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poopdevil Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2008 Posts: 270 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:39 am Post subject: Holding sheet metal together while welding? |
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So I am gong to be welding some patches in my bug and was wondering what a good tool to get is that will hold the patch panals in place for welding.
I'm a noob and just getting started.
For instance my rear wheel well has hiles in it and I want to cut out sections and replace them with new metal. What is a good way to hold them in place.
Tape? haha and also I hear that a sheet of copper behind the panals helps too to keep the weld smooth on the back side.
True?
Thanks guys! |
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slowtwitch Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2004 Posts: 730 Location: just north of philly
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:58 am Post subject: |
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I use magnets from old hard drives _________________ pete |
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beetlenut Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009 Posts: 2981 Location: RI
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:39 am Post subject: |
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If the patch panels have a flange on them, you can use panel fasteners to hold them together tightly before you tack them. Otherwise big magnets work best IMO. |
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Bart Dunn Samba Consiglieri
Joined: May 09, 2004 Posts: 2354 Location: Sea level (Mid Atlantic)
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:06 am Post subject: |
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Magnets as stated, panel clamps (clecos--search that term), and even welding putting or jigging putty are things I've used that work well.
Vice grips of various design are indispensible. Some have long jaws to reach across long/deep panels, some have nice sets of four jaws to hold two panels firmly together, yadda yadda yadda.
Sometimes sheet metal screws are the thing, sometimes pop rivets, to draw metal together prior to welding. Then remove the screws or pop rivets and fill the holes.
The copper backing plates are nice. _________________ Not enough car seats fit into my:
'58 Beetle convertible
'58 Beetle sedan |
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Mr. Unpopular Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005 Posts: 3715 Location: Tampa Florida
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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magnets don't work too well for small pieces because the magnet will pull the arc towards it and really screw up your weld.
I usually just hold them in place with my hand (no glove) and take it like a man _________________ "In any racing engine, the nearer you are to it disintegrating, the better it's performance will be"
-Keith Duckworth, creator of the Ford/Cosworth DFV |
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SkooobaSteve Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005 Posts: 3152 Location: Dothan Alabama
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SkooobaSteve Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2005 Posts: 3152 Location: Dothan Alabama
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swhitcomb Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003 Posts: 5673 Location: Inwood WV
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I use those butt weld clamps. They work great. You have to be able to get at the back of whatever you are welding however. Harbor frieght has them a lot cheaper than Eastwood. I bought about 30 of them. _________________ My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster |
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