How To Weld small holes the easy way

Welding up old mirror holds. With the help of my old buddy. The wire coat hanger!!

[@TwistedGorillaFab]

I use nailheads, built-in handle. The larger ones take spikes that I've collected. Nice work.

[@billroot4602]

I learned more from watching 15min. of your videos than 30 hours of tips from others. SUBSCRIBED!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@joesheppard8000]

My thoughts exactly! Thank you for sharing your gift

[@xr7coug]

Me too!!! Fitzee's butt weld method is nuts! I'll never use clips again.

[@siliquaesid703]

Same.

[@57churbro]

Same here 🤙

[@shaelui]

First and only video I’ve had to watch to learn this lol.. so good

[@deadwood3764]

Thanks finding all sorts of tricks on your channel.Very nice that you pass down your knowledge.

[@Beobout6]

Thank you Fitzee. I really appreciate your awesome work. I wish you would have been my welding shop teacher back in the day. Great tips and lessons. 👍🏻

[@mangoMango-ck3et]

Even non-engineering clueless people like me,,,like watching Fitzee,, bloody interesting..an absolute craftsman.

[@rickolson9011]

Very helpful! I’m working on my father’s 69 Bronco and have a couple of holes that will benefit from this treatment. My other problem is rusty areas below the doors behind chrome trim. I’ll be checking out your other videos for help on these rocker panels. Glad to be a subscriber now!

[@buchanansleeve7427]

Your videos are the bomb! So glad I ran across your videos! God Bless.

[@salceti]

your videos are like potato chips, you can't stop at one. keep on gettin on

[@siliquaesid703]

You learn from Fitzee because he uses the easiest method to solve a problem. It might not be the recognised method but Fitzee's methods are born of experience and a knowledge of what works and IMHO, that is the best type of method to learn.

[@markharrisllb]

You Sir are a demigod, this is just the video I needed and an easy subscribe. However, when I tried the coat hanger trick the plastic melted.

[@trjb1767]

I got it even if no one else did!

[@usernamemykel]

So, you're telling us that you hung up on that one, huh?

[@cristinacocchi6690]

Washers work well with a long screw in centre hole- hold an alloy/copper heatsink behind and plugweld small centre hole last👍

[@DavidPlass]

Careful, most washers are zinc plated which releases toxic gas when welded.

[@turboflush]

@@DavidPlass Is that what I was feeling? :)

[@MustObeyTheRules]

David Plass well it probably won’t weld worth a damn. Just pop and spatter. As long as the coating is ground off, it’s just like welding regular steel

[@usernamemykel]

@@turboflush No, what you were feeling was your boyfriend's body parts.

[@daveooldham9850]

Awesome tip Fitzy,simple saves me hours of time fishing out the small plugs ive dropped down behind the panel,cheers

[@jackflatt9697]

to round the patch quickly and accurately, chuck the stem in a cordless drill and spin the patch as you grind.

[@raylarkin5004]

As always, simply the easiest way to do the most effective work! 👍

[@DIYSCOTT]

This is great. I have been thinking about this question for weeks. Now I know. Thank You!!!

[@patrickg4698]

I love the no hand or arm protection and possibly no respiratory or eye protection method. A great way to get some good injuries and cardiological health issues. Ooh and radiation burns. Great to teach people this way.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Thanks for watching!

[@garygerard4290]

another fine video - but I burnt my eyes watching you weld I'm willing to settle out of court - send me a 12 pack and you won't hear from my lawyer, Ernie the Attorney

[@clintsinger6893]

Is that the law firm of Dewy Cheetum and Howe?

[@xj6c1]

Great tips! Excellent teacher. Thanks!

[@lordmcmenace]

The coat hanger king strikes again

[@daniellachance9730]

Just stumbled on to your channel. Fantastic info!

[@oldgeezer3269]

That was Genius You make it look easy Thank you for posting 👌👍

[@awdmute]

Solid advice! I have a few holes to patch and now I don't have to pay a body shop!

[@byronperry6014]

Always great content.

[@mikeumbrianna7527]

I appreciate you sharing these tips of your craft with us. I’m working on a 1980 Malibu right now and will use several of the tips I have learned on your channel. I appreciate that you keep it basic as well. You could have punched some round pieces with the spot weld punch you have but, not everyone has a pneumatic punch. Thank you great content.

[@markgardiner1767]

Thanks Fitzzie, good tuition

[@anthonylawrence9307]

Damn. That's exactly how I did it. I didn't even have a clue what I was doing.

[@zimms-world]

Another great video..very helpful

[@VA7ACG]

Great tip Fitzee.

[@JOEZEP54]

Great tip. Thank you. Stay safe, Joe Z

[@wurzle48]

Great video again thanks for sharing,keep um coming 👍👍👍👍

[@anthonygiachinta3056]

You are very easy to understand . Thank you !

[@ferdiebiojon8761]

Yes really helpful nice idea and technique...STICK AROUND

[@z06doc86]

Use a step drill to enlarge the holes and make them round. Chuck the coat hanger in your drill and rotate the plug patch against your table grinder to make it round and on size. Thanks

[@watferfoot1467]

I'm using a tungsten carbide burr to make the hole fit to the plug. It's easier.

[@workingmansrestorations7071]

Good ideas

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

That would only work if you welded the coat hanger at a perfect right angle to the patch or wobble wobble!

[@johnward5890]

That's how i was taught in school 45 years ago, it good that you are showing the younger generation the old timers tricks of the trade, Working in welding my whole life i found using a block of Brass or copper on the back side of a hole and Mig or Tig welding the hole full worked well in some area's, I used your method back in high school body shop in the late 70's with Gas welding. Some of the fun tools they have now days like air punches and crimps can make a body mans job a little easier keep up the teaching Sir. It's nice to see a body man that can still fabricate body panels from scratch.

[@gunner49er]

If you can get to it that’s defiantly the cats meow 😻

[@600miles]

I saw "small" holes, you got 1/2" holes. I was thinking you were going to weld on top of a brass block, hold block on inside, weld doesn't stick to brass. I learned from an old body shop man. We also drilled a lot of holes to weld panels together when assembling front end sheet metal - don't forget your Zinc weld through primer

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Not a lover of the zinc primer. I find it affects your weld and you don't get a clean weld. You still burn the zinc off when your weld is hot

[@Wanker59]

Great work

[@richardhatt6541]

What is done with the door next? Body filler or primer? How do the scratches get filled in from grinding and sanding?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Body filler then primer.

[@fixupapickuptruck6100]

Good stuff mate!

[@nzrestoration9486]

These are so useful, thank you.

[@medicja]

Got to be from Newfoundland awesome video

[@iantanner9258]

Great tips and tricks. Fantastic! So refreshing to find somebody with a wealth of experience and thinks outside the square! Q. How do you weld so much without a helmet? Ian Downunder

[@fitzeesfabrications]

It's a bad Habbit. When I weld I'm hiding the flash behind the tip of the gun. I never see the flash.

[@usernamemykel]

He thinks outside the square by filling circles.

[@Papawcanner]

Unbelievable dude !

[@mahomv9824]

In the workshop, we put a piece of copper under the hole, and fill the hole with welding, the weld does not stick to the copper, we remove the copper, the method is very fast and clean, and nothing else is needed.

[@shedendman]

What if you cant get to the other side?

[@usernamemykel]

@@shedendman Then you don't need your passport any more.

[@willtricks9432]

Watched two and subscribed. Cheers

[@drjimjam1112]

Nice work! Do you have it finished off with maybe a 200 or even 300 grit grinding pad? Looks so smooth and shiny. I’d guess your shop is up north somewhere? In FL bare metal will rust in front of your eyes.

[@billpickelheimer8142]

Why not just back it up with brass or copper and puddle weld it , you could have done all the holes in the time you put it making a little tiny sheet metal and wire fill in, just saying, millions of ways to do the same thing I guess

[@paulhealey8221]

I enjoyed watching this video, do you have any tips on how to fill pin holes in the bottom of a vintage Harley gas tank while not warping the gas tank and ruining the original factory paint? I was thinking of brazing? Some of the holes are pin size and others are 1/8 inch in diameter. I appreciate any tips or advice. Thank you.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Think brazing is the best plan. It can leak with a mig.

[@paulhealey8221]

Fitzee's Fabrications Actually, I was first considering brazing, but I don’t have a oxygen acetylene torch set and did not want to buy one just for this one job. I do have a small Clarke flux core mig welder, however after testing on some thin gage scrap metal .016 and .025 I kept blowing through the small pin holes I drilled in the test pieces and was warping the thin metal even at the lowest settings on my mig, even when trying to do a quick spot weld. I then tried to use a small hand butane torch with acid core solder, rosin core solder and silver solder on some thin test pieces of metal to fill some pin holes but I was not satisfied with the results and the fillings looked weak for a fuel tank. What I liked about Gills lead filling method was, it looked like I could melt the lead without too much heat and risk warping my vintage Harley Davidson gas tank and harming the original paint, and since many of the pin holes are close together I can spread the lead over a wider area with better control using a paddle. I noticed Eastwood sells various starter lead kits for about $116. Also, I did think of just renting a oxy acetylene torch for a day but most likely the cost would be the same as buying a lead kit from Eastwood. And keeping the heat to a minimum on this repair. I definitely won’t use a tank sealer because I hear many bad things about that route and the same with epoxy metal fillers.

[@amojak]

you might be better off getting the liquid repair stuff that can line the bottom of the tank as it is clearly a bit thin in places there.

[@usernamemykel]

Silver solder (Harris "Safety-Silv 56), flux (Harris Stay-Silv), and a MAPP gas (or propane, which'll take longer) tank, attached to a torch. Does wonders. Flame away, bro!

[@campionoverbagh561]

Perfect! Thank you as always

[@cristinacocchi6690]

Havent seen a metal coathanger for at least 6yrs!

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I collect them!! Lol

[@cristinacocchi6690]

@@fitzeesfabrications soon you will be rich!

[@fitzeesfabrications]

@@cristinacocchi6690 hahaha

[@abcardenas35]

Love your videos

[@henryserranorodriguez2298]

Thanks for that awesome tip 💪

[@MGarza-ki8fm]

How do you prep the metal that you have cleaned out like on the door you did this hole patch demo? Bare metal. Do you have a video on it? Thanks for the tips... Cheers..

[@fitzeesfabrications]

It stripped with a 24 grit disk

[@MGarza-ki8fm]

@@fitzeesfabrications yes I realize that but what or how do you do to protect it? Primer base sealer or what? Thank you

[@mra2957]

Brilliant once again....

[@francfurian8215]

Thanks Fitzee Cheers

[@garychandler4296]

I wonder if the plug from a holesaw could fit and save all that grinding time? Next thought; metal electrical box plugs?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

No two holes are alike unless you making them all the same size. The electrical plugs are galvanized. Never good to weld

[@usernamemykel]

@@fitzeesfabrications Yup, toxic from the zinc.

[@michaelniceguy4042]

Slide the coat hanger with the welded metal thru the back side then weld it you will end up grinding either way just less shaping the metal to fit the hole

[@ttime411bmw]

I have countless holes like this on my truck it would take 17 years with this process lol

[@TheEndSquared]

Does this work if the piece has a significant radius?

[@JustPlainCommonSense]

Great tip. Thanks

[@randycordes464]

Thanks that’s a great tip

[@megaeverything101]

metal so clean what do you do againt flash rust

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I keep my shop at a consistent temperature. I like to prime it all at once.

[@tdeje]

Do you think that this method works better than backing up the hole with a piece of copper, If so Why ?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

It works better when you can't back it up. Sometimes backing it up is a two man job. Hard to reach around. This works better there too.

[@jbh.6257]

Soo slightly off this specific topic but when you have some pin holes is it worth patching it just use filler over it??

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I'll patch all holes. And pin holes ill drill out. A small 1/8 hole in a panel is a 1/4 inch hole minimum. What you see outside is no less then half the size of the rust that is really there

[@RANDALLOLOGY]

Believe it or not metal coat hangers are getting harder to find.

[@heyallenify]

Twist some doubled up MIG wire and use it, or even a piece of TIG filler or a nail...

[@timothyrouse2853]

Old bike spokes ?

[@brittanywright9646]

If you have access to the back couldn't you weld a backing to the other side, flip it over and just fill the hole?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

You end up with layers where moisture and get trapped and rust. But yes it would work. I done that on quick ruff jobs in the past

[@kravmaga7070]

im repainting a 84 cutlass a dark grey maybe even black cuz 2/3 of panels are sun bleached and am considering just selling the chrome rocker guards and painting lower body panels to match rest of car. Do u recomend i weld the holes shut or bodyfill them?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Weld shut.

[@yonivargas1999]

Quick question. I’m not welder. I just got a 110volt welder would that be ok to weld holes on a fender? Or do I need a 220 welder? Thank you in advance

[@fitzeesfabrications]

110 better for body panels

[@robinhelder1471]

why not plug weld a small little sheet behind the hole?

[@martinsloman9364]

Genius

[@brianpercival1829]

Great info. Learning lots. Where do you draw the line on filling holes or replacing the door skin? 11 Bullet holes in a 49 Ford door. Thought I would try filling or just ordering the door skin.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

It all depends on what your after. Bullet holes are stretched so you will have a section 2 inch around you will need to work . These mirror holes were 3/4 of damage

[@amojak]

heh is this a mob car or something :o

[@randy1ization]

could push a wide head nail in from underneath and fill it from the top

[@teematara]

Hello , love your work .when welding the rear quarters on 79 bronco , do you butt weld to below the b pillar or do you separate the bottom of b pillar and put the flange between it . It is tough to get inside to weld it . You may have to cut an access area on the inside . Can you do more videos on the bronco ? Thank you

[@fitzeesfabrications]

I cut and butt in that section. As you know it is a hard spot to get to. Seems to me the inner structure is put on after and would have to be removed to do a factory join.

[@johnnorth9355]

Now what do I do with all those magnets I have ! ? No substitute for experience. Thanks.

[@makepeace2850]

Nice

[@rollerskdude]

What type of welding is this? Im going to guess stick welding?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Mig

[@keithlarew7651]

I recently fixed a hole about 1 inch in diameter. I used 20 gauge steel and .030 mig wire at the recommended settings on my Lincoln SP 175 plus welder. I got some pretty sever shrinkage. The panel sunk in about six inches all around my weld. What should I have done different? Thank you.

[@usernamemykel]

Welding school?

[@daviddisley3258]

How to plug weld brass

[@leebailey4376]

If you have to clean up the hole anyway why not cut the hole out and make it a square hole?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

No need on small holes up to 3/4 of an inch.

[@rebbulldesertduke]

Use a piece of copper plate. Hold it behind the hole. Weld that sucker up. I'd be finished and ready for filler by the time you frigged around doing that.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Ok. Put a crash bar behind the hole and we will have a race! Then we will see which spot takes less filler! It's a large hole. 1/2 inch or more.

[@cbcarper9681]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 what size wire are you using and what is your wire speed and how much heat on your setting

[@fitzeesfabrications]

.023 millermatic 130xp is set up with wire speed at 60 and heat on 2

[@1957kwick]

Why not just thread the rod through from inside of the door. Hold the rod so the piece of metal on the end of it is flush with the backside of the door weld it in place cut the rod off. Grind down til flush. Seems simple. 🛠🤪 oh yeah make sure your window glass is out of the door when doing this otherwise you could etch the glass were the welding sparks hit it.

[@fitzeesfabrications]

You ever notice that the hole in the door never lines up with the holes in the inner structure of the door? So you have to jam your arm in thereat some weard angle and try to hold it in place

[@dannygaines6539]

sometimes you will be lucky and use steel washers less work

[@mikeches7992]

You could have use washers !

[@etacarinae2643]

Great tip but do wear some gloves!

[@robwest1297]

why not put a piece of copper behind the hole and just fill the area with weld... then grind it down?

[@robwest1297]

or...take the little piece you welded the coat hanger to...pull it up thru the hole from the inside and weld it up...then grind off the hanger and extra weld?

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Yes those way too or if the hole it to big for all that you can do it this way.

[@robwest1297]

@@fitzeesfabrications thx

[@karlslidingdoorguru1785]

Greetings from the son of the most famous unknown car customizer of all time, you can see his picture at Kleverdrive.com liked your hole patch

[@marianodiaz461]

Very good! Actually , I would start plugging the bigger hole , that way if for any reason the plug is to small it could be used in the next one..

[@drjimjam1112]

Nice work! Do you have it finished off with maybe a 200 or even 300 grit grinding pad? Looks so smooth and shiny. I’d guess your shop is up north somewhere? In FL bare metal will rust in front of your eyes.

[@Pablo453]

I use nail heads to fill mine. A quick little spin on the bench grinder takes the edges down to smaller diameters if needed. Weld it in the hole and cut off the shank and grind it flush.

[@siliquaesid703]

Now THAT is a smart idea!

[@frankhorvath817]

Great idea!

[@lestersmith493]

your a smart dude exellent

[@vertigoat7596]

Me too. I have an 83 gmc that has more nails in it than my house .

[@Innochamp]

For reachable holes you can use a copper-stem from the backside and fill the hole with weld.

[@KingKatRider]

me too

[@robwest1297]

I do this... I drill a tiny hole thru a piece of copper and put a piece of stainless wire thru the hole...works like his coat hanger to hold the copper in place.... if I don't have enough hands...I tack a U shaped piece of scrap onto the door and tie the wire to that... fill hole with weld starting at the edge that touches the door hole...and the wire gets zapped with the weld and falls thru as the hole is filled with weld...remove the U bracket and clean up the weld

[@LilRedGarage]

That’s how I did it but used old pennies , on my warlock door mirror holes

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

It's amazing how these things you do have scared me all my life and you take all the fear away in a few minutes~!!!

[@172-e5s]

Thats what she said.... lol

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

@@172-e5s Good One~!!

[@franklyspeaking4480]

On jobs like this, for a beginner or anyone else, lol.... I use liquid white out around the holes. Press the filler piece against the hole and the diameter is on the back to get an exact fit. Just trim it until the white out is gone. Great coat hanger trick too. Havent seen that done by anyone else but my buddy. Kudos ! ✌n ❤

[@fitzeesfabrications]

Cool idea on the white out. Thanks for watching

[@mitchstaff8281]

I have a set of hole saws that I use in a drill press to make the plugs. You have to measure the ID of the hole saw to get the right size. The coat hanger idea is a good one.

[@39knights]

Super idea to match Fitzee's technique. If you use a step-hole-bit to drill out the rust-holes and spend some time pre-drilling different size plugs with some bi-metal hole bits in a waste panel; some sorting bins from Princess Auto to put them in; I bet you could have a nice assortment of ready made ones to suit a number of these in varying sizes.

[@mitchstaff8281]

@@39knights Excellent!

[@ocavant]

The comment at the end is the best. "don't worry about making a bigger hole". Very true. Don't waste your time trying to weld on super-thin metal. Cut back to solid stuff, you'll thank yourself. Appreciate your great advice Fitz.

[@tomcoryell]

Fellow bus dude! SC splittie? I’m a lowly bay Westy guy.😎

[@ocavant]

@@tomcoryell nothing lowly about any bus 😜. Wish I would ave picked up all those 68-72 west’s I turned my nose up to over the years. Haha keep on buss’n!

[@johntenhave1]

These videos are pure, concentrated, craftiness and skill with the simplest of tools. Many thanks!

[@drjimjam1112]

Nice work! Do you have it finished off with maybe a 200 or even 300 grit grinding pad? Looks so smooth and shiny. I’d guess your shop is up north somewhere? In FL bare metal will rust in front of your eyes.

[@drjimjam1112]

Nice work! Do you have it finished off with maybe a 200 or even 300 grit grinding pad? Looks so smooth and shiny. I’d guess your shop is up north somewhere? In FL bare metal will rust in front of your eyes.

[@briansmith3092]

Watching these videos has given me the confidence to start work on my 42 Ford 1 1/2 ton truck. Thank you

[@hoonyfan2924]

I use this method all the time and It works great. Less filler material means less distortion. This is great content for guys that really want to understand how the majority of custom fabrication actually happens in the real world. No coupons or practice fillet welds. Just real honest fab work. I build fancy one-off crap all day and am constantly faced with problems ranging from Laser and Break mishaps to CAD design fails. All of the same technics used here on your channel are problems I face often because of the custom nature of what we make. I love it though. It keeps me sharp and challenged every work day so I go home with the feeling of accomplishment. I can’t imagine making a living in front of a computer screen all day. Keep up the great work. I’m sure the guys and gals who find this channel will appreciate what you are sharing.

[@turboflush]

I would think holding a brass backer and just tacking in the hole would be quicker than trying to shape and position a plug. I still like it.

[@robertthomas5906]

LOL... Try it sometime. You won't do that again.

[@roadstar982003]

thats what we did in the body shop. The brass also absorbs heat and helps control warpage.

[@smportis]

I use a copper backer and just fill it. But Fitzee is teaching me a lot.

[@mercury90hp]

What a joke...if you know how to use a Mig properly you can sew up that bunghole in 30 seconds with no backer. Great video though....if you have the time lol.

[@rtkl13]

@@mercury90hp yeah....and then you'll have a dent the size of a football to fill