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Grinding Welds

utherjorge

utherjorge

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I'm about to take advantage of a week off, and I have to get started for "finishing" the rear with the new floor I got in.

How much should I be grinding welds down? Should I be trying to go completely smooth? i worry when I do that I'll separate the weld, which would naturally be bad.

Thoughts? I have some pics up in my profile and build thread, but I can do more as well if someone needs a closeup. This will be the first attempt at grinding the bed down to paint.

Thank you in advance.
 
You don't HAVE to grind them down at all. If you do, I would go just enough to smooth out the rough spots. Too much and you risk going down to the joint
 
OK. Maybe I'll sand them down a bit rather than grind, since I'll be putting a liner down anyway.
 
I only grind welds IF it's a very finished look I'm trying to achieve. Other then that. NO GRINDING AT ALL.
 
You should be able to grind the body welds down without a problem if you are getting full penetration

Now I wouldn't get too carried away though
 
If you plan on sliding things on the floor that are heavy and you don't want to pick it up over each weld then yes I would grind or sand them down. Both mean the same, but sanding doesn't get as 'hot', your still removing material, just one does it at a quicker rate then the other.
 
What kind of weld seams? Butt welds or lap with spot or roset (sp?) welds.

With butt welds grinding them down gives you a chance to see if there are spots without full penetration (holes). That way you can tack the holes up.

I just went through this in my trail truck bodywork thread. I've welded thicker metal before but this is my first attempt at sheetmetal in a highly visible area. Before that my only sheetmetal welding experience was with floors and stuff that gets covered up.
 
Here's the seams. I didn't do them, because I don't know how,but some look bad, and weak. You can also see some of the welds I'm wondering about grinding down...but I am going to line the floor when the time comes, so I supposed it does not have to be perfect.

picture.php


picture.php


picture.php
 
just knock the big/high stuff off and put a bead of seam sealer over it...
 
neither... just hit em a little with a stone grinder, like a 4.5 angle one or a regular grinder with a 24 or 36 grit disc on it... or even a flap disc...

sanding would take forever...
 
K. Good advice. Thanks...work to do this week. Already have my seam sealer for when the time comes!
 
make sure you seal that sucker up good for future use.... sh*t does not have a good shelf life... and if not sealed up good, the tube will kick... or just do it all at once... ;)
 
Yeah, I'm going to try to get all of it done at once...at least what I am ready for. Should be the whole inside and some of the outside/wheelwell in the rear, too. Not sure how far one tube of the Fusor stuff goes.
 
you could probably do that seam top and bottom with a pretty heavy bead out of 1 tube...
 
yeah, the small acid brushes work well... short black bristles, alum handles... a bit of thinner in the brush helps make it smooth...
 
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