Bed Sides - Need some advice

Don't start on sheetmetal.....you WILL burn through it. Learn on thick stuff. By the way, the sheetmetal is probably 18 to 20 ga.

 

Thanks Russ

I have some thick stuff but I also have some parts like the original tailgate and front bed panel that were so beat up that I bought reproduction ones because it just wasn't worth the time and effort. I also have some wrong (too small) patch panels that I bought that I can try on. My first go will not be on the stuff I want to save. You have my word on that. I will try first on the stuff that I don't plan on reusing.

 

Ask your bodyman for a bent-up car hood or any large body panel from a collision job. They usually have some out back, in a scrap pile. Practice welding on those, modern car hoods are thin.
I use the fine ga. Wire, .025, on light sheet metal projects.

 

Please Excuse My Off Topic Excursion....... ---->

Did you say tailgate? Re-purpose that sucker, something like this:

 

All you need now is a Ford tailgate to serve as a seat.

 

I love the bench.....

Just not sure I can bring myself to buy an old Ford tailgate to sit on.....

 

But think how often you can fart on it!

 

Good point

Good point Russ....I cannot argue with your logic