How To Repair Sheet Metal

Sheet metal is a huge part of any hotrod build or autobody repair.

How to repair sheet metal.

Attach the wire wheel to the 4 inch grinder. The welding process actually adds new steel to the thin steel and can result in a repaired spot that is stronger than the original metal. Don your safety glasses face shield and leather work gloves. The first thing to do is carefully cut away the rusted out area.

Weld the most permanent repair to a hole in sheet metal is to weld the hole shut. Make sure not to cut through the underlying metal. For thicker sheet metal an old copper penny might be a quick source of material. Using lineman s pliers the plug is cut to shape slowly snipping into a circle.

The sheet metal patch should overlap onto the metal panel at least 2 inches past the edges of the damaged area. When i got to where it fit i pressed it into the hole using the same pliers. After the sheet metal patch has been cut and fit to size round the corners of the patch with a file or emery cloth to prevent any sharp corners from becoming a catching spot for snow or ice. The metal needs to be shiny and free of corrosion and.

The complexity of welding increases as the thickness of the material decreases. How to do metal repair without welding step 1. Whether you re fixing a dent rust hail etc. How to repair sheet metal 1.

I then used the templates to trace out the patch panels on some sheet metal. After slicing the patches out with a cutoff wheel next came the bending hammer and dolly session until the patches matched the holes and fit snug and flush into the flanged seat. Mark the dimensions and shape using a metal. You can then cut.

Cut the chosen sheet metal to a size that matches the area to be patched. I used a piece of pvc pipe a vice mount miniature metal break and body hammer kit. Measure a piece of sheet metal for the repair with a measuring tape. This should be the result with the bad part of the panel removed.

Place the repair sheet metal. Cut the sheet metal along the scribed lines using metal shears or a handheld rotary cutting tool equipped with a.