Bodywork /Welding on car questions

[Mr.Nutcase]

My daily beater is getting rusty on bottom next to pinch welds, I wanted know if 110 welder can weld 1\8 steel ? The hole is about 1 1/4 and about 8 long, any recommendations where to buy metal? I know u cant weld on painted suface but how protect the new metal if you cant get to other side ? I read u must disconnect the battery before welding, is for protect rhe ECM\ PCM modules? My budget is 350 usd for welder and 110v

 

[The Cobbler]

body sheet metal is no where 1/8" . once you start poking around, your hole will get bigger. you don't need much of a welder to do sheet metal
I would suggest you look up fitzees fabrications on You Tube, watch some videos of his and get some ideas before you start

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

body sheet metal is no where 1/8" . once you start poking around, your hole will get bigger. you don't need much of a welder to do sheet metal
I would suggest you look up fitzees fabrications on You Tube, watch some videos of his and get some ideas before you start

Its part of the floor next to pinchweld, near the rocker panel, what kind of metalor panel replacement ? 18 gauge?

 

[imagineer]

My 1st welder (Lincoln Weld-Pak 155) was purchased so I could refurb a 1987 F150. Even though it was wired for 220v, it had more than enough for welding autobody sheet metal with flux core.

For replacement metal, I just went to a scrap yard and purchased an old car door shell. The gauges of sheet metal salvaged from the door were enough to make the necessary repairs to the wheel arches and radiator core support. Also, the stamped contours from the inside of the door shell provided lots of options for making uniquely shaped replacement pieces.

Just my experience . . . don't plan on laying down full beads of weld. The thin sheet metal will burn away too quickly. To weld patches, use very quick welds, spaced around the patch. Keep doing that until you connect all the dots.

As mentioned above, Fitzee's Fabrication (https://www.youtube.com/@fitzeesfabrications) is full of great info.
Another I like is HalfAss Kustoms (https://www.youtube.com/@HalfassKustoms).

Both make body work look easy.

 

[toolenthusiast]

My daily beater is getting rusty on bottom next to pinch welds, I wanted know if 110 welder can weld 1\8 steel ?

Yes it can but auto body panels are usually only around 22ga. You can do this with flux core, but you’re a beginner and you’re already fighting rust so you should try to get MIG.

The hole is about 1 1/4 and about 8 long, any recommendations where to buy metal?

It would only be about $10 for a sheet that size at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Have you already whacked it with a hammer to make sure that you’re seeing all the rust?

I know u cant weld on painted suface but how protect the new metal if you cant get to other side ?

Cavity wax, google it

I read u must disconnect the battery before welding, is for protect rhe ECM\ PCM modules?

Yes and all of the other dozens of electronic modules around the car such as airbag sensors

My budget is 350 usd for welder and 110v

Start looking on craigslist

 

[Mr_B]

see a lot of mig welders crop up marketplace and used could keep costs sensible .