Professional Sheet Metal Fabrication (Motorbooks Workshop) Paperback – Illustrated, April 30, 2013

This is a very nice book! It is thick, has plenty of pictures, and goes through pretty much everything you will need to understand to get started with sheet metal fabrication. By getting started I mean it explains which tools you will need, and a few you should avoid. The Author talks in detail on how to use the tools. Now just so we are clear, you cannot become a metal master by reading a book. But this book is a good starting point and you will need to practice the techniques in the book. After some practice you can get pretty good at metal working, and for your needs that may be enough. I don't know what you are aiming for, maybe to make some rust repair panels, fabricate brackets, etc. Maybe you want to be able to create flawless body panels? If so, this book will get you started and then you probably need to progress on to other areas, books or hands on training, to get to the level you need. But either way, this book is a great start. I have learned quite a few things from books and from people skilled at metal work over the years. I still find myself wanting to learn more. That is why I picked up this book. There are a few books I have come across over the years where I was pretty disappointed due to the lack of detail in the book, but this one is much more thorough.I am quite satisfied with this book.

My first impression of this book was, "Wow! This is a lot thicker than I expected."I had not heard of Ed Barr prior to ordering the book, but I had heard of McPherson College, where he is an instructor. McPherson is a real-deal, four year accredited institution that offers several degrees in automotive restoration. This book contains the quality and depth of information that you would expect from someone that teaches in such a program.Professional Sheet Metal Fabrication contains a good balance of information on fabricating from scratch and restoration. Both hand shaping techniques and shaping with power tools are covered. There is a pretty thorough section on using a Dake power hammer, for example. The thing that I like about all of the "how to" sections is that they're clearly written by someone who is an expert sheet metal worker instead of a writer describing what they've seen someone else do. This really separates this book from several others that I own. In a lot of cases, he describes what can go wrong and how to fix it, which can be really helpful.The book is well illustrated with color photos, many of which show the work of the author's students. The author is also really good about citing the originator of particular techniques or tools, which is pretty refreshing.I recommend this book highly to anyone looking for a good reference on tools and techniques used in sheet metal shaping.

These books are clear and informative with more than a touch of humor by the author that makes them fun reading. As a good brush up for the experienced metal shaper, or a look into the mysterious for the novice, these are great books. As someone who bought the Ron Fournier's books 30 years ago, I can say these fill in the more recent developments in tools and techniques since then.

This thing is like review notes of David Gardiner's "Learn the Art of Traditional Sheet Metalwork" (Which I can't recommend enough), but with personal insight. Instead of being able to show you via a video the author uses an array of adjectives, similes and examples for you to know how delicate or "ham fisted" to pound away. Not many technical book authors can explain detailed changes is pressure and directions and clear and simple to understand as this one can.Thinking of forming sheet metal (including complex curves) without an english wheel? Get this book. Thinking of forming with one? Still get it. The key is is easy as pie analogies of how metal flows that really make sure that you understand that this is simple work (you just have to be aware enough to recognize key areas and potential problems)

Packed with info & a lot of details. Great book for the novice & intermediate fabricator. Experienced people might give it a once over but not really needed for them.

I spent five days in a Kent White metal working course. Since that time, I have not had the time to work on my restoration projects. I was looking for a good text to review Kent's class and maybe pick up a few tips. This book exceeded my expectations. Ed Barr is well know as a metal worker and teacher. This book is well written and illustrated with good in focus pictures. Shows a good shop layout and covers the basics and advanced metal shaping techniques. I high recommend it.

Very detailed, easy to follow course that brings you from a piece of metal to final product. Lots of quick tricks, and ideas that they have learned from their experience. Lots of photos, and what helped me most is photos of work that did not turn out right, and letting you know "If it looks like this, then change what your did this way"This is great for the back yard shop car restorer guy (me), auto body student, and I'm sure the advanced person would gain from this.

I use this as a how to refresher whenever I get into a metal shaping project. Ed Barr is a master craftsman and an outstanding teacher.