Hemming Steel?

[Rugby_7]

When trimming the "fangs" on front fenders and or the rear quarters behind the rear tire do people hem (if that's the proper term) the cut? Would it be a good idea to do so or would moisture collect in there? How is it done? Something I was curious about on the drive today

 

[truck-oholic]

I have done it both ways in the past. When I did a straight up cut with no fold over (hem) I got some black self adhesive door edge molding and put that on there to make a nice soft edge instead of the sharp sheet metal. Laying your cuts out with painter's tape gives you good lines to follow and makes stuff reproducible side to side. Also, use an angle grinder with a cut off wheel. Much easier to control than a sawzall and gives a way cleaner cut.

 

[JoshHefnerX]

Somewhere I'd read about welding a small steel rod to the inside edge, that will keep it from cutting you and your tire and flapping around.

 

[Rugby_7]

Cut off wheel is a good idea, don't get the bending back and forth from the sawzall.

The steel rod sounds interesting, would like to see that. I would assume you would have to weld it like a body patch panel to prevent warping.

I'm not finding much for hand tools that do this. Found some for making steel roofing hems but that gap is wider than i'm looking for. I assume these tools would be pretty pricey $$$