Welding tips for cruiser.

[haryv]

Its been a aufully long time since using a mig so need some ideas on welding some metal to the sheet metal. doing some body repairs and did put the setting on the lincoln weld pack 100 to D3 as I think this is 16 gage steel. I set up the weld pack for the correct polarity for gas welding, making sure the ground was tight and secure on bare sheet metal within inches of the weld. Went to weld on a nail that would pull on the sheet metal. The wire just pooled up and did not stick to the sheet metal or the framing nail. My question is how critical is it the surface has to be stearling clean? Few days before did strip the paint off but ran out of time and needed the vehicle but did not want to see corrosion start so put on wd-40 then when I got around to it stripped off the wd-40 with methenol and a clean rag. Is methenol good enough to strip off all oils or is there something else that is a issue? The bottle was set to as high as 20 CFM and again, the mig pack set to D3.

Your responce much appricated.

 

[jzilla]

I would try grinding the surface down, does the nail have a coating on it?
Was there no spark at all?
I always grind the surface im going to weld, it makes it cleanest in my opinion.
hth

 

[Snaggin Wagon]

Methanol probably isn't the best solvent for removing oily residue. Try paint thinner or anything with a high toluene content. Even a bit of gasoline works great if you don't mind breathing it.

Your friendly neighborhood chemist.

 

[haryv]

I see this has been moved. Well its working! cheaply to.

I could have purchaced a stud welder for at least 500 dollars but now doing this idea is alot cheaper. I have pulled the first two inches of a very long dent from the tail light to behind the sheet metal. Hopfully by tomarro will have most of the rough areas of the dents pulled back out then go and buy a dolly and hammer and smooth it out. Only if I had a shop, would I have competed it sooner but Im sure the whacks on the slide hammer would drive the town house co-op neighbors nuts.

I will show these pictures hopfully in the next few days when I upload them from the digital camera.

 

[haryv]

pulling sheet metal putting holes in it

Pulling the first three inches of shallow dent worked but when attempting to pull other parts of the sheet metal that is deeper it started ripping holes in it. Are there any other ideas on how to pull deep dents like in the corner of the body flush without ripping holes in it? I asked one person about using a acetene touch to head up the metal and make it more flexible but he said that will streatch the sheet metal. Not what I wanted to hear.

Your ideas are appriciated.