Vehicle body repair/welding

[flymo]

Any body repair specialists on here? I have a little van bodywork patching to do and could do with some pointers.

ta

[Specialone]

No specialist but I've done it before.

What is it you wanna do?

[flymo]

got a few rust holes appearing that I need to sort on my Transit. just in front of rear wheel arch, another just underneath the rear upper door hinge etc.

I'm aware you can buy various repair panels to help with getting the difficult shapes right etc. Where do I start? Get some pre-pressed shapes and cut out existing body to same size as the new part? Then weld along seem?

Where can I buy regular car body repair sheet steel to weld with?

[NTECUK]

Search for supplies using Google or yellow pages.
Watch on line tutorials .practice on rubbish panels .
Don't be tempted to weld were there is a hint of rust .
Follow safety guide at all times.
Never weld with battery connected.
Have someone keep a watch on you and for fire .

[Specialone]

As Ntec said, cut away all rust, grind it back to good clean metal.

cut to straight edges, creases, gaps etc makes matching up easier.

Cut a cardboard template of the cut away section, transfer that to new sheet.

If its an arch or a shaped piece, buy the repair panel. much easier to cut that up than trying to fab from flat sheet.

Get yourself a edge to edge magnet thingy, it hold two pieces together flush so you dont get one proud of the other.

Are you mig welding? if you are, just tack it to get it in the right place then do a series of small spots or very small runs, otherwise the panel will distort, work in a different place everytime until all the seams are done, this spreads the heat over the area and allows cooling of the area you done previously.

Obviously use on smallest power setting you can get away with but still maintaining penetration.

Grind off weld, fill and paint with rust inhibitor job done.

[timwilky]

The easiest way if using part panels is to overlay the new panel on top of the old and cut through them using an air saw or similar.You then have a perfect match and have only the thickness of a hacksaw blade to weld.

[flymo]

ok, thanks. I'll find some scrap metal and have a play.