I was welding my door handles up nice and slow when it started to happen the metal started warping so now I have this beautiful wavey door around where I welded up my door handles. Right now I have only tacked the doors up about 60%. My question is do I need to finish welding up the panels or should I just fill them in with body filler along with all the other waves I have created. I was using a 115v mig welder 4 tacks let cool I even had the heat turned down but still it warped. So that is my dilema whether to finish welding the panels up or body fill them and be done. Thanks for the help!

 

It doesnt need to be completely welded. You could stitch weld it, and it will be just as strong. If you have over half of it welded, I would say that you are good. And the best way to try to weld the doors, would be to tack weld it, wait for it to cool completely, put another tack, wait to cool, etc etc. This is the best way to not warp your door. If you do a solid weld, no matter how far down the heat is, it will warp.

 

for sure you do not want to lay a bead around it. like he said, welding on bead on sheet will always warp it. put down about 8-12 good tacks and call it good.

 

What are you doing to help cool the panel between welds? I know most guys do 4 tacks at a time but certianly doing less at a time would help

 

a wet rag does wonders

 

I am just letting it cool to touch then I will weld some more. I was really wondering if I could body fill it and not weld it up all the way cause it has already warped pretty bad and that leaves me with enough body work to do as it is much less welding it up the rest of the way. I welded up my roll pan no problems I would tack tack wait come back tack tack and it turned out amazing but not the door I figure the metal is a little thinner on the door but if I am good with about 60% tacked then I will just start the process of applying body filler. I thank you for the help. I will post some picks when I get it done.

 

60% tacked is more than enough. yup, bondo time. its not just necessarily that the door is thinner, it being bigger makes it more warp prone. man, it's gonna be hard getting that warpage out/blending it in. good luck.

 

Thanks for the replies and I will post some pics when I get it done. XFEEJAYX I love the wheels I am looking to do mine black also. That was next on the list of things to do before I made my doors look like a beach with all the waves but it will all work out I am sure of it just more body work then I had initially planned on. But anytime I try and do something it always ends up being more work than I bargained for but I love the experience and knowledge I get from doing things myself. Thanks again.

 

Whats the best body filler to use?

 

i'd be surprised if anybody ever even used anything other than bondo. its the shiznit.

thanks for the compliment. got the inspiration from off_road_teacher. he has a very good DIY in the FAQ section if you ever decide to do it.