Projects Help advice needed removing welds

Hi maybe a silly question

but whats the best easiest way to remove these welded steel plates on my little hot rod project please? That will do the least damage to the body

it was like this when i got it, i presume it was done to keep the body safe body/flex for transport at some point in its life

thanks

 

If you have one, I would use a small air powered cut off disc and just cut each spot weld one after the other trying not to get it too hot.

 

Pretty easy with a thin cutoff disc on a die grinder, a little care needed to keep from cutting into good sheetmetal, just cut about 90% through then knock loose with a thin chisel under the edge of the sheetmetal next to each tack weld, touch up the remainder of the tack with the same disc but don't use the face of the disc unless you change to a thicker one.

 

Cripes, I type slow!

 

Suggest grinding the part sticking up above the patch plates down to smooth with the plates to help establish a line to "hit' lightly with a cut-off disc & pop the patch plate off so you can smooth off the remaining tack without digging in to the body. edit: I also type WAY TOO Slow... LOL

 

Thanks guys appreciate it

 

Air chisel

 

Is it the 32 three window in your avatar?

 

I was gonna suggest the more traditional method of hammer and cold chisel...but you know how I am....

 

A flap disk is super handy too for knocking them down a bit and cleanup after. Reduces the risk of knicking the panel in comparison to a grinding disk.

 

Geez Lloyd your an animal…..;-)

 

I was gonna suggest a cutting torch but yes, careful use of the death wheel is the best option, then grind down what's left behind.

 

It's not like he has to worry about messing up some virgin sheet metal

 

The common answer is a die grinder with a 3" cut off wheel. Be very gentle. If you don't have one, go get one. That's an invaluable tool when doing sheet metal repair.

 

Yep, and it sounds like the OP doesn't do a lot of this so the cheap one from HF should last a long time, I use the one that mounts the disc directly to the grinder, no arbor required.

 

The weld is the hardest and strongest part of a patch. The metal beside it is the weakest. Be careful chiseling. It may just break off the good metal and leave a hole in the base metal of the body. Been there …

 

If you have to buy one, I would suggest getting a reversible one. It is so nice to not have the sparks bouncing off your face shield.

 

I've been told by women that my eyes melt their hearts. I could give it a try on the welds...

There, Did it work?

 

Have a pic of yours?

 

I'll get a photo of mine later this morning.

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-high-speed-air-cut-off-tool-60243.html

 

Guess I need a sarcasm sign.

 

Ha. Definitely not for you Lloyd. that was for those who haven’t ever removed patches. PJ

 

Using a "thin" cut off wheel and coming straight down on the weld with the edge of it will allow less heat to be imparted into the parent sheet metal. Do one weld and get it close to the parent metal but not thru. Then skip to a different plate and do one there. Skip around on different plates rather than trying to completely do one plate. When you have all the welds cut nearly thru, you can go back and finish the cuts and very little heat will be generated. I like to use a 6" cut off wheel on a 90 degree electric grinder, but it doesn't allow a guard for wheel explosion. I wear a face shield and my leather welding gloves. The larger wheel gives more flexibility, and once the plate is off, it works well for smoothing the left over weld off the panel. You also have to watch your fingers when doing it this way as you can take a nick out of a finger when you grab the "on" switch. Thats why I wear the gloves.
Anyway, the point is that if you grind by pressing against the weld, you will generate more heat. If you come in from the edge of a weld (parallel to the panel), you cut a slot and its almost flush with the panel..........and less heat buildup.

 

Cut off wheel the thinnest one possible. Be very careful, come at the weld from the thickest part and work in to the virgin metal, watch heating it up and you should not have a ton of gouges to fix.

 

As mentioned, thin cut off wheel, and good eyes. Protected ones, prescription or cheaters, if you need them. You need to watch the cut carefully, closely to ensure you're only cutting the weld, or patch. Sneak up on it.

 

I think they meant your credit card.

 

Those patches look like the way a buddy of mine used to get panels to fit when he was welding a panel on or even fitting door gaps.
I agree that the gentle use of a cut disk is the way to take them off.
Wear a good full face shield and not those cute as seen on the Motor Trend channel safety glasses unless you have the safety glasses on under the face shield. You want your whole face protected.

 

me too ^^^^. I may take an angle grinder and knock the welds/tacks down some first but hammer and chisel is my goto.