Do you think you have had your share of welding thick metals and learned all the ins and outs of welding? I challenge you to try weld some thin metal sheets, like the auto body sheet metal. Even the most experienced of the welders will mess up when it comes to properly weld and shape the joints without ruining them.
So do you think you know how to weld and thinking to jump straight into something as delicate as the auto body sheet metal? I hope you are aware of the fact that there is a big chance that you will ruin the metal and leave it no good for any use. So what do you do? How to weld auto body sheet metal? Well, here are some tips to save you from possible disasters if you are heading into it for the first time.
Are you planning to do weld auto body sheet metal or any thin metal welding with MIG welder or tig welder? You should keep in mind some critical things to avoid creating any unwanted situations, and we have decided to incorporate them in right here.
When you are new to the whole process of welding auto body sheet metals, it is preferable to go a bit more slowly than you can handle. Yes, it may feel quite derogatory and downright frustrating for you to not able to do much faster. But it is for your good. It will minimize your chance of committing any mistakes like warping and making a hole in the sheet down to 90%! So patience does pay you off when it comes to welding something as delicate as auto body sheet metal.
Why are we telling you to start with the lower power setting available when you can work with something that is much more comfortable to yourself? Well, it is not about you and instead about the nature of the sheet metal you are working with. As the sheet metal used in auto body parts such as cars are quite thin, chances are you may end up making a hole or two into the sheet. It can happen if you start with a higher power setting right from the beginning!
According to WeldingHubs, you need to make sure the metals are adequately cleaned to prevent the formation of oxide layers. All the metals must be cleaned off before you even start the welding process. Otherwise, all your sweats and times will go in vain.
If the sheet metals are not measured accurately, then there is a chance there will be holes created during the welding process. You might not even realize before you are finished.
That is why it is necessary to get proper joint and other measurements right before you start welding auto body sheet metals? Otherwise, it might feel challenging to fit the joints or not able to do it at all.
Do not compromise with wearing proper safety gear like the welding hood and gloves to avoid getting nasty shocks to the eye or the whole body. It is better not to be too cocky around those sheet metals and welders and forget to wear those. Even a second bright splash or exposure to the toxic fumes are enough to ruin your eye for life.
Last but not least, you should never in an area which does not have proper ventilation. Always avoid working somewhere that is enclosed, and nothing could go out to in. These kinds of environments are outright dangerous toxic that fumes will build-up will have no way to go out, and the results can be deadly.
To recap, firstly, you should never haste or go too fast when it comes to how to weld auto body sheet metal. Also, clean the metals before even starting to avoid the build-up of oxide layers. The rest is up to what way you are doing your welding and what results you want to achieve, but it is also essential to take proper safety measures as well.