How to Grind welds on sheet metal

[@gregtough9055]

It's beyond a slight art, that comment comes from a tradesman, the average person would have any panel warped and destroyed. As always a very informative video and very well done

[@deconteesawyer5758]

The average person will never in a lifetime be doing any grinding on a car.

[@richardprice5978]

yep 15-17 year old me misted up 1200USD+ in 2006$$ worth of OE 1985-88 GMC K1500 fleetside panel ( and the cab need some minor class-A TLC welding too ) ( plus 3 more beds ( to be fair 1 got stollen ) trying to fix my ouch the last go at it look 👀👍ish with 2004 F150 tail lights+bumper-ect trying to match my purle white stripe with candy red two tone and crome tail gate+C3 vett handle. but not good enough for priming/leading @ 25Y and isn't done ✅😑🤬 the gut's are the easy part for me aka transmission or building engine ect. but sowing and body 👎 ). so in my lifetime and after 3 times of coach work 🤷‍♂ I quit now ( i haven't given up on my projects yet and haven't totally given up on body work just now im tried of doing it the stupid way for me by myself alone ) ( as obviously i can't be trusted to do it by my self without a teacher 👨‍🏫 / help instruction 🤚on in the room ) ( and im so discouraged from body work i don't want to touch my 1967-71 charger even know it needs pans/ect. and i want some body modification mostly for wider tires/1968 nasscar 👀 and the prototype look /convertible top as Richard woods drawing the OG prototype@dodge in 1967 and RX8 door add on ) . i know i can weld 👨‍🏭 ok 👌 but linishing it nope 👎( and im definitely not the best at panel beating but smaller or easier jobs i can do ok ) i suck, painting 👍ish/passable for show-car judging. its embarrassment to me as my day job is a industrial mechanic 👨‍🔧 ( with AWS traning ) ( and metal work is need for me most of the time in bare steel or SS or aluminium ( shuch as a 500LB mixing bowl )) / automotive one at one point

[@richardprice5978]

@@deconteesawyer5758 well i want a riddler/new or similar experience showroom quality truck and charger but i haven't gotten there yet, not to impress others but because i like having nice 👍things. kinda tired of the rat rod 🐀look and the daily sub par beater's. wifes car is 😑 and some of the temporary ones i have driven 1 aren't my pick ( but are in ok 👍ish shape body wise mechanical not so much but it runs ok 😑 and im bizzy and don't what to bother with them / borrowed from my brother aka jeep LWB ) or in terrible shape like my 1968 C10 ( ran 👌just ugly as the rustic 👀got it and way beyond my skills set to fix it ) it was nice not to care about if i had dogs 🐶 or fast food ect. in it or not

[@sliceoflife5812]

@@deconteesawyer5758 Whats your definition of average?

[@MrCbell57]

@@deconteesawyer5758 are you saying me and my friends are not average? Lol

[@joescully566]

Just watched this again Tony it's an hour we'll spent, Thank you again, Joe

[@greggb1416]

“the proof is in the pudding”..., as the saying goes..., regarding the “flex-disc’s”..., however, the person on the grinder is a big part of the equation... from the first video I watched of yours, right away I took note of that aspect of your work... Great video here. Thank you sir. And yes I have heard the statement from some (myself included), “he don’t weld very good, but he grinds pretty damn good”... That statement don’t work here, your work is not about welding, your work is what you do to, and how to, make the angles, bends, folds, creases, profiles in sheet metal, to match the original..., and it is amazing...

[@chopperhehehe]

I will second this comment 👍👍👍😜🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🦕🙂🤞✌

[@famadrid78]

😂😂I’m one of those guys that are dangerous with a grinder. That’s why I’m here trying to learn. thanks for all the content. So far with your videos I’ve managed to weld my trunk pan into place it’s not pretty but it’s in there! Thanks again.

[@johngardner2807]

THIS is why I subscribed. I've been doing body repair for 48 yrs,...but there's ALWAYS something to learn! Learning new ways to do things,is always good.!!

[@joeidaho5938]

Love the practicality of your videos, Tony. Will always stick around. So many people resort to frivolous shit to keep getting views. Love your style.

[@jessebrobbins]

I've been a welder for many years, but almost all I've done was heavy materials and farm equipment, the technique on heavy metals is not the same as light materials, thanks for teaching me to be better at doing these repairs on my car project.

[@papilloncycles3463]

It gives me an idea of how I can use an economy of tools and a wealth of techniques to get a job done!

[@douglasnicholls1366]

I almost clicked off this one, but a few minutes in I really appreciated that I've never seen other fabricators detail their grinding -- they just do it. You do a great job and you're a pro, but anyone can do the same, it'll just take them a bit longer to stay careful and leave the piece intact. Great video! One thing you might have covered but didn't is to get in and get out quickly, because grinding puts a lot of heat in the piece. That's another advantage of 24-grit.

[@dirtyjobs3995]

Who would have thought a grinding video would have been so informative, THANK YOU!

[@ZangiefArgyll]

Eastern gentleman teaching the next generation. Great videos. I miss my time in Newfoundland more each time I watch one of Fitzee's tutorials!

[@jeffmalloy8200]

Thank you! You are correct this needed to be shown. It seems everyone just assumes this is no big deal. But for us hobbyists and newbies this video is gold. Even just the part about what tools you use was very helpful. I think done correctly this is no slight art.

[@p.o.berntsen3177]

Thank you for the inspiration Fitzee. I was over to Newfoundland, Harbour Grace back in 1985, wish to go back again some day. And hey, it is 999 years since we Norwegians came there first time. So it might be a good excuse to go there next year. Thanks again for the tips!

[@jeremyhanna3852]

There is lots and lots of videos on KZbin on welding on panels and patches put very few on grinding it was great

[@pmae9010]

Tony, I am a 'do it all' DIY'er and I enjoy learning, thank you for the great content!

[@flatfoot62]

Amazing work. You make it look easy, but I know your an artist in this metal fabrication. I love your videos and jump right on them when I see them up on my list. Thank you for the classroom time. It’s great. STICK AROUND 😊👍🏻

[@yachtsteve]

This was a great explanation. I love it when you put the 24 grit on and then you mention you're going to go at a reduced RPM, 10 seconds later wide open throttle on the grinder 🤭🤭

[@ems9112]

Great video. As a 40 year body man I just love to watch you work. You always find the quickest and easiest way to do things without sacrificing quality. Well done.

[@brentmcgillis]

The sign of a true master tradesman is not just having the patience of Jobe, but recognizing that trades people who are "Perfectionists" are the people who proverbially never get anything done. You sir have found the correct balance of time to devote to various stages in your jobs, which reveals your passion for getting the job done in a timely manner, and done correctly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your dedication to doing a great job. An old friend Wes, who is by trade a ticketed welder, goes around totally Ffing up almost everything he touches and then he proclaims proudly, "I R welder." Wes the welder is the poster child for the old saying: A man who does not care will do far more damage than a man who does not know. Thank you for your breakdown and assessment of the different abrasive discs. I have found that a lot of tradesman should have never been allowed to teach others, because they are lousy teachers. You sir are a natural teacher, that puts reason to his rationale. Your own unique speaking mannerisms come across as genuine and natural, the way you explain things puts the reasoning in a perspective that make sense to the viewer. Keep doin' what you are doing there Fitzee, love your channel.

[@diggerdog9096]

Top notch tutorial on grinding discs , grinders and how to use them . Thanks for sharing your years of experience .

[@paultavres9830]

Working with metal since 1969 metal finisher body man heavy duty mechanic spent 4 years teaching welding at local ROP 47 years in machinists union when i teach people how to grind welds I tell them the grinder is a eraser on a pencil the weld is like a pencil mistake you dont erase the whole page you erase the pencil mark My little air angle grinder like your is one of my favorite When first learning metal finishing I was taught no bondo metal finish I like your demo 👍

[@dubCanuck1]

It's funny. I struggled with grindimg welds for a long time and had an absolute ton of abrasoves, but it always seemed to be "the wrong stuff". Watched your videos and I have a good system that works for me.

[@robertmccully2792]

The hardest parts to teach are the things we take for granted. That's where teachers fail. Good video.

[@donaldbynum6612]

Your way of teaching is very clear and easy to understand. Thank you for that.

[@MotherAlgorithm]

Absolute heap of experience passed on here. I got a lot from this video that will save me time and money.

[@appliancedude63]

I would like to say that since I've been watching your channel my metalworking skills have improved 1000%. Thank you

[@kenreeve6549]

As ever a first class practical worker Thanks for the advice and demo for people who dont own every product / gizmo available known to man kind, working in a multi million $ work shop !

[@brooksprunty3447]

I'm the guy that hacks it all to crap he was talking about. Lol! Love the free advice. But since I watched Fitzee my confidence is way up with trying to get things moving love this man.

[@jerzy4151]

Awesome Video Fitzee! Literally could of used so many of your tips when I powered through the rust repair of my VW fender. TO ANYBODY READING THIS, get a Jalopy you aren't afraid of ruining! Build your confidence on parts easily replaceable, but most importantly, just get your hands dirty! Unlike you, I am not a bodyman, but thanks to your techniques, I successfully left my car 100x better than it was. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

[@xxxxrock32xxxx]

Nicely done Fitzee! I was a red seal steel fabricator on the railway for close to 40 years not to mention in my home shops. So I've ground miles of weld, rust, caulking etc. This is an excellent video.

[@retiredtruckersgarage.7606]

another great video showing your way, i'm sure you've helped thousands of newby diy restorers,i know i am one,and i recommend you to anyone who asks.

[@diyjeff1838]

You know, I am going back to chorded. They last forever and I can pass them down to my son. Also, they cost 1/8 the price of battery. Great video as always!!!

[@donaldthomad5787]

Newbie here,I appreciate the straight forward approach. I am taking on some bodywork for the first time.Things are going well taking my time trying to save money and do as much as I can myself.

[@donschneider7252]

Thanks Tony! "Good tips" We appreciate your humble teaching style. Makes a body want to move next door to look over your shoulder more often. (except for the snow (;-} )

[@TheBabins]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It was really helpful to see your techniques and tips.

[@craigsilver1083]

I really enjoy this channel. There is way better information here than the crash courses at trade school.

[@karlscribner7436]

Great information as usual. I can still remember the Janitor at work when he took one of those big grinders to a metal door to prep it for paint….oooh! He says just after the disc scooted all across the door and almost ripped outta his hand from the torque

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I know nothing about that!! Lol. I wish...

[@mariomuz8]

i wish i come across ur vids years ago would of saved me alot of time i love ur work i think ur my long lost twin thanks

[@royalt67]

Thx again, Fitzee. Some great “pearls” there. I figured some of this out on my own, but as usual, something to learn here.

[@robertwilliams8010]

Your videos are helping me so much! Thank you again Fitzee for taking the time to cover this topic.

[@buannajim8091]

A master course in grinding welds. Nicely done, Tony. As always, thanks for the tips!

[@PoundNetTexas]

Thanks for sharing your craft with others. I bought some of those flex discs and it works great. Love it. So much easier than a grinding stone.

[@davidzarr1832]

I'm old school and use pretty much the same tools...it always worked for me! Nice job covering the basics!

[@jimlarkin8392]

Great video ,tons of information I am 74 now an still do this stuff as a hobby , I wish I had these videos of yours years ago when I was in the trade full time ,your remark about getting things done fast in a production shop really rung true to me , you had to work fast and get it out

[@sliceoflife5812]

Wow I cant believe you gave all that information for free, thats insane. You went into everything individually, thank you so much. I liked and subbed !

[@robertsomerville320]

Thanks for that there Fitzee. Grinding is definitely an art, especially as it is the final product of the sheet metal work prior to body work. You are so right about filler too. Anyone involved in the trade knows that filler is on every car that's been worked on. I agree with you on the 24grit, you need tooth to grab the filler, polished surfaces look nice, but filler needs to adhere. What a great teaching video from the master ! We're not worthy, we're not worthy! Cheers from Rob in Winnipeg!

[@johng8473]

Very informative. I have to work in the driveway, so the wind can make spot welding hell. The grinding is always the hardest part. sometimes the thin spots don't show up until you try to fix a little hole and burn through , now you have a big hole to fix. I have used a Dremael tool with a 1 1/2" cut off disc as well as a small sanding drum to get to some very tight places. Thanks for the videos, you have got me back into metal fab and repairs that i haven't done in twenty years. Find it a very rewarding past time. Keep em coming and I'll stick around. :)

[@jasonpoolo3523]

Have you ever heard of a welding spoon? You can only use it when you can get behind the work. Pretty neat little doodad it's basically just a piece of copper

[@richardprice5978]

those pits/pin holes are the bane of my trys plus warping the 🤬 out of the panel's. ps. trained in a AWS welding shop

[@dansawatzky2415]

I am a newbie to this metalwork. Thank you very much for the clear and detailed information. Always a blessing to learn from the old time tradesmen.

[@bennymcmunn9683]

Very informative and useful. Great job covering the differences. Keep up the great job.

[@pierrehuard1341]

Boy am I ever glad I came across your video, thank you for sharing your knowledge. Cheers from Quebec

[@Fred82ndAbn]

Those Walter disk are great. I've been using them in my project upon Fitzee's recommendation. Order you some and be done with it, money well spent. Great video Fitzee!

[@bdugle1]

I must admit I skipped over this one at first, just watched it this morning. Who’d have thought there was an hour of really good info on grinding welds? But there is and I learned a LOT! I’m just a hobbyist so I probably had more to learn than most, but I there you go. I must say that I like flap wheels better than hard grinding wheels, but the guidance and techniques here are very enlightening. I would offer one point, though, my wife makes me wear a dust mask, a full face shield, and ear protection when doing this stuff-with good reason! I also do woodworking and have a friend who’s been a cabinet maker all his life. He’s dealing with severe lung issues now. I don’t know that grinding dust and sawdust have the same effects on lungs, but grinding dust can’t be good for you. Just my $0.02 on the matter. Great video, Fitzee! One welding question. You mentioned that MIG welds are harder than base metal. I use 75/25 gas for MIG but I think you said once you use 100% CO2. There’s a lot of carbon in 75/25 and more in full CO2. If you used something like 97/3 argon/CO2, would the MIG welds stay closer to the qualities of the base metal? That gas would help me with SS welds on my exhaust, too.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Very good point! I would like to know that as well.

[@christianmccollum1028]

You are covering the topic just in time for me. Got alot of weld-grinding to do on my VW Bus. Thanks always!

[@jimlarkin8392]

Just to let you know I watch for your new videos all the time , I think I have learned more from you than anyone else on youtube,please keep up the great work , the young guys just starting out really need someone like you to teach them how to do this work right , and I really like the old school approach, you really don't need $100,000 of equipment you are profe of that , have a great day Tony. Thanks Jim

[@mjm7187]

I value all of your videos and look forward to everything you share to your 100K+ "stick around" folks.

[@algonzalez8798]

Excellent video. Just what rookies like me need to see!!!

[@franstolsma554]

Hi Toni, you really know how to cut corners. Great instructional vid. What a craftmenship. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@awdriedger4223]

Thanks Fitzee, You have been my shop teacher all through this covid period in our life. as a retired Boilermaker i understand the art of grinding welds with out taking the parent metal down, no one ever explain the difference in using different types of disc grits and their uses. Thanks again . I find 18 to 20 Gauge metal much lighter then boiler plate.

[@madmax2506]

another excellent video Fitzee. many thanks for taking the time. Love the channel

[@race38dirt]

Man I can't tell you how much I appreciate you. I always wanted my dad to teach me how he did this stuff and he never would. I have projects of my own now and I've been estranged from him for years now, so you are helping me when he didn't. Thank you sir. Many blessings to you.

[@impactodelsurenterprise2440]

He wants a better prospect for you.

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

As an amateur, I use wheels and cutoff discs and get mediocre results. Apparently the cheap burrs are garbage, I'd wondered if I was using them wrong, no, they just don't do what yours do. All this is great and useful advice as usual.

[@Joe.Doucette]

The cheap burrs are indeed pure garbage. A good one will work sooo much better and last a whole lot longer. Just please use eye protection. The chips fly far and fast and they are much harder than your eyeballs.

[@stantilton2191]

Very practical and informative video. I've collected used discs from the welding crews at work for years and reused them. I always learn something new from your teachings. Thank you Tony.

[@Restoringthepast]

During the summer I have been working on restoring a 47 year old tractor cab wich had fair amount of rust. I have never done such a job before. Big pieces were missing due to rust. It's been a fun journey, all thanks to all the good tips on fabricating panels, welding and grinding you have provided on your channel. Keep up the good old school way of work and thanks a million for putting out your knowledge in these videos. Cheers from Norway :)

[@julianfisher6373]

Your voice & manner is so relaxing I find I'm paying far more attention than i ever did ! Can't thank you enough, excellent video & content. Absolutely sold on the 24 grit discs & love them too bits. Now to try & find those Flex-Cut discs here in the UK. Those inside corners I hate too ! I now use a Dremel as it gives a lot more control for me than the die grinder. Love & appreciate your work & videos so please keep them coming. Julian.

[@michaelbracewell2229]

You are a excellent teacher and thank you for putting videos out like this. I am working on my first restoration and information like this is invaluable!

[@ronfuhr7221]

love your work Fitzee.You are teaching a lot of people how to do the repairs

[@jimbo5728]

I use worn cutting wheels for grinding too! I have learned so much from this channel over the years, giving me the confidence to take on bigger projects!

[@villiers1259]

Great video Fitzee.Im restoring a 1971 Australian xy Falcon this will fine tune my grinding skills and the abrasives available thanks.

[@The_Performance_Laboratory]

Great info. Your extensive experience makes it all look easy...

[@joeashley7477]

I love your methods and teachings. You have given me the confidence over the last year or so for me to get a new pandemic skill of metal finishing.

[@johnappleton9841]

i am sure you have a camera in my shed every time i start doing something you come up with a video showing me how too do it correctly what a guy keep up the good work Fitzee love all your video's

[@FOG-321]

Just a little more to it than most people would think. Thanx for the tips.

[@MetaldetectingFriesland]

A very informative video! Thank you for showing each step in such detail too! This will really help me out!

[@bishbashbosh-j6z]

really informative Fitzee, learning loads from the metal working yoda.... !

[@gordturnbull4835]

Thanks for the insight on grinding. Changing the way I work metal.

[@connorking7785]

Thank you for the years of knowledge Fitzee.

[@tonywinton7949]

Sir, thank you for doing this video, I really appreciate it and find this very useful. Have a great day

[@stevenmacinnis418]

Another GREAT video by a true professional. Thank you for you time. We maritimers are the greatest

[@danielcampbell9220]

Really enjoy these video's! Lot's of info and motivation to get stuck into getting my Mk5/ Ford Cortina 80 restored and back on the road here in N.Ireland. Thanks, and keep these videos coming! Best wishes, Dan. :)

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Cortina?? What year? My dad had a bunch of them. From 68 to 72

[@danielcampbell9220]

@@fitzeesfabrications I m waiting on a reissued log book, the car had been off the road for 20 years at least. I believe it's an 82 car. 1.6GL. My dad had one as a company car in the early 80s, it was my favourite of his cars, although being a VW man I doubt it was his favourite. Personally I like the MK3 best shape wise. But the Mk5 is sentimental.

[@larryanderson8049]

Great and important video....not damaging panels is making headway .....One way to get a radius on the rigid wheels is to shape the edge using an old grind stone, or if you are not fussy the concrete floor. also you can true a wheel flatways or edge wise so they do not skip and chatter. the cheaper grinders have poor bearings and will not grind smooth.....the older makita's had good spindle bearings and do the nicest work in my opinion

[@rustnrestorationgarage8207]

A whole course in an hour great information on a lot of stuff i do thanks for this!

[@bartsarton2212]

That was awesome, Tony! I love learning from you.

[@LoneStarMini]

Excellent advice/tips…. Greatly appreciate the time you’ve taken to help others….

[@David-ty1xz]

Thank you, I really needed this. What a great subject for the channel.

[@ceesklumper]

I got a box of 25 of those Flexcuts thanks to your tip a couple months ago, 36 grit (I notice you have 60). Not cheap like you said but they do work great.

[@leinadalan]

Great vid. I'm working on a 50s military jeep tub, lots of rust behind brackets, so drilling spot welds and replacing patch panels. Pain in the arse as no filler will be used! I'll tell ya what, Walter better give u a kick back!!! Got me some comings. 180.00 for 25 of them. Cheers

[@juannavedo7494]

Excellent how to video for people of all skill levels. Use these tip and develop your own method. Thanks for taking time to make this video

[@saltymopar7961]

Properly using a grinder is one of the most overlooked thing in the welding industry. IMO knowing how to grind is just as important as knowing how to setup the weld machine.

[@chopperhehehe]

I second this comment to 👍👍👍😜🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🦕🙂🤞✌

[@billyadams1976]

You're right, not many videos on this part of the hobby/trade..... THANK YOU SIR. YOU'RE THE MAN!!!

[@mattthescrapwhisperer]

Great stuff Tony. Very informative and comprehensive. I have never had much use for flap disks either. I find they just don't hold up. "Good for polishing chrome", I'll remember that one!

[@Kymbo1000]

Theres been a lot of questions about this lately so this vid is right on time. Great work

[@jaym4971]

Good info on grinding! I’m one of the “dangerous” guys with a grinder! This video was helpful! 👍

[@lenbehr2571]

Thanks Fitzee. That was very informative I'm gonna try this technique I have always had a hard time

[@richsmith6952]

Great grinding tips! I have learned to become a pretty good grinder due to my lack of welding skills. Watching your videos has helped me tremendously with both of those skills now. Thank you sir!

[@jimfowler9143]

Tony have been following you since you first mentioned cut n butt...sheesh what the heck I thought...until i tried it. And every video has been outstanding. There is more than a 'slight art' to it. As usual the tips are darn good. Thankyou sir.

[@cruzerfj4060]

Nice work! I am a crappy welder but my grinding skills are better now because I watched this great tutorial!

[@johnwesner3935]

Hey Tony, another great example of how to get the job done! I'm a carpenter by trade and do the auto / truck work now that I'm retired. My first love was anything with a motor. Watching you work has boosted my confidence in that I too, use the tools I have. I haven't felt the least guilty about a skim coat of fairing compound to get to the finish. As they say around here you have to " git r done"!

[@mistermopar440]

Thank you for a great video on grinding and grinding discs!! some very good tips. Keep the videos coming please!!

[@davebrittain9216]

Fitzee I mentioned using the DA on it a few videos back to let us see how well the welds end up. Thanks for showing us on that last one there. Lets us see perfectly what it looks like.

[@geigertron3000]

i feel like i say this on most of the videos of yours that i've seen.... THANKS FOR THE AWESOME CONTENT!!!!