welding pinholes in sheetmetal,TIG?
- Thread starter toplessHO
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
I think you're over-analyzing this. You don't need special wire for this, body shop guys around the world use regular off the shelf wire.
Just get some .023" 70S-6 mig wire and weld it. Practice on some scrap.
If you can copper back it, it wouldn't hurt.
Just get some .023" 70S-6 mig wire and weld it. Practice on some scrap.
If you can copper back it, it wouldn't hurt.
KwikFab
Well-known member
I was about to say just this. Half the thread is focusing on a wire that's discontinued when this job could've been done by now
BigMike782
Well-known member
I'm surprised no one mentioned ESAB EZ grind. I heard so many people talk about how easy it is to grind so I looked it up........9.00 a pound! WTF?
70S6 wire is 2.39 a pound on a 10 pound spool. What makes easy grind that spectacular?
70S6 wire is 2.39 a pound on a 10 pound spool. What makes easy grind that spectacular?
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Its apparently easier to grind... lol
I looked up a few spec sheets on it, and it is a trade secret wire that doesn't conform to any AWS standard or classifications.
There are lots of proprietary welding electrodes/wires that are designed and sold for extremely niche uses. They charge a premium for these due to the market they serve and the fact that they can in most cases. Another good example of this is Harris “Super Missileweld”. Lots of these special rods/wires will work great for the thing they are sold for, but don’t conform to AWS standards so you cannot use them in code work unless you’ve designed and tested a procedure around them specifically. Some of them are snake oil, most aren’t but they charge extra for whatever they do that makes it “special”.
welder4956
Well-known member
The manganese content of ER70S-6 wire is high enough to make MIG welds very difficult to planish compared to TIG welds. The rapid cooling rate of MIG overlapping spot welds makes the weld very hard, while the much slower cooling rate of TIG allows the welds to be soft enough to planish. EZ Grind wire is an attempt to make the MIG welds softer for both planishing and grinding.
That said, the OP's issue does not need EZ Grind or any other special wires. He just needs to fill pinhole and pits, and can easily be done with 0.023" ER70S-6 wire using MIG and then ground smooth. I just finished a similar job welding a few dozen nail holes in a 20 gauge floor pan with this method. Quick, short bursts of weld to keep from blowing holes through the base metal. Like Nike used to say - Just do it!
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larry4406
Well-known member
MP&C
Well-known member
Most US automotive sheet metal is 19 gauge (.0418) to include floor pans. The strength comes from the various ribs that are pressed in the panel and actually make it seem thicker because it doesn't move much.
MP&C
Well-known member
For MIG wire on sheet metal I prefer using ER70S-7. It has a slightly higher Manganese content for better wetting, ie: flowout. So with the machine adjusted correctly, you'll get flatter weld dots that are actually easier to planish than the typical MIG weld. Adjusted correctly would be hotter heat setting to provide full penetration weld first and every time, faster wire speed as needed to prevent blowout, and shorter trigger pull to keep the weld size small.
www.mcmaster.com
For TIG, the panel needs to be extremely clean, front and back. TIG is especially contrary with any trace of rust and normally results in pin holes / ballooning porosity.
McMaster-Carr
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For TIG, the panel needs to be extremely clean, front and back. TIG is especially contrary with any trace of rust and normally results in pin holes / ballooning porosity.