POR15: Patch It

[Operator238]

I have a very small rust hole in my floor board. I’m not a welder. However, I am cleaning it up and putting rust converter on it. I’m thinking I can get away with applying some “Patch It”. What do you think? This is passenger floor board just before the seat bracket.

Not sure how it happened but it’s the only area on my truck.

 

[jimmyleetn]

I would patch it with 18ga steel. IMHO any other "fix" is a band aid or a cheap shortcut.

 

[Operator238]

I would patch it with 18ga steel. IMHO any other "fix" is a band aid or a cheap shortcut.

What welder should I get for this gauge steel

 

[jimmyleetn]

What welder should I get for this gauge steel

That is a very loaded question. I've seen some of your posts. You're really diving headfirst into that blazer. If you truly are intending on doing the bed sides and the other repairs. You will need a MIG with some 75/25 gas. I have an Eastwood 135 and really like it but it's on the low end of the price range of those machines. I know that Harbor Freight's titanium line gets pretty good reviews but I've never ran one. Just really depends on your skill set, budget, and how much you think you'll use it. You'll probably get a hundred different opinions if you start asking people.

 

[Chickntrk]

I would weld new metal in as well. There are other soft spots around that one and cutting rust out is really the only way to fix it right.

 

[CT-BLAZER]

Your images are sketchy...... Can't see it all, but you'll find more damages underneath,& what appears on the side of photos...

Cut out what you can with a thin wheel....
Sand blast all areas clean....

Replace damaged area with 1/16" or so steel...

MiG weld ( using any welding gas - ratio is irrelevant ) or TIG weld the patches in...

Grind , re sand blast..... + treat all raw steel with POR15 paint +;top coat with automotive primer + paint.

If you have never welded, have an experienced welder weld the joints.

 

[Operator238]

That is a very loaded question. I've seen some of your posts. You're really diving headfirst into that blazer. If you truly are intending on doing the bed sides and the other repairs. You will need a MIG with some 75/25 gas. I have an Eastwood 135 and really like it but it's on the low end of the price range of those machines. I know that Harbor Freight's titanium line gets pretty good reviews but I've never ran one. Just really depends on your skill set, budget, and how much you think you'll use it. You'll probably get a hundred different opinions if you start asking people.

Yeah that’s my dad’s 73 with the bed sides. This is the only major rust spot on my 85

 

[joshuak]

...snip

If you have never welded, have an experienced welder weld the joints.

Or buy a machine and learn?

 

[1300obo]

What welder should I get for this gauge steel

I'm doing my sheet metal with an older Lincoln 140 (110v) and other than a steep learning curve (for me) it works fine. The hardest part for me was getting the right combination of wire speed and energy settings as metal thickness changed. It takes alot of practice on scrap but you'll do fine. There are youtube videos. If you don't mind spending some money, the newer machines set energy and wire speed for you. Butt welding adds another degree of difficulty but for that job you could overlap as nobody's gonna see it. If you're gonna have old stuff around the house learning to weld sure comes in handy

 

[1300obo]

pics of the underside would be helpful too

 

[Operator238]

Dang. Driver side too. Bottom looks better than the top. Weird. Kind of stressed now that I have to essentially put new floor pans.

 

[SnackPack]

Doing this on another project of mine right now... but I also have some joints and vertical panels to do:


Start by cutting out the rust and then you will know exactly what needs to be done.

 

[Operator238]

Can i not grind down that moderate surface rust on the driver side, treat it and encapsulate it and move on?

 

[SnackPack]

If you simply grind down rust, the metal will get really thin.

 

[SnackPack]

Wire wheel is best for removing rust scale to the point where you can determine if a section needs to be cut out.

 

[Operator238]

Is a flux core welder sufficient for this job? They seem relatively inexpensive, portable and easy to use. I am looking at this one:

Lincoln Electric WELD-PAK 90i FC Flux-Cored Wire Feeder Welder (No Gas) K5255-1 - The Home Depot

Complete your cooking jobs perfectly with the assistance of this uniquely designed Lincoln Electric WELDPAK FluxCored Wire Feed Welder not with Regulator.

www.homedepot.com

 

[SnackPack]

The only way I would use a flux core welder on it is if there are no butt welds needed.

If possible, get some sheet metal to fit over what you’ve cut out with about an inch of lap on all sides. Screw it down around the perimeter with self tappers. Run a few (not too many) lap welds around the edge. Finish by plug welding the screw holes as you take them out one by one.

Work slow and on opposite sides to avoid warping.

 

[Wes Harden]

Step up to the 140amp and get a bottle. Don't get the EZ mig version, it only has 4 heat settings, or any other machine that has similar heat settings. Not enough adjust ability.
You will get enough use out of it if you plan fixing both trucks. If you find you don't like it or have no use when done fix the 2 trucks sell it. You'll be money ahead and learn a new skill.

 

[1300obo]

I wish you were closer, I would pay you to take my Flux core welder

 

[Operator238]

I wish you were closer, I would pay you to take my Flux core welder

So I’m thinking about getting a titanium 140 from Harbor Freight. What model do I get, what wire, what gas mixture?