| Completing any job in the workshop is always easier if | | | | that you can use the air flange tool for will soon |
| you have the right tool available. One area in which this | | | | become apparent as it finds its way into your hand |
| is particularly true is body work on autos. If you want | | | | whenever you need a reliable tool. |
| to be able to provide the best possible finish for a | | | | There are a number of different air flange tools on the |
| customer when repairing their vehicle, then you will | | | | market, and all of them are compatible with the |
| need a full range of auto body work tools including an | | | | standard compressed air supply that you find in most |
| air flange tool. | | | | modern workshops, meaning that it can be integrated |
| One area where many workshops can really struggle | | | | seamlessly into your current work shop environment, |
| is in providing large scale panel repair on a vehicle. In | | | | and be used immediately. |
| order to return an area of the body shell to its original | | | | Prices for an air flange tool start from under $65 for |
| condition, it is often necessary to replace an entire | | | | the pistol grip style Astro Pneumatic AST600PT |
| area of metal, and unless you have the tools to add | | | | model, which is a robust and reliable tool that is flexible |
| metal to a frame work effectively, this will not be | | | | enough to carry out most day to day jobs. While it will |
| possible, and you will be forced to replace the entire | | | | not handle the heaviest duty sheet metal, it, forms a |
| component, such as a door or fender. This will result in | | | | smooth crimped edge that is set up ready for welding. |
| a much higher cost to the client. With an air flange tool, | | | | Thanks to its relatively light weight at just two and a |
| you can use it to simply re-skin a door with fresh | | | | quarter pounds, you will be able to use if over |
| metal, negating the need to replace the entire door, or | | | | extended periods of time without having to worry |
| engage in a lengthy panel beating session. | | | | about getting tired. |
| An air flange tool is designed to use the compressed | | | | Of course, by investing a little more in your tool, you |
| air supply in your workshop to deliver a compressive | | | | can get something a little more powerful like the |
| force to a piece of metal in order to fasten it into | | | | Mountain MTN 7378, which retails at less than $90 at |
| place without the need for welding. By using the air | | | | Red Hill Supply. This tool can handle punching holes |
| flange tool you crimp one piece of metal onto another, | | | | through metal up to 5/16" thick, and will crimp metal up |
| and thanks to the enormous force that the tool can | | | | to 5/32" inch, making it ideal for body work jobs. |
| deliver, it creates a very tight fit that will last. | | | | At the top end of the market, there are a number of |
| An all-new panel will not suffer from any of the | | | | specialist tools that use the air flange tool technique to |
| defects that you may get in one that has been beaten | | | | reliably and quickly re-skin doors. By spending around |
| back into the correct shape, and will also sit better on | | | | $280 on an Astro Pneumatic ASTDS1000 Pneumatic |
| the car than a wholly replaced door. If the panel is cut | | | | Door Skinner, you can complete the task of adding a |
| properly to shape in advance, then actually using the | | | | new skin to a door to a factory standard very quickly. |
| air flange tool can be a great deal quicker than actually | | | | If you are serious about getting the best finish for your |
| hanging a door on the car and installing all the electrics. | | | | body work repairs, then an air flange tool is the right |
| Of course, there are many other uses for an air flange | | | | item for you. It will cut the amount of time taken using |
| tool than reattaching panels, and the tool can be used | | | | a manually powered tool in half, and give you a much |
| to punch neat and clean holes in sheet metal for bolting | | | | superior finish thanks to the high pressure it can apply |
| into place, or for allowing wiring looms to pass easily | | | | to a task. |
| into the correct place. The breadth of different jobs | | | | |