How to Mig Weld Thin Autobody Sheetmetal - For Beginners - Tips And Tricks D.I.Y. Auto Restoration

[@billk5727]

Thanks Robert! Great information here. When Mig welding was first available and affordable for home garages, I went to The School of Hard Knocks for this info. Bill

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks Bill ! Yeah I think i've always taken the long way around the mountain too....

[@jackm.3666]

Thanks Robert. I really enjoy your videos. I've definitely had panels suck in when not leaving enough gap.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

If you don't know...... it will get out of hand quick... Hey thanks for supporting the channel, you are much appreciated !

[@jraposo911]

Nice video. Thanks again. Learn something everyday 😊JR in 🇨🇦

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@jraposo911 That's awesome. I'm glad the video helped.Thanks for supporting the channel !!!

[@OldBondoBilly]

Great show G! I can’t not say flux core is so much easier in every way😉😉

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks !

[@johngersna3263]

Robert, I'm 74 years old and I have to tell you that you are an amazing young man. I've been following your channel for a while now and have commented a couple of times. You do amazing work. There is one other channel that I watch a lot and although different he also does amazing work. The two of you although different are two of the best. It's "Fitzee's fabrications". He's an old school body man that does amazing work also. Although different, I feel that the two of you are the best at what you do. God bless and have a wonderful day. 👍👍🙂

[@guzzifabrication3448]

I really appreciate your comment Sir and I will do my best to live up to it !! Thank you for supporting my channel !

[@johnrodriquez5848]

Great content. You’re giving your viewers some of the best tips and tricks to do the job right. Thanks 👊🏽

[@guzzifabrication3448]

That's awesome ! thanks for the compliment !

[@Huffy_Turns_a_Wrench]

Great tips.... im a beginner welder.... im making some nice welds but im sure I'll make better ones now.... thank you sir

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Awesome ! You are going to be a top notch welder !

[@ST-cy6we]

Great instruction!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks ST, Hope your New Year is off to a good start brother

[@stevemartell8097]

I did like the details that you brought up, I have not had very good luck with sheet metal, I will start over again on this current project of using a patch panel on my 54 Chevy pu, thank you.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

It's all about practice! Glad you found the video helpful.

[@jodaddysdodgegarage3533]

Great tip on the tape and the settings. I will use that !

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Awesome !

[@AndysDogHouse-h6l]

Hey Guzzi. Thanks for the extra tips.👍👍🍁

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Glad you could use it brother.

[@fstlnj29]

I found this to be very informative. Your gap demonstration is exactly what I have been dealing with and did not understand why. I thought I just sucked at this but showing the effect of the shrinkage when cooling helped me see what is happening and why. Back at it and ready to practice this before going "live" on metal. Thank you!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

That's AWESOME ! let me point you in a great direction for welding on youtube - welding tips and tricks with Jody Collier, he is the man !

[@douglashart5059]

Great tips for a beginner like me! Thank you.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

That is what my channel is all about ! Helping new / non-professional people with solid advise, Thanks for commenting !

[@markpatterson7070]

Thanks Robert The best videos on You Tube !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

You are very welcome !

[@SpankysHotRodsandCustoms]

Great tips, thanks for sharing -Spanky

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanky Spanky !

[@TheJoefussGarage]

Hey there Robert, I've been on a 30 year DYI welding learning journey, myself... Between your little video tutorial here, and just reading all of the questions and comments, along with your answers has been quite the education.. Gracias!!!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Sir !

[@fredjones1238]

thanks very good explanation. no B. S.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Mr. Jones !

[@r1lark]

Great tips, thank you! Using a utility knife blade for a gap gauge is a really handy thing, I'll start using that. And thanks for the info about draping the gun lead, didn't know that.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks ! if the liner in the gun lead gets kinked.... your done.... and it's so easy to prevent. I'm glad you can use things in the video !

[@franksgarage8551]

Great idea marking baselines on outside of welder. I find there are different wire coatings, had some that would leave copper behind in liner, causing wire to drag. I learned to not buy cheap wire.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks for the info on the wire !

[@jonathanvidal3073]

Wow, I didn't know!!! Thanks

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Glad to help !

[@djparn007]

👍👍👍

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks brother !

[@jonesmcnasty8463]

Awesome video thanks for the info!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Sir !!

[@vehdynam]

More tips ! Many thanks.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you for supporting the channel !

[@waynec369]

Solid information and STRAIGHT to the point. No wasting of viewer's time and bandwidth on off-topic crap. Excellent work on the video. Would like to add, for the uninitiated, if you're gonna push thin wire (0.030 and under) keep your liner fresh AND short. There used to be felt lubricators and a water thin lube you could buy to help the wire glide through the liner. Just slip it over the wire ahead of the drive rolls. The lube comes in a can like lighter fluid. Just saturate the felt, and it will last for about 15 lbs of wire. I can't tell you the brand name because I bought mine about 25 years ago and the label is long gone.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Great info ! Thanks !

[@jimh3362]

Great tips!!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks ! @jimh3362

[@jeremyolson2596]

I always learn so much from your videos!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks, brother ! I hope all is going well

[@ChristopherL0rtiz]

Great tips. Thanks. How do you feel about flux for sheet metal? 18g etc?

[@Dennisx112]

Thanks for the tips! Great video

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@Dennisx112 Thank you for watching!!

[@michaelvandenhoy1021]

Another great video Robert. Exellent tips, thanks for sharing !

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Sir !!

[@Alex_Vangelov]

Well I found your Chanel today and already have watched 5 of your videos. Can't wait to try my best with the techniques you show.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@Alex_Vangelov that's awesome! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, welcome aboard !

[@dennisbeauchamp6193]

just found and subscribed! Learned a lot already. Thanks!!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

👍👍👍

[@rsonweb2060]

I have a hard time getting to work on my project because you have so many excellent videos I need to watch. I wish I would have seen this one 2 years ago. Thanks!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Hey thanks brother for the compliment ! It's never too late to learn, better late than never... get with it !

[@jeffreymiers8793]

I always use a plumbers wire brush for polishing up the nozzle if its not super crusty. My .02!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Hey that's cool, thanks fior the info !

[@fjbowen3155]

Yeah, it works great!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

👍@@fjbowen3155

[@davidmctague8060]

Excellent!! Thank you..

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Yes Sir ! Thanks for the comment

[@Jim-hv6ql]

Excellent video, if you are welding two different sheet metal thickness, let's say 20G to 18G which wire size would be best? (A lot of repo replacement panels are thinner than original)

[@guzzifabrication3448]

If you are just learning mig, .023 or .025 wire will work great ! Thanks for the question !

[@ANPennsylvania]

Thanks Brother. Just getting started at 40, bought a new Ram, want to fix my old one.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Hey that's the perfect age to start anything, most people only dream.... what year Ram ? is it a power wagon ?

[@ANPennsylvania]

@@guzzifabrication3448 2013 Big Horn. Underbody is very clean and I can do all the mechanical stuff, just never done body work. I bought a 24’ Rebel G/T Hemi. They are done w the V8, could not bring myself to buy a V6 T/T!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@ANPennsylvania KaaaBoooom !! Nice

[@The0Matador0]

Good tips. I seem to get problems with arcing even though I seem to clamp on bare metal (but only a small area, just enough for the teeth). Could this be the problems? I use Gasless.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Arcing at the ground clamp ? or trouble with a stable arc ? have you checked your liner ? Is the ground clamp spring tight and the teeth clean ? You can remove it and visually check for kinks.

[@difusekitty3]

great video !

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@difusekitty3 Thanks!!

[@kentowakai1234]

Thanks for good info

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you for the comment !

[@keithshergold9257]

Yep. I’m replacing the skins around the wheel arches on a truck box. The first side is gonna need a lot of “bondo” because I didn’t leave enough of a gap. I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m getting better at it.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@keithshergold9257 doing is how we learn.... good job

[@khosrowmkh2554]

thanks, those were great tips.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Sir !!

[@johngersna3263]

Good afternoon Robert. Outstanding video. I'm 74 years old and I learn something new from every one of them. I will from now on drape my cables instead of winding them up although I haven't had any problems as of yet. My other comment is about the holder with the magnet for the mig handle. Did you make that yourself or did you buy that? If you made it, could you do a short video on how you did it? I could probably fabricate one but it was hard to get a good look at it. One final note, the little spot blaster that you used in a previous video. Harbor Freight doesn't have them but Tractor Supply shows them on their website but they're out of stock. I did however run across someone that has one that he doesn't use. I offered to buy it but he said that I could have it. Sorry this is so long but I'm old and sometimes I get a little long winded. God bless and have a wonderful day.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Sir ! the mig gun holder can be purchased at any welding supply, amazon, northerntool, etc $20 - $30. the spot blaster I purchased about 5 yrs ago at harbor freight, seems they are hard to find now ( like everything else ...... ) Thanks for supporting my channel, I really appreciate you !

[@johngersna3263]

@@guzzifabrication3448 Thank you. 👍

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@johngersna3263 👍

[@michaelws65]

Hey I just found your Channel a few weeks ago and subscribed. Your videos are very well done. Hey do you mind telling me what type of filler primer you use and why you like it?

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks for the sub ! High end PPG K36 high build primer, economical Advantage high build primer

[@TheddreaJackson]

Awesome 👌

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thanks !!

[@tucobenedicto1780]

Have you ever tried the magnet ground for your welder instead of a clamp?

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Great question, I know alot of people do it, but it's oil and water......

[@johnsutter1497]

Have you ever used the millermatic 250x? Did you get good results? Can you recommend a good 2 stage air compressor that can keep up with air sanders and sandblasting? Thank you

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Miller makes welders ?

[@Juliovee123]

Hey Robert Do you think I could achieve similar results with a Lincoln 140 mig? It doesn’t have as much fine tuning as yours it has preset settings that are more broad like 1 to 12 for wire speed and A to D for voltage but still shows settings for sheet metal. I just want to make a good purchase so I can do some practicing on small stuff. Mostly 18G sheet metal and some impala frame work like the 63 you did. My 59 has some small rot in the frame. I k ow it’s not something one picks up over night but I’d rather get a good tool and learn how to use it then compensate for a “budget” purchase.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

I had a lincoln 140 mig starting out, AWESOME welder ! It's perfect for your application. Use shieding gas and .025 wire, you are good to go. You can dial it in, the biggest part of welding - seat time, learn your machine.

[@Juliovee123]

@@guzzifabrication3448I really appreciate it! Thanks for the input. And like you say I’ll make sure to invest in PPE!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@Juliovee123 Absolutely always protect yourself !

[@JB-NZ]

'Thin' hmm, that looks quite a bit thicker than what I am currently trying to weld (0.7mm). Any gap causes it to blow through I found. Would love to hear and see what you do for thin metal like that. Yours looks like its 1.2mm

[@guzzifabrication3448]

0.7mm ? there aren't any factory or reproduction body panels made in this thickness....... you would be using GTAW not GMAW process..... even trying is foolish

[@JB-NZ]

@@guzzifabrication3448 British Classic Mini, 1970's, factory panels are between 0.7 and 0.8mm typically, depending where on the car they are and if the steel is flat or curved etc. I am using new 0.8mm steel as repair panels, and that is slightly thicker than the original panels. I am using 0.6mm wire (0.025"), MIG welding, 75/25 gas. Works well, just cant have a gap.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@JB-NZ If foreign cars are using 22 to 24 gauge sheetmetal you should be using tig or oxyacetylene, mig welds are hardened welds making the surrounding metal weak and brittle, last thing you want with 22 -24 gauge sheetmetal.... very high probablity of craking and failure. I repaired a 70's Fiat I remember now it had that gauge sheetmetal

[@guzzifabrication3448]

There are a couple of methods ( I still don't recommend mig welding this gauge ) one is use a 1/16 tig rod ER70s as a filler, basically combining mig and tig at the same time to weld. I'll make a video on that, on thicker metals that's an easy trick to bridge a gap with mig

[@JB-NZ]

@@guzzifabrication3448 Tig sadly is not an option as you just cant get the old steel clean enough, ends up in even more of a mess. Ideally you go back to clean steel, but you cant grind all of the impurities off as then you have nothing left, and it would involve cutting out way more. MIG is by far the most common for repairing these cars, and the repair certifier also suggested the same. Its a combination of MIG and also spot welds (for where the panels overlap) - just like factory. Repairs are all going well, just have to do mig spot by spot and link them up, cant do a continuous bead etc. Just cant have a gap or it ends in a blow out.

[@geofreyobado9378]

❤

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Thank you Sir !

[@phooesnax]

More here than most hour long vids

[@guzzifabrication3448]

Just trying to pass on solid advise, Thank you for supporting the channel !

[@TooBrokeToWheel]

I've watched countless videos from reputable channels about welding thin metal. Not one said to leave a gap. Now I'm confused.

[@guzzifabrication3448]

???? Stop watching and start doing.... Thanks for a GREAT video idea ! test it yourself and you will find out very quickly... mig - gap / tig - no gap, that's welding basics. Thanks for the comment.

[@timswitzer792]

How about .023 wire for sheetmetal body repair?

[@guzzifabrication3448]

.023 vs .025, really..... not even worth addressing.

[@timswitzer792]

@@guzzifabrication3448 I guess I didnt ask that correctly. Would you use or recommend those sizes for body metal or stick with .035? Thanks and keep those videos coming!!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@timswitzer792 I misunderstood, if your just starting out for thin sheetmetal stay with .023, the reason I can use .035 is having proper fit up and prep that allows less arc time translating to less heat input, which is critical when welding sheetmetal.

[@timswitzer792]

@@guzzifabrication3448 Gotcha!! Thanks!!

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@timswitzer792 check out welding tips and tricks Jody collier on you tube, HE is the man !!!

[@yachtsteve]

I thought you were going to show a set of well then she metal then I saw you measure that 18 gauge 🤣

[@guzzifabrication3448]

? average sheet metal thickness is 18 to 20 ga.

[@martygrajeda3457]

Good stuff 👍

[@guzzifabrication3448]

@@martygrajeda3457 Thank you Sir!