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Old 11-29-2021, 03:00 PM   #1
mrraford
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Default Fender Bead Repair

I've got a nice '31 fender with one flaw. The wire in the bead where the front curves back before slanting down has broken and the bead is beyond repair for about an 8 inch section along the front lip of the fender.
It has been many years since an older friend opened a drawer in his shop to produce a roll of bead replacement material to fix a similar project. He and his shop are gone now.
I see that Snyders sells a fender bead repair piece that looks promising but I'm wondering if that item can be adapted to the curve of the fender. Anybody here have experience with making this type of repair?
Barring that, anybody here want to share how they have dealt with such repairs? Are there materials available these days to make these repairs?
I would appreciate those with experience sharing. Thanks
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Old 11-29-2021, 03:36 PM   #2
Brentwood Bob
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

A thread search brought this up. Real handy feature of this websit for your future projects.
http://www.lionsgatemodelaclub.com/Tech_Sessions.html
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Old 11-29-2021, 04:24 PM   #3
mrraford
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

Thanks for that advice Bob. My project is a bit different than they were addressing at Lionsgate. I need to replace the bead roll as it has been damaged beyond a pry and reroll stage.
Looking for source and experience with doing that.
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Old 11-29-2021, 04:30 PM   #4
Oldbluoval
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

Post a pic.
There are certain curvatures on an A fender that can only be talked from another fender or made. I make most of my patches to repair fenders. Because of the complexity of the visual curve I generally don’t sell patches for others to install …it takes some fit and tweaking it
I’ve have a piece of full length bead sold by them. I greatly respect Snyder’s efforts to our hobby. That bead is not acceptable by me…..hanging on shop wall.
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Old 11-29-2021, 04:40 PM   #5
mrraford
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

Thanks OldBluoval.
There are not that many easy things.
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Old 11-29-2021, 05:02 PM   #6
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

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Some folks have all the neat big mechanical tools for forming metal but most things can be made with a collection of basic hand tools like hammers, swages, and forming blocks or shot bags. I still use oxy/acetylene for gas welding. I haven't been on Metal Meet for a while but there is some good info on that site. One of the MAFCA restoration series of books has some good photos of a fender bead and patch repair.
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Old 12-27-2021, 07:43 PM   #7
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

I used 1/8" stainless steel rod instead of steel wire. Stiffer, but it won't rust and handles re-crimping better by staying in place.
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Old 12-27-2021, 09:13 PM   #8
Synchro909
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

I've seen the broken ends butted together (or nearly together) and welded, then reinforced with something like a 3" nail. The final appearance was restored with a bit of bog sanded to shape.
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Old 12-27-2021, 09:21 PM   #9
Oldbluoval
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

The serrations can be restored with a thread file …I forget the count
It’s good to weld the ends of donor bead wire to the wire in the fender
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Old 12-28-2021, 08:21 AM   #10
edzaha
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

Some of the vendors have a bead patch that runs the entire fender. I used it but just cut the section I needed.
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Old 12-28-2021, 09:27 AM   #11
Oldbluoval
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

“Some of the vendors have a bead patch that runs the entire fender. I used it but just cut the section I needed.”

I’ve had those in the shop and the bead did not match well enough to splice. I make my own. But may have gotten better.
A bit pricy for me too.
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Old 05-23-2023, 11:36 PM   #12
P_Moore
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

Good info for an upcoming repair
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Old 05-24-2023, 08:09 AM   #13
Planojc
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

For the wire, I used a welding rod with the flux removed.
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Old 05-24-2023, 11:08 AM   #14
Jerry in Shasta
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

I use 1/8 inch piano wire from a airplane hobby shop
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Old 05-24-2023, 03:14 PM   #15
ronn
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Default Re: Fender Bead Repair

change the fender out- save the old one to practice on till you get it right.......


Ive sold real decent front fenders for 150. you can find them if you look.
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