Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Welding?
[Re: Jerry]
#74704
06/17/08 01:13 AM
06/17/08 01:13 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
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Quote:
definitely not in over your head. make sure you use gas and good luck.
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Welding?
[Re: BDW]
#74706
06/17/08 11:28 AM
06/17/08 11:28 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada
DPelletier
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
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Most body metal is 22ga, but sure, the thicker it is the easier it is to weld. I'd go 20ga for patches when you can.
Dave
1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack
1974 'Cuda
2008 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Ram 3500 Diesel
2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel
2003 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Durango Limited
[url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Welding?
[Re: hydro]
#74707
06/17/08 06:30 PM
06/17/08 06:30 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,749 Florida
BDW
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Quote:
Here's a trick that has worked well for me:
Locate a few pieces of copper bar (surplus store or flattened copper pipe) and make some weld backers. I have some pieces of 1/8" and 3/16" bar that I found locally and I cut some pieces from those bars to shape as needed. A couple of spoon shapes work well for filling holes. Attach a piece to a magnet so that you don't have to hang on to it while you weld.
When you weld the sheet metal have the copper behind and pressed against the weld area. It acts as a heat sink and the weld will not stick to it. When filling holes you can almost "weld to air". It's really amazing how well this works!
Almost think I understand what your saying. I've been practicing on 22g, and there's no way I could do any kind of repair! Even on the lowest settings it burns right through. I did some on 16g and I was able to get a pretty good bead. I haven't used gas yet, just flux core wire.
Does the gas make that much difference?
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Weld
[Re: RobX4406]
#74710
06/18/08 03:50 PM
06/18/08 03:50 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 230 Long Island, New York
Tony H
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Don't expect to run a Bead. you have to 'spot her, then move down an inch then spot there. do that in a few areas then go back by the first area. Can't let an area get hot.
'75 CJ5 with all glass body and a 350 Chevy SB '85 Chevy Stepside (the wife's) '89 Volvo All 100% maintained by me. '70 valiant DD for my son '74 Dart Swinger..Latest endeavor http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Welding?
[Re: hydro]
#74711
06/18/08 05:30 PM
06/18/08 05:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,128 Tulsa, OK
73cudaproject
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,128
Tulsa, OK
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Quote:
Here's a trick that has worked well for me:
Locate a few pieces of copper bar (surplus store or flattened copper pipe) and make some weld backers. I have some pieces of 1/8" and 3/16" bar that I found locally and I cut some pieces from those bars to shape as needed. A couple of spoon shapes work well for filling holes. Attach a piece to a magnet so that you don't have to hang on to it while you weld.
When you weld the sheet metal have the copper behind and pressed against the weld area. It acts as a heat sink and the weld will not stick to it. When filling holes you can almost "weld to air". It's really amazing how well this works!
Without a doubt as a novice welder the copper bar as a backer has been the best tip I learned here at moparts. Along with lots of other welding this is a picture of my '73 to AAR project with two qtr. panel patches: This picture shows an upper and lower butt patch. The cross is due to a heat warp which I tried to relieve with a horizontal cut. I ended up having to cut the vertical weld and redo the weld taking care not to get in a hurry This picture show the other side were I had to weld in the qtr patch panel plus a side marker patch from a donor
Besides the copper bar I love the small clamps which hold two panels in alignment with a small gap. I have searched the Harbor Freight web site but cannot find a picture. These clamps along with a copper bar work great.
One thing for sure is you have to have patience...
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Weld
[Re: Tony H]
#74712
06/18/08 08:08 PM
06/18/08 08:08 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,749 Florida
BDW
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Quote:
Don't expect to run a Bead. you have to 'spot her, then move down an inch then spot there. do that in a few areas then go back by the first area. Can't let an area get hot.
I did notice the 22g warped like a mother! How do you know how much to "spot" and how long to wait before going back?
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Weld
[Re: 80mirada]
#74716
06/19/08 06:01 AM
06/19/08 06:01 AM
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Joined: May 2005
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Thx all for the tips, http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200342924_200342924This is the welder, they had 20% off last month so it was only $360. I'll try the gas and thinner wire. I've been using the 032 flux core that came with it. Unless the gas makes a huge difference, I don't think 22g welding is in my future. I've been practicing with it and it either burns right through or no penetration. I practiced on some 16g and did pretty good. I have the auto-dark helemt, works great.
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Weld
[Re: BDW]
#74717
06/20/08 10:18 AM
06/20/08 10:18 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,128 Tulsa, OK
73cudaproject
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super stock
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,128
Tulsa, OK
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Quote:
Thx all for the tips,
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200342924_200342924
This is the welder, they had 20% off last month so it was only $360. I'll try the gas and thinner wire. I've been using the 032 flux core that came with it. Unless the gas makes a huge difference, I don't think 22g welding is in my future. I've been practicing with it and it either burns right through or no penetration. I practiced on some 16g and did pretty good.
I have the auto-dark helemt, works great.
When I bought my welder I was not setup for gas and everything I welded looked like Swiss cheese. Absolutely the best thing I did was buy a medium sized tank plus a regulator (my welder came equipped with this sort of no gauge regulator with a pop up device when low. It was junk...). I also learned the value of cleaning the metal. Even though I still have some trouble getting the weld to "hook" right off the start without some popping everything goes so much better when I take the time to really clean both pieces. Don't give up until you try the gas. One more tip is I was using a small extension cord. Someone here at moparts recommended buying a heavy gauge extension cord and while expensive just having the larger cord helped my welding.
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Weld
[Re: 73cudaproject]
#74718
06/24/08 08:33 AM
06/24/08 08:33 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 66 NW 'Burbs Chicago, IL
A_Roldan
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NW 'Burbs Chicago, IL
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This thread is great. I just bought a welder and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow to get started on my car. The information on here is good for those of us who don't have knowledge and/or experience.
I just can't figure out if I can save this thread as a favorites or somehow save it in my account? Anyone?
EDIT: Never mind. I figured it out. It was the obvious link at the bottom that said, "Favorite Topic! (toggle)". LOL!
Thanks.
Last edited by A_Roldan; 06/24/08 08:38 AM.
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Re: What is the "normal" thickness of body panels? Welding?
[Re: BDW]
#74720
06/24/08 08:12 PM
06/24/08 08:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 233 NH
Fastback67
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Quote:
I haven't used gas yet, just flux core wire. Does the gas make that much difference?
Flux core is not for thin sheet metal, much too violent. Flux core works great on thicker metals, especially if their a little dirty. Gas creates a shield around the outer area of the weld, but flux core shields from within, driving out impurities... hence all the splatter. Gas is a much better way to go with sheet metal, but if you’re welding a couple of old rusty angle irons together, break out the flux core.
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