Sheet metal panels

[Suburban_Guy]

As long as I am asking newbie questions, why is TIG not often recommended for welding in new sheet metal panels on vehicles? I assume that cost and ease of use might be part of it but is there something that I'm missing. It seems like the controlled heat would ideal for this process.

I've been lurking around in the background here for months and have finally decided to throw my hat into the ring. Thanks for all the great info so far!

[Bob]

Suburban_Guy,

Welcome. Good Question.

I just finished struggling my way through some auto sheet metal repair (patches not whole new panels) with MIG. Main complaint was having to move so fast to avoid burn through that I sometimes strayed from the seam. Nice useless bead.

Welcome Again,
I have not found any forum I like as much as this one ... on any subject!

Bob

[Suburban_Guy]

Thanks for the welcome, Bob - this is a cool place, especially if you browse through other forums on the internet. Any sort of flame is pretty rare here.

I've got a couple of partial panels to put in my Suburban as well as an old Duster to fix up before my kid turns sixteen (quite a ways off... ). I've got a bodyman friend to help with the welding with a MIG, but the TIG idea intrigues me. There must be a downside but I'm not seeing it.

Harley

[Sberry]

I dont know much about tig and sheet metal, but I can tell you that a lot of body guys are terrible weldors. I had a couple that worked for me that figure they know it all till they see me do a patch the way I do it with the patch behind and seal welded in. You need to slow the wire speed down and use all the tricks. Good tight fit with no gaps. Clean metals. Short back stitch welds, narrow with just enuf build up to flush off with the sander. I tack the patch all up well the grind the tacks up and backstep weld from in between the tacks stoping just after the tack. I had a pickup rocker the other day that was rusted out some and the gasket flashing was broke and rusted. I found a stainless channel that was perfect and spliced in.

[Guest]

Most folks don't use TIG because the warpage is harder to control. Heat input is greater, due to the slower travel rate. MIG is much faster.

Oh Yeah...welcome to the forum, S_G!

[Scott V]

Some sheetmetal guys could do it right with a tig,but for the 99% of the rest of us you better not try it or you will be sorry.The welds work much easier then mig welds.

[Franz]

Over 25 years ago, before I had my MM 225, I tried patching the cab of a Chevy truck. Brazing was a favored method back then, and it was a pain in the a$$ in tight cab corners.
After a lot of farting around, I got prtetty good at putting in patch panels with carbon arc Everdur, BUT, a lot of planning had to be done to avoid warping.
Then, I got my hands on a MIG machine. MIG wins hands down for patching auto body material. It also comes in real handy for the knit 1 Pearl 2 process known as frame repair.

[Jerry]

Hello guys, I am not an auto body man by no means, but I have done some with tig and I used silicon bronze sometimes called everdure. This rod melts at a much lower temperature than mild steel rods thus keeping warpage to a minimum with tig.

I must also say that procedure is important such as propper tacking of patch, skip welding,or back welding etc..

Again I do not do this for a living and am only saying some thoughts that I have done. But like Rocky said tig can create a lot of heat to the immediate area.

[Hobart Expert Rock]

SUBURBAN..........AND I WILL ADD MY WELCOME AS WELL........ I THINK THE BIGGEST DRAW BACK TO TIG WELDING BODY PANELS IN, FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE IS TIME............. LET'S SAY A SMALL PANEL 5" X5" MIGHT TAKE YOU 10 TO 15 MINUTES WITH TIG............. MIG YOU DO A FEW TACK AND JUMP AROUND A BIT AND YOUR DONE IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES.......... TIG IS ALWAYS A LITTLE MORE LABOR INTENSIVE AND REQUIRES A BIT MORE SKILL.......AH JUST MY 2 CENTS WORTH............... .........
ROCK...............
[email protected]

[Suburban_Guy]

Thanks for all the replies. That's just the sort of info I was interested in. Having never used the TIG process, I don't realize how focussed and intense the heat really is. I can see that you would need a pretty light touch, more skill required than a rookie would have!

Harley

[banzaitoyota]

I would recommend mig welding. I am getting prepped to do rockers and the floorplan on my 75 Chebby C-10

[Farmer]

Body Panels

Mig will win when installing body panels hands down over O/A and brazing. It takes a bit of practice, Sherry gave good advice on how to do it.

They also have GLUE/adhesives to install body panels that are certified to be used on unibody construction. DuraBond is one company that comes to mind.

Suburban Guy are you located anywhere near High River ? I lived out that way back in the 80's.

[banzaitoyota]

i AM USING THE nEW sTRUCTURAL aDHESIVES THIS WEEKEND ON A aL hOOD i AM PATCHING THIS WEEKEND

[Suburban_Guy]

Farmer - I am about 60 miles south of High River at Fort Macleod - I bought my business 15 years ago from a couple from High River. Always been happy to be a Prairie Boy!

Mig it is for the body panels, then .

[Guest]

Originally posted by banzaitoyota
i AM USING THE nEW sTRUCTURAL aDHESIVES THIS WEEKEND ON A aL hOOD i AM PATCHING THIS WEEKEND

Man, ya gotta keep that stuff off your keyboard!