How To Weld 18 Ga Sheet Metal

Say if you are welding an 18 gauge stainless steel sheet that is 2 2 feet in size to repair the side of your tank start by creating a weld that is 1inch long then skip 6 inches and then create a 1 inch long weld.

How to weld 18 ga sheet metal. If you are using oa hammer welding is best. Tack in a few places apart from each other and wait until the panel is cool to the touch. Keep the stick out short stickout of your mig wire is important when welding any type of metal but especially sheet. For thinner gauge sheet metal like 18 or 20 gauge we suggest 023 6mm wire in your mig welder.

To weld mild steel choose an american welding society classification wire such as er70s 6 which has a weld puddle that wets out nicely. However if you are dealing with materials that are 18 gauge or thicker one should be able to use 030 inch welding wire. It is recommended that a welder should use 023 or 024 inch wire for light gauge sheet metal work. Short stitches around the periphery.

This sheet was 18 gauge. It s recommended to use a 023 or 024 inch wire for most light gauge sheet metal work. I am wanting to start to weld on body panels for auto body butt weld would be it. Everyone is different but those settings will get you in the right ballpark to weld sheet metal.

If your welding wire is too thick it will take more heat to melt the wire than the substrate and can make it even more prone to blowing holes in the panel. Just grab a piece of sheet metal to get the heat set correctly and go to town. As a rule when mig welding sheet metal never use a body filler metal that is thicker than the base metal. A good heat setting for 1 8 6011 rods on thin material is about 80 90 amps.

Then tack between the two previous tacks. Right now i am welding on 1 8th mild steel with a 3 32 gas lens and 3 32 collet and i am getting fair results and starting to really like this diversion 180. Continue the same way along the sides of the piece of sheet metal. Place the welding tip wire at the gap and tack weld several small spots spacing them evenly apart.

18 gauge sheetmetal panel thank you for the quick response. That is tack in all spots to hold things in place. While replacing body panels overheating and warping thin sheet metal is common. I was able to do it.

If i get a hold of some thinner stuff i ll test. Weld a short stitch then beat on the weld backed with dolly while it cools to keep from shrinking. Avoid warping the sheet metal. Then use short stitch welds to grow the tacks.

For 3 32 7018 s it s about the same. Can the harbor freight hf 125 flux core welder do sheet metal. First tack your entire welded area.