welding up holes in my dash

[1930artdeco]

Hello,

I am going to install a 'new' dash in my 57 ford where someone punched new holes for a radio. My question is this: how do I fill them in with my MIG or TIG welder? It is probably 18 ga(?) steel and will eventually be hidden by a cover plate. But, it will bug me that they are there so I would like to fill them in. I will add a pic when I get home today.

Thanks,

 

[bdbecker]

How big are the holes?

If small (screw size), use a copper backing plate and weld them shut. The steel won't stick to the copper. If larger, cut panels out of the same thickness material and patch them in. Either options, you'll want to blend the welds when you are done, which may end up taking more time than welding them.

 

[MoonRise]

Go read through the MP&C thread about welding and patch panels and automotive body work. A GREAT thread with tons of info and pictures and how-to and did I mention a GREAT thread to read through?

Summary on fixing a hole in sheet metal is like bd mentioned. Small hole you can sometimes just build up the weld around the hole and then planish the weld bead down a bit and then carefully grind things back to where they need to be. Larger hole, you cut a patch to fit in the hole and weld the patch in place and then planish and grind.
But if the holes will be hidden by a cover plate, just leave it alone and move on to something else to fix.

Got pics? Of the dash and holes and the '57? We like pics.

 

[MoonRise]

MP&C thread

MP&C Shop Projects

This thread, while it may show quite a bit of work on vehicles that come in the shop, is primarily going to focus on providing metalworking/metal shaping tutorials, where ever possible using simple hand tools, in hopes that it may inspire others to learn the craft. While I am no expert, in many...

www.garagejournal.com

it's 100+ pages long. Tons of info and pics there though. Some chit-chat too.

 

[rattle_snake]

Mig, just have at it, or make small filler backing plate. A backing plate can hold moisture, but can be ground away from the back too. I filled literally hundreds of holes in my 72 ford.

 

[rkevins]

have you checked on a radio delete panel? I know there are repair panels for Chevy pickups at LMC (I'm restoring a 65 stepside)

 

[The Cobbler]

saw a youtube video,forget who posted it , maybe Fitzees fabrications . They welded a coat hanger ( for a handle ) to a pc of metal, shaped the metal to fit the hole, mig'd it in place, ground off the weld & coat hanger . Look Maa .... no more hole .

 

[Death Row Dave]

All of the correct repairs have been defined . Something to give a few moments thinking to is setting the interior a blaze because of ignition of an unsend flammable where sparks or weld spatter may drop . There are good epoxies out today to bond sheetmetal together . Maybe research this type of repair also .

 

[1930artdeco]

I will check on epoxies to see if I can cut some metal and fill it in or cut a small piece and weld it in. The dash is out of the car so it will make repairs fairly easy.

Mike

 

[kerrynzl]

I will check on epoxies to see if I can cut some metal and fill it in or cut a small piece and weld it in. The dash is out of the car so it will make repairs fairly easy.

Mike

Can you get behind with a 4" grinder and cut off wheels?

If so cut out a slightly oversize patch and spot weld [2 places]
Then clamp and cut the patch and dash along the sides at a 45° angle so that when you clamp it ,it will fit flush with a 45° overlap.
Then spot tig weld it all the way around.

 

[Jswain]

saw a youtube video,forget who posted it , maybe Fitzees fabrications . They welded a coat hanger ( for a handle ) to a pc of metal, shaped the metal to fit the hole, mig'd it in place, ground off the weld & coat hanger . Look Maa .... no more hole .

Either way his videos are worth watching if you're thinking about doing some body work he makes it look so easy

 

[dffay]

If you can get behind it, with 100% penetration, the front side means a lot less grinding.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Go slow... no such thing as too slow. if you dump too much heat too quick it will distort.

 

[MP&C]

Your challenge is going to be making the patch. If you have two pieces of pipe the correct size and a shop press, that may work to form up the piece needed..