How To Weld 18 Ga Sheet Metal

Weld a short stitch then beat on the weld backed with dolly while it cools to keep from shrinking.

How to weld 18 ga sheet metal.

Say if you are welding an 18 gauge stainless steel sheet that is 2 2 feet in size to repair the side of your tank start by creating a weld that is 1inch long then skip 6 inches and then create a 1 inch long weld. For 3 32 7018 s it s about the same. If i get a hold of some thinner stuff i ll test. 18 gauge sheetmetal panel thank you for the quick response.

Right now i am welding on 1 8th mild steel with a 3 32 gas lens and 3 32 collet and i am getting fair results and starting to really like this diversion 180. For thinner gauge sheet metal like 18 or 20 gauge we suggest 023 6mm wire in your mig welder. A good heat setting for 1 8 6011 rods on thin material is about 80 90 amps. It s recommended to use a 023 or 024 inch wire for most light gauge sheet metal work.

Limit your heat input. However if you are dealing with materials that are 18 gauge or thicker one should be able to use 030 inch welding wire. I am wanting to start to weld on body panels for auto body butt weld would be it. Then tack between the two previous tacks.

Can the harbor freight hf 125 flux core welder do sheet metal. That is tack in all spots to hold things in place. First tack your entire welded area. Keep the stick out short stickout of your mig wire is important when welding any type of metal but especially sheet.

Everyone is different but those settings will get you in the right ballpark to weld sheet metal. Place the welding tip wire at the gap and tack weld several small spots spacing them evenly apart. This sheet was 18 gauge. It is recommended that a welder should use 023 or 024 inch wire for light gauge sheet metal work.

When the material is 18 gauge and thicker you may be able to use a 030 inch wire. Short stitches around the periphery. While replacing body panels overheating and warping thin sheet metal is common. To weld mild steel choose an american welding society classification wire such as er70s 6 which has a weld puddle that wets out nicely.

Continue the same way along the sides of the piece of sheet metal. If you are using oa hammer welding is best. If your welding wire is too thick it will take more heat to melt the wire than the substrate and can make it even more prone to blowing holes in the panel. As a rule when mig welding sheet metal never use a body filler metal that is thicker than the base metal.

Avoid warping the sheet metal. I was able to do it. Tack in a few places apart from each other and wait until the panel is cool to the touch.