Patch Panels At Home?
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Patch Panels At Home?
Hey Guys, so coming home for reading break (spring break) at the end of the week. My Mom got me a "flux core" wire feed welder for my birthday. Could body work even been done with this? 
I know the body panels on my truck are fairly thick, but I think it might just melt through. Im a decent MIG gas welder and stick, ive used on of these flux cores once and wasn't very impressed. But would patching in the box be do able? and rear fender panels put in? For small patches i was planning to FAB up my own little patches. Ive heard that having the same thickness of metals when patching is important? Let me know what you guys think. I don't really want to overlap metal, but like I said, all this body work welding is new to me, I have only really done heavier steel. Well.. heavier than body panels. Any suggestions or comments would be great! Thanks guys!
I know the body panels on my truck are fairly thick, but I think it might just melt through. Im a decent MIG gas welder and stick, ive used on of these flux cores once and wasn't very impressed. But would patching in the box be do able? and rear fender panels put in? For small patches i was planning to FAB up my own little patches. Ive heard that having the same thickness of metals when patching is important? Let me know what you guys think. I don't really want to overlap metal, but like I said, all this body work welding is new to me, I have only really done heavier steel. Well.. heavier than body panels. Any suggestions or comments would be great! Thanks guys!
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New User
Joined: Feb 2011
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hewph! good news, did you just crank the feed and power down? then basic spot welding to get it in place evenly placed, then fill the seams with short beads? And would a flange tool be necessary for fitting the panels well? Or should i try to butt weld everything? My floors are slightly laped, the local body shop said most floors pans should slightly be lapped. Im guessing i should try to butt everything else? for a professional look.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 2
From: NH
I have a wire feed and very new to welding. I have welded frame patces and some body panel patches. they were on basicly junk cars so I did not really car how it looked.
I recently tried to patch my '68 inner fenders and started to just blow through the old metal. I decided to wait until I can get the gas to convert my wire feed to mig. You should be able to get a conversion kit to make the wire feed a mig. I don't know if there are any wire feeds out there that are not convertable.
I recently tried to patch my '68 inner fenders and started to just blow through the old metal. I decided to wait until I can get the gas to convert my wire feed to mig. You should be able to get a conversion kit to make the wire feed a mig. I don't know if there are any wire feeds out there that are not convertable.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 7
From: PA
i been using a 110 flux core wire feed MIG welder for awhile now ivew done several floor pans repaired the roof and other places all over my truck and cars it works good some actually prefer thid type over a 220 welder some can't be set low enough to not burn through as easy. the flux core does take awhile to get used to but will hold and do a good job i would suggest do alot of practice with it before you start on the body get to know the welder and its settings i haven't used one with the gas hooked up but they say it is nicer then using the flux wire
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
It works ok, just tack about every inch or so and then stitch it. If you try to just weld in one shot it'll warp and have burn through issues.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 8
From: hinckley ohio
if you can place a piece of aluminum,copper or brass on the other side of the area your welding could help you from burning through.
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Brett Foote
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Pittsburg, Ca.
My Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 is the main weapon in my arsenal, and works well for patching panels. Just remember to tack every inch, and fill the space in between with more tacks at random around the repair, never weld more than 3 seconds at a time and cool with compressed air after each weld. Set voltage to "B" or "C" and wire speed to about 2 and you should be okay. Back up the weld area where you can with a piece of aluminum or copper, the weld wont stick to it, and it helps draw off heat. TAKE YOUR TIME!!
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