When two of the most creative minds in the custom car world team up, you know something special is about to happen. In this video, Karl Fisher of Make It Kustom visits Bad Chad for a hands-on masterclass in the art of metal shaping. What unfolds is an inspiring look at old-school craftsmanship — where feel, rhythm, and patience meet precision and creativity.
Karl starts with a simple flat sheet of metal and transforms it into a beautifully domed, hubcap-style disc using just a tucking fork, hammer, and power hammer. He walks Chad through the fundamentals of shrinking and shaping metal by hand, explaining each step in detail. The process begins with creating “tucks” — small wrinkles along the metal’s edge that, when closed with a hammer, cause the metal to shrink and form curvature.
As Chad follows along, Karl explains the science behind the art: the difference between shrinking and stretching, how to read the metal’s movement, and when to use tools like the shrinking stump or sandbag for shaping. The simplicity of the tools belies the complexity of the craft — this is metalworking that relies on intuition and experience as much as it does on technique.
Viewers get to see the transformation from raw sheet to smooth, domed shape, as Karl demonstrates how to finish the form using a planishing hammer and matching dies to smooth out imperfections. Along the way, he shares pro tips, like how to lock in a tuck so it shrinks properly and how to select the right radius die for any given curve.
For Chad, it’s a lightbulb moment — realizing how simple tools and techniques can achieve complex, professional results. “Every time I hit something with a hammer, I stretch it,” Chad admits. “I’ve never shrunk anything with a hammer.” By the end of the session, that’s changed.
The exchange between Karl and Chad perfectly captures what makes this kind of content so compelling. It’s not just a tutorial; it’s a conversation between craftsmen — one passing down traditional skills, the other absorbing them with the enthusiasm of someone who knows exactly how to put them to use on his next wild build.
Whether you’re a seasoned metal shaper or just thinking about picking up a hammer for the first time, this video is a must-watch. It’s a reminder that true custom work isn’t about fancy machines — it’s about understanding the material, mastering the fundamentals, and letting your hands do the talking.
