So I'm trying my hand at both welding and bodywork. The welds weren't the prettiest but they work. I'm in the process of filling & smoothing the hood seam but have a question on the holes left from removing the front emblem. Do I merely fill them with filler/bondo, or do the holes need to be welded first?
Get a piece of brass or aluminum and hold it behind the holes. Then just weld up the hole and cool with water. The brass or aluminum will just fall off and leave a smooth looking weld on the back side. then grind it smooth...Big Tim
I have also used copper. Get a pipe cap from Lowe's...one of the bigger ones, clamp behind hole and weld. The copper is supposed to help draw heat away from the metal also. SPOT weld the seam, jumping around and coming back to each spot. Yes, it will take a long time, but it will take more time trying to straighten out the warped hood.
Tim, Can you put the brass piece against the front of the hood and weld from the back? wouldn't that give you a smooth front side?
What about this: I've found a washer thats just about the perfect size. If I weld a bolt to the washer from behind then bolt the washer into the hole on the hood then weld it in place and grind it smooth. The washer leaves just enough space to tac it to the hood.
A big hole needs filler. The washer would do that. You can also look into punch outs, like from an electrical box, which wouldn't have a center hole. When welding thicker metal to thin, concentrate more heat on the thicker piece to get good penetration and to keep from melting the thinner metal. Start your arc on the washer, then pull over to the hood. Don't worry about the bolt through the washer. Use magnets or clamps to hold the washer in position, weld it up, then fill the hole in the center with weld, supported by copper or aluminum. Start on the outside rim and swirl your way to the center. Keep lots of rags and water bucket nearby to quench the weld with and to keep warpage down.
You can but if you want the back side to look as good as the front then you might have a harder time getting to it with a grinder....
