Welding queston

[jcnelson]

Has I am no pro by any means as I am welding in new patch panels I am getting small holes where weld is missing or blowout holes, nothing huge and I go back over and reweld as much as I can. My queston is can I use some body filler to complete or does it need to be 100 % welded seam

[projectking]

100% welded. You either have too much heat or didn't cut back far enough to where the steel is thicker.

[jcnelson]

Thanks I have adjusted my heat up and down. And either don't get good penetration or burn out blow holes. I want a quality end result.

[Redline novdog]

I'll throw my 2 cents in. I too am not a professional welder. I too blew holes in some panels on my Nova . I also tried adjusting the heat and feed to no avail. A pro welder at work said I should try a smaller gauge of wire

[hemi43]

If you're using a MIG, you'll never get a 100% seam, that's why I TIG all my panels.
Regardless, once you have your panel welded on and are ready for body work, grind the weld flat and use short strand fiberglass filler over the seam. This product is waterproof and should last a lifetime. On the backside of the weld, I always use a 2-part seam sealer. The idea is to keep moisture from getting into that seam.
Not blowing holes in panels is a skill that will be learned over time. Instead of turning down heat setting, keep your stitches shorter. You really shouldn't be on the trigger more than 1 second when using MIG on sheet metal. Another way of preventing blow through is to use a back-up bar made of copper to try and soak some of the heat from the surrounding metal.
You didn't specify what type/size of machine , and what size wire you're using. For sheet metal, you want to use .023 filler wire.

[100%Chevy]

The distance from the metal and the a quick squeeze of the trigger on top of and just forward of the last tack.
You want the new weld to just run(on it's on) from the last weld into the gap you're trying to fill.Wait for the red to go away before the next tack!
Takes time and patience to get it to do right--Is the hardest part for me!
Mike.

[Redline novdog]

Thanks for the info hemi43, I just went to the garage and checked the wire size. I bought .023" for the panels ! I was using .030" . I have not used the .023" wire yet hopefully that will help.

[davepl]

You're not trying to weld a continuous seam, are you? That'll probably be too much heat and you'll blow through.

I'm a junior hobbyist welder (not a good one) but I tack-stitch jumping around until I've got the whole thing into a continuous weld and then grind.

[Redline novdog]

Originally Posted by davepl

You're not trying to weld a continuous seam, are you? That'll probably be too much heat and you'll blow through.

I'm a junior hobbyist welder (not a good one) but I tack-stitch jumping around until I've got the whole thing into a continuous weld and then grind.

Yes you have to spot weld the whole seam.Thanks for bringing that forward as did an earlier post!!!

[jcnelson]

Thanks all, I've Ben using .30 I am going to drop down to the 23 see that helps. I do jump all over and just a spot at a time no long runs.. My welder is east woods mig 175 it's is by far the best welder I have ever used, I used to have a Hobart 135 I have always had issues like this on sheet metal and have always used the 30 wire

[Dustytrix]

One more thing to check, may sure the welder is wired for gas if you are using gas. Most welders come wired for flux core wire. It makes a huge difference.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by jcnelson

Thanks all, I've Ben using .30 I am going to drop down to the 23 see that helps. I do jump all over and just a spot at a time no long runs.. My welder is east woods mig 175 it's is by far the best welder I have ever used, I used to have a Hobart 135 I have always had issues like this on sheet metal and have always used the 30 wire

You probably know but smaller wire less heat.. I still get a blow thru with .023 but not nearly as bad as with .030..

[sdotrivers15]

Make sure you're welding on good metal.

[midniteblues]

Just too be sure that you know you should have a .023 tip on the gun and to swap your drive rolls too fit the 023 wire.

Once all is set practice on some scrap again.
Lay a few beads too fine tune the settings.

Try Clipping the wire at a few different lengths and vary your hold out slightly.
find what works best for your machine.

[dirtyjim]

if you have good access to the back of the panel you can also use a copper spoon or a piece of copper held on with a magnet. all, of mine are homemade and work really good when filling in holes. use them with a mig, not a tig. with a tig the copper will draw in a lot of your heat from the arc causing you to have to up the amps

[GR8-68]

Welding panels takes lots of time and patience. If you get in a hurry you have already messed up, don't want to warp the panel or you will have body man nightmares..

[Travis1974]

Body panel skin is all stitch welding. a few seconds max per weld. At least thoughts how I was taught.
I would emphasize small welds spread out here and there. I like to work on several skins at the same time. You want spots long enough to get the metal flowing and not popping but short enough to not warp the metal. I do small welds 1/2" long and spread out over the seam like 8" apart at least. I work several parts at a time so that I never have to stop welding to let them cool. By the time I'm done running through I can go back to where I started and it's cool enough to keep welding. I get continuous seams and no warping. Its all about the metal flowing ahead and behind the wire. Not right where the wire is. A nice flow as you stitch the panels together.

[Redline novdog]

Good info Travis1974. I am a novice to this and like all the input for things I can try! Sorry to kinda highjack the thread, but all good info!!