Loading…
14
Rant: Quarter panel weld warped on me last job
I had a quarter panel replacement job that went south fast. The metal warped bad after I finished the welds. I think I had the heat too high, but the customer was breathing down my neck for speed. Now the panel looks wavy, and I have to redo the whole thing. It's eating into my profit and time. Any tips on keeping sheet metal flat during welding? Especially under time pressure?
4 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In4 Comments
spencer_coleman7mo ago
My last quarter panel looked like a funhouse mirror after I got done with it. Rushing for a client always turns my welder into a distortion machine. Try using more tack welds and letting things cool between passes, even with someone watching the clock.
5
phoenix_thompson7mo ago
Actually, too many tack welds can just make things worse, lol. If you're on a tight deadline, sometimes you gotta run a continuous bead and deal with any warping afterward. On thin metal, all that stopping and starting adds more heat and can twist the panel even more. A solid clamp job lets you weld fast without all the cooling breaks.
10
simon_ramirez947mo ago
Jeez, I've been there. Last time I tried to patch a fender, it ended up looking like a potato chip. What saved me was skipping the tacks and just welding in short bursts, then hitting it with a wet rag. Less heat build-up that way, and the rag cools it fast without warping everything. Still looked a bit wavy, but at least it wasn't a total funhouse mirror. Client never noticed, so I guess it worked.
7
max_torres447mo ago
Wet rag trick is a lifesaver for real. That heat buildup is the worst.
1