Model A related metal shaping classes by renowned world class Peter Tomassini

[RockHillWill]

It has just been announced that the world renowned metal shaper Peter Tomassini is again visiting the United States and offering classes for the beginner and accomplished metal shapers. He is VERY good at fender repairs and all related metal shaping projects. He does most of his work using only a hammer, wooden stump, planishing hammer and the English wheel. He has developed his own array of metal shaping tools and is extremely well known for his skills in panel shaping. He began work in Italy hand building exotic cars and is now living in Australia where is generally known as the foremost metal shaper on that continent.

I posted this because this year I have been awarded one of the dates on this tour. My class host will be September 24th - 27th. The first three days is the 'beginner' portion of the class, followed by a more advanced fourth day centered around the hosts input for that class. Obviously, I will be trying to work in as much Model A fender/door instruction as possible, along with working with the wooden egg crate bucks that I have been building. Other classes available as well in other parts of the country. I cannot over emphasize the skill level of this instructor.

Tuition for the class at my location will be $650 for the full four days, and payment in full in advance is required to be put on the list. To attend, bring safety glasses, ear protection, gloves and perhaps your own hammers, or whatever you may have.

The following is a list of the class hosts and their email addresses.


Nashville area, Tennessee ……………….….September 17-20…………....…..Jim Hery……..……………[email protected]

Rock Hill, South Carolina………………….... September 24-27…………......…Will Cronkrite
[email protected]

Leonardtown, Maryland………………………October 1-4………………………Robert Maccartney………. [email protected]

Dennison Minnesota.…………………………October 8-11………………....…. Dan Pate…….……….……[email protected]

Fort Collins/Denver, Colorado ………………October 20-23………………....... Bob Adame…………...…[email protected]

Vancouver BC, Canada ......……..…………..October 26-29……………..….... Rick Bartok…..……….….. [email protected]

Portland, Oregon ..............………..………….November 5-8………………….. Carl Morton………………..[email protected]

If you are interested in attending one of the events in the cities listed above or have questions, contact me or the other host, or send an email to Craig Peterson at Dagger tools; which will be used to compile a list by the volunteers helping Peter. All of the names submitted will be passed on to the host of the event that you say that you could attend. If the event is filled or sold out, this list will be used as a standby list as well, just in case someone has to drop out before the class starts. So put your name on the list and pay when asked, the first people that paid will be placed in the class. The attendance with each class will be between 5 and 10 depending on venue size and interest. In talking to some of the hosts, it appears that a lot of these classes will fill up fast as they seem to have a list of people already that will attend.

__________________

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Will, check your e-mail.

[RockHillWill]

The class will be limited to only 8 students!

Two folks have signed up already.

[Vin-tin]

And if you'd like to see Peter's talent, and many others like him, go to metalmeet.com and prepare to be amazed at what some of those guys can build out of sheet metal.

[RockHillWill]

His talents are also on display at Allmetalshaping.com

[Mike V. Florida]

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Sounds like a steal at 650 for 4 days!!

[Synchro909]

I can personally attest to Peter's skill. I did some classes with him a few years ago and saw some of the stuff he produced. A Maestro!

[RockHillWill]

The class now has three attendees. Five spots remain open.

[RockHillWill]

Here is a link to Peter's website:

http://www.handbuilt.net.au/

[RockHillWill]

For the Rock Hill class, I have added another attendee:

Now there are four. Four spots remain available.

Attendees:

Eric Moore
Teddy Hefner
David Boles
Logan Douglass

[C26Pinelake]

$ 150 a day tuition is the deal of the year. How can you go wrong ? Wayne

[RockHillWill]

For the Rock Hill class, I have added another attendee:

Now there are five. Three spots remain available.

Attendees:
Logan Douglass
Eric Moore
Teddy Hefner
David Boles
Jimmy Matthews

[CarlG]

Will, are you attending your own class? Don't see your name there!

[RockHillWill]

Yes, I will be attending, but I will not count against the eight attendees. I have taken the class last year in Nashville, and that is what pumped me up to host this event.

There is an event being held near Alaska, in the Seattle/Tacoma area. Give it a look. Peter is VERY popular here in the US, and his classes fill up quite rapidly.

[RockHillWill]

For the Rock Hill class, I have added another attendee:

Now there are six. Two spots remain available.

Attendees:
Logan Douglass
Eric Moore
Teddy Hefner
David Boles
Jimmy Matthews
Scott White

[MP&C]

Maryland Class is full!


Kyle Cusic
Scott Burnett
Dave Havlir
Rick Hemlick (Gator)
Joe Mato
Howard Wentworth
Jeff Hain-Matson
Charlie Cerutti

Standby list:

Dan Norton
Sean OHarra

[RockHillWill]

The first three days of Peters class is for the new and beginners, but as the third day winds down and the for the fourth day Peter will be sharing more advanced technics and is allowing the host to suggest items of interest and I am going to be asking for some aluminum forming technics as well as aluminum gas welding of which Peter is a master. I have two gas welding tables set up and have both a Henrob and Mecco torches.

There are two openings left. PM me for sign up details.

[RockHillWill]

Just a reminder that there are only two spots left for the Rock Hill event.

[RockHillWill]

For the Rock Hill class, I have added another attendee:

Now there are seven. Only one spot remains available.

Attendees:
Logan Douglass
Eric Moore
Teddy Hefner
David Boles
Jimmy Matthews
Scott White
Bob Baisden

[RockHillWill]

One of the attendees is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philly, and we will be 3D scanning a '30-'31 front fender and a sedan rear fender so that I can make wooden 'egg crate' bucks for use in fabricating and repair of these fenders.

[RockHillWill]

For the Rock Hill class, I have added another attendee:

Now the class is full with eight, with one on the waiting list

Attendees:
Logan Douglass
Eric Moore
Teddy Hefner
David Boles
Jimmy Matthews
Scott White
Bob Baisden
Roy Eppes

Waiting List:
David Bolding

[Tinbasher]

Peters a great guy and a true Master. He helped me out on a rear body panel I built for a 1919 Grey - Dort Touring. I'll see how far Minnesota is from me. I'd like to take his program.

John Poole (41 years and still learning about metal work.)

[RockHillWill]

John, I f you can possibly get a chance to attend the Minnesota class, by all means take every effort. The host is Dan Pate, who's shop is the most complete metal shop that I have attended. He has a double headed Yoder, an Eckold seam roller, a large bottom-stroker Eckold and every thing in between. I would also be most optimistic that you might run into Cass Nawrocki who moves back and forth from Minneapolis and Moose Lake and is a well know builder of hand made '37 Mercedes bodies.

[RockHillWill]

Here is a link to read about Cass Nawrocki

http://www.mlstargazette.com/story/2...claim/369.html

[RockHillWill]

Earlier this year, I made some wood egg crate bucks for a '35 Bugatti for a gentleman in Tennessee and I have just confirmed that those bucks are being brought to this Peter Tommasini class. I know that it is not Model A, but it will provide an additional source for fitting of fender shaped panels. These are made from .060 3003 aluminum and will be gas welded together.

[RockHillWill]

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Four of the eight attendees in this metal shaping class are owners of a Model A. For those of you that are on this site, I offer this advice. If you can bring or merely acquire a Model A wheel, a torque tube and a front brake drum, I will show you how to make a 12" beater bag stand, and if you have a wooden baseball bat, bring it as well and it will be shown how to make it into a deep draw forming hammer that is a real advantage when shaping light weight sheet metal and aluminum.

[RockHillWill]

Here is an update for those Model A guys in attendance.

Day 1 -will include understanding shapes , paper patterns and profiles as well as proper learning of hand shrinking with a stump and various types of tucking forks. I have recently made a number of stumps for the class and am going to share building technics that were learned. In addition one of the attendees is willing to give a stump to anyone who attends the class that wants one.

Day 2 - will be most helpful to get your head around those elusive single and double reverse curves . Of course all these days will be ,in Peters fashion , interlinked with projects that each have brought. Use of the planishing hammer will most likely be covered this day. I have made wood forming bucks for the inside corners of the rear Model a fenders that will be made available.

Day 3 - will get more involved with the understanding of the wheeling machine and anvil choices as well as correct pressures for correct shaping and washing of the panel for smooth and blended finishes. Peter also has a distinct way of actually shrinking with an English wheel that he will share with us.

Day 4 - will be understanding hand swaging and other advanced techniques as well as hand crafting home made tools, and hopefully some aluminum welding instructions.

Coffee will be available in the morning as well as lunch will be provided . There will be ample amounts of refreshments so don't wooy about your thirst . I have a small supply of sheet steel in 18, 19 and 20gauge in cold roll steel and 1/16" aluminum, so just bring a project or get involved with ones that were brought by others . I have quite a few wooden egg crate bucks and interesting Model A fender projects available to work on as well .

Starting time is 8:00 am and run till 5:00 pm as well as anyone that wishes to stay and take advantage of my extensive shop is more than welcome to . Also anyone coming from a distance that want to take advantage of on grounds camping or electrical hookups , just let me know.

As of last night , I believe there to be an opening or possibly two in the Nashville, Minnesota and the Denver classes. PM me for info or look at the first post for more info.

[MP&C]

Updated list for Maryland class, Gator is unable to attend so I have an email out to Dan to see if he can attend.. If not, spot will go to Sean.


Kyle Cusic
Scott Burnett
Dave Havlir
(open spot)
Joe Mato
Howard Wentworth
Jeff Hain-Matson
Charlie Cerutti

Standby list:

Dan Norton
Sean OHarra

[Mike V. Florida]

Just to keep everything linked;

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177321

[RockHillWill]

Thanks, Mike.

As I have said before, if you have any opportunity to spend time in a Peter Tommasini class, you will be amazed. He does things the old school way with a hammer, stump and an English wheel. He makes special hand held tools to install and make body and fender character lines, and uses simple compound edging devices to insure panel 'flow', and many other ideas that you don't get from casual contact with most metal shapers. In his classes you get MUCH more than listening to him at places like Oblong and other mass gatherings. He and I share a common approach to humor and we will have to be careful not to interrupt our class any more than necessary, but I have a story about an Australian pirate that I cannot wait to tell him.

[RockHillWill]

In getting ready for the peter Tommasini class, I needed to have an additional stump. One of the attendees, Jimmy Matthews, had a large selection of wood and offered to provide it for me. In exchange I said that I would help him make one for him as well and maybe get another on cut for my friend Jim Hery. Jimmy cut the lumber to size and made the indentations in the top for his using a cutoff saw with a wood blade. We made a 6" diameter circle and a 3-1/2" one, and he radiused it with that same tool. Jimmy cut the radiused inserted cuts and I finished mine with a chisel and a 5" diameter 36 grit air sander. I made a 1/8" x 1-1/2" 'belt' to minimize future expansion cracking and cut pieces of pipe to hold a hammer or other tool(s). I used a long 3/8" diameter bolt and as I was tightening the bolt, hammered the parts of the strap that did not touch the wood as I continued to tighten the bolt. I had to use some spacers under the nut as the strap got smaller in diameter. The wood is Red Oak. They are about 23" in diameter and about 30" tall.

The larger of the two 'holes' will be shown by Peter to be helpful in forming the leading edge of a front fender and the also for the trailing edge of a rear Model A fender.

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[MP&C]

Updated list for Maryland class, two weeks to go. Dan is in!

Kyle Cusic
Scott Burnett
Dave Havlir
Dan Norton
Joe Mato
Howard Wentworth
Jeff Hain-Matson
Charlie Cerutti

Standby list:


Sean OHarra
Rob Towers

[RockHillWill]

For those that will be attending the Peter Tommasini class here in Rock Hill please take note.

I have just finished looking at the first six of nine metal shaping videos from Peter and they are VERY informative. He displays a wide range of approaches and solutions to many real life projects, so bring a list of questions that you may have, as I assure you that they can be answered in a professional manner. Also bring a handful of whatever metal shaping tools that you may have, as I want to ask Peter to evaluate what we all currently have and make suggestions regarding their modification and use. Peter has a GREAT selection of tools available on his site: http://www.handbuilt.net.au/ , and you can take a look at the tools that he sells and decide what you might already own that is similar and ask his opinion about what tools might best suit your needs. I also want to ask Peter to show us how to make some simple home built tools that I have seen on his videos.

If you have a small project, bring it along, and if it fits Peters schedule I imagine that he will be happy to give suggestions and instructions. I am excited for the upcoming class and meeting old and new friends. I will also try to get Peter to give any advice on gas welding both aluminum and steel. After looking at his videos, I am even more impressed with gas welding them both.

Be sure to bring your own safety items like ear plugs, safety glasses, gloves, and I would suggest a notepad and a pen. I have a moderate supply of .060" 3003 aluminum and 19 gauge steel as well as a few sheets of 18 & 20 gauge steel, that I am happy to share.