How To Weld Auto Body Sheet Metal

Don t attempt to weld thin materials like sheet metal with flux cored wires which put more heat into the base metal.

How to weld auto body sheet metal.

Mcr s method of butt welding sheet metal is to do three or four quick tack welds followed by and air quench. Tig welding sheet metal. Mig is going to be your go to welding type for most auto body repairs. Short bursts or tacks will help you gain more control and adjust easily.

Try going for a wire of 023 inches when welding sheet metal. Forget the larger 1 8 inch tungsten electrode and use a smaller one. The best two electrodes for welding auto body sheet metal is either ceriated tungsten or thoriated tungsten. While replacing body panels overheating and warping thin sheet metal is common.

Then tack between the two previous tacks. Resistance or spot welding. To weld sheet metal with solid wires use electrode positive ep or reverse polarity. This has been a mainstay of automotive construction since the 1930s.

It can handle a wider range of thicknesses than tig or stick. Ditch a 1 8 inch tungsten electrode for something much smaller like 1 16 inch tungsten. Place the welding tip wire at the gap and tack weld several small spots spacing them evenly apart. They also generally move around the part so that consecutive welds are not next to each.

Here s a few tips on repairing rust holes in car body panels. For sheet metal i use ine welding wire and it is just as good as their flux cored wire if you want you can grab one here. While wire feed welding sheet metal go for short bursts of welding instead of a going on a long bead. How to weld auto body sheet metal with a tig welder.

Tack in a few places apart from each other and wait until the panel is cool to the touch. It works best because it is good for many types of metal and is suitable for quick repairs.