torch welding sheet metal

[1986fordranger]

hi i was woundering if its posable to use a small propane torch to weld sheet metal on my 1986 suzuki samurai and my 1984 f150 i have herd it will mess up the metal real bad from the heat , the reason why i am asking is i see jc whitney sells a kit to use with a propane torch to weld steel and i thought it would work on sheet metal , if this won't work what do you suggest to use , i also own a 50amp arc welder but i don't know how to use it and i would think it will burn throught alot , thanks , heres the manual i uploaded to my computer for itView attachment 5275

 

[The Jester Race]

The simple answer is no.

You can cut steel with Oxy/fuel (Natural gas, Propane, or Acetylene)setup, But to weld steel you need to use Oxy/Acetylene setup.
Sure you may melt the steel eventually with a propane torch, but you don't have the heat or the precision required to weld with it.

A cheap Oxy/Acetylene set can be had for $100 + Bottles and gas



-Jester

 

[kcm1582]

Propane is a very ineffective welding gas. The way it burns it is hard to focus a hot point in a precise spot to melt the steel. Any form of gas welding including acetlyene will heat up the panel to much and warp it. In general the best process for welding body panels is mig. The stick welder could work if you can crank the amperage down low enough with some really thin 6013 rods but that would be a steep learning curve.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

MAPP gas works better for welding... i've never done it though... i highly doubt you will get any good welds at all.

 

[86 slo-vo]

as said above simple answer is no. propane and map will just burn the paint and warp the metal before it ever gets close enough to actually weld.

find a mig.

 

[whissiswheelin]

No, I agree it cant be done to much heat when fusion welding, stick might still have to much penetration for 18 gauge panels as well but i cant be sure because I haven't used 6013.

 

[1986fordranger]

ok thanks , i will look for a cheap mig to buy

 

[bilzy7]

Home depot? Lol otherwise craigslist.

 

[jhammel85]

as said above simple answer is no. propane and map will just burn the paint and warp the metal before it ever gets close enough to actually weld.

find a mig.

+1

 

[1986fordranger]

well i was looking at my 50amp arc welder today and it says it also does carbon flame torch welding with brazeing rod on sheet metal i don't think it would work well for sheet metal but i thought i would ask here , thanks

 

[martin]

You can use a carbon arc torch and brazing rod to join sheet metal together but the heat will distort the body panels and requires you to use a lap joint or you will not have sufficiant contact area.
You can use 3/32 6013 rods to weld 18 gauge sheet but it's a real pain in the ass. Mig is so much easier, especially on thin sheet metal.

 

[1986fordranger]

The simple answer is no.

You can cut steel with Oxy/fuel (Natural gas, Propane, or Acetylene)setup, But to weld steel you need to use Oxy/Acetylene setup.
Sure you may melt the steel eventually with a propane torch, but you don't have the heat or the precision required to weld with it.

A cheap Oxy/Acetylene set can be had for $100 + Bottles and gas



-Jester

cool vidio , looks like a neat way of welding it would probable warp sheet metal as well, any idea what it would cost to fill the two tanks , the nice thing i understand about oxy/acetylene torchs is it also can cut and heat steel not just weld it like a mig or arc

 

[The Jester Race]

cool vidio , looks like a neat way of welding it would probable warp sheet metal as well, any idea what it would cost to fill the two tanks , the nice thing i understand about oxy/acetylene torchs is it also can cut and heat steel not just weld it like a mig or arc

Correct, Oxy/fuel torches are a very versatile tool. They are great for nonstructural/ornamental welding (exhaust, rod iron fencing, sheet metal) and it is surprisingly easy to control the heat with them. We actualy use them at work to straighten out sheet metal warping after MIG welding.

Costs vary, it depends on your location, if you buy or rent bottles, bottle size. Oxygen usually runs about half the price of Acetylene.
Oxygen is sold in high pressure cylinders .
Acetylene is sold in low pressure cylinders.
Bottles are the expensive part, gases are comparatively cheap. Last time I bought a bottle, it was a 186cu.ft. CO2/Argon mix, the bottle was $251 and to fill it was $40. I haven't filled my Oxy/Act bottles in years, so I'm not too sure on costs. If I had to guess I would say for small/medium(100cu.ft.) bottles it would probably be around $80 to fill the acetylene and around $40 for oxygen.

California prices
YMMV

-Jester

 

[AllanD]

There is a welding technique for sheet metal panels that used a gas welding tip for an Oxy/acetylene torch,

The technique was called hammer-welding and I used to be pretty good at it

It is done like conventional gas welding (with a torch) but also required
bodywork dollies and a hammer to beat down the weld seam and stress
relieve the weld to reduce rippling from warping...

Other heating techniques were used that could either stretch or shrink the metal
and eliminating warpage.

these are old techniques that have almost become lost.

Is it possible? Yes, but it requires both Skill and talent to do it well.

I worked with another guy who was good at shrinking and stretching
I was good at actually makingn
the joints, we worked as a team one
watching and assisting the other as we'd alternatly switch off as required.

AD

 

[1986fordranger]

There is a welding technique for sheet metal panels that used a gas welding tip for an Oxy/acetylene torch,

The technique was called hammer-welding and I used to be pretty good at it

It is done like conventional gas welding (with a torch) but also required
bodywork dollies and a hammer to beat down the weld seam and stress
relieve the weld to reduce rippling from warping...

Other heating techniques were used that could either stretch or shrink the metal
and eliminating warpage.

these are old techniques that have almost become lost.

Is it possible? Yes, but it requires both Skill and talent to do it well.

I worked with another guy who was good at shrinking and stretching
I was good at actually makingn
the joints, we worked as a team one
watching and assisting the other as we'd alternatly switch off as required.

AD

sounds like a good way of welding if you practice alot , thanks for the information