought they would do). He snarls back to me that if he has to go out and open the box, inspect and appraise it that it will now be worth $3000.00. I very politely (trying not to bite my lip so hard as that it begins bleeding) try to explain to him that if I placed a value of say, $200.00 on it, and you guys decided it was worth more, then I might be charged with placing a false value on it. Then he asks if that was what the value was, and I'm still a little unsure of his intentions, so I say I am not really sure, then he banters back, that he can't place the value on it, that I have to decide. Is it $200.00 or not? By now several people are watching, including the drug dog who has taken notice and I visualize myself being torn limb from limb by this creature. I feebly state to my opponent that yes, I think it is definitely worth $200.00, that if it were on the market, that is probably precisely what its worth. (Notice I didn't pick a much larger number?) He said no more and plunked away on his computer, then barked at me to go to the cashier over there and pay $28.00 tax. So....I go to the nice lady and I really want to pay my money and go away really soon, but now her printer won't work, and I have to stand there for what seems like an eternity. I finally state I gotta go to the bathroom, so I go do that, and breathe a big sigh of relief, but now I have to go back to the nice lady whose printer won't print me a receipt. I walk back to her counter and she leans over and asks if she can mail the receipt to me, and I didn't want to waste any time so I told her I really didn't need one anyway. Could I just go away, please, then? She says fine, thanks, and I get to walk out to the truck with the whole room watching me, I'm sure, including the bloody drug dog who I think still wants to eat me for lunch. I left on my best behavior but I was looking in my rear view mirror for the first 30 miles on the way North. I guess the moral of the story is that its much easier to lie to those folks at the border and have a false value on something than it is to own up to them and tell the truth. Whew.

I'll try to mock up the new decklid sometime this week and take some pics to see how well we did fitting it to the body that was not present when we built it. John V.O.

[edwardd_]

John,

Bummer....and we really did not know you could hide drugs in a flat sheet of metal. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

In the future for others, why not have Wray or whoever create bill of sale for damaged goods or seconds with a very low price?

Might help.

Glad you did not become dog meat.

Did you have to change your shorts???

[ralph]

Your saying nobody ever asked to see the receipt? :!:

Sounds to me that if you had gone inside, used the john and gone back to your car the result would have been the same and you'de be $28 to the good. :mrgreen:

BTW I noticed the embarrased sign wasn't working. Here is what you get now :oops:

[tdoty]

Well, that is certainly odd. We have 2 winks, Mr. Oops is back, 2 smiles, 2 raspberries, 2 confused and no embarassed.

Tim D.

[Archie]

I kinda had the same problem leaving Florida with a box truck full of Dodge trucks and parts. When he asked for a title and I said that I dind'nt have a title for 65 yr old parts, that just made him want to bust my balls more. After I told him that I didnt have a receipt either he stepped it up and asked 100 questions.The only thing that saved me was the line of trucks behind me.

Sometimes its better to lie. I found this out the hard way in Maine transporting a vehicle that I was taking to the OHTM.org to sell in there yearly auction. But thats another story.

It sucks when you have to shut up and kiss butt.

Archie

[lilmetalshaper]

my name is joe, im 17 and live in indiana. I am currently working in a machine shop and enjoy messin around with english wheels. this summer a friend and i are starting up a auto paint shop. i would also like to do fabrication. This is my first time on metal meet n wanted to get a few tips on how to use the sight and techniques used in metal shapping. please reply.

thanks,

Joe