Im so pissed right now! As some of you may remember, I had a post a while ago about my warped door panels. It was from when i shaved the handles. Well, anyhow, I bought a air shear today and decided to have some fun. So, i cut out a rectangle around the warped area and decided to redo the welding, ect. Well, everything was going great, especially the welds. It was all done except for grinding the welds done and I had not one warp. So, being all happy, I startet grinding down the welds(not letting the grinder sit for too long) and I finished. Then, I look at my masterpiece and started flipping out!!! **** MY ****ING DOOR PANELS WERE WARPED AGAIN! So, lesson learned, take it to a professional and pay the ****ing money.

 

you cuold keep it watered down next time. Every 3-4 spot welds dump water on the door, grind for a sec, dump water on the door. Course if it was super hot water could warp it too but if done right you could make sure it was cold. Or even just keep a fan near by and close.

 

i think your doors are warping because of heat. moving the grinder won't make much of a difference since your still pouring heat into flat sheet of metal. try grinding breifly and wiping it down with a damp rag, you can also duct tape rolled up damp rags around the perimeter of the grinding area to keep the total temp down

 

duct tape rolled up damp rags around the perimeter of the grinding area to keep the total temp down

Or they make a paste that eats heat. I forgot what its called but it is out there.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but pouring room temp water on couple hundred degree metal warps and weakens the metal...thats why high quality welders don't use water to cool their welds. Just a thought.

Matt

 

a weld puddle is about 2000 degrees, quenching it wil cause the metal to harden and become brittle. Wiping water on a 2-300 degree sheet of metal isn't harmful. the metal warps because since it is thin it's temp will rise quickly in comparison to say 1/2" plate. the heat causes expansion (localized, not evenly) the metal has no where to go so its distorted and effectively bends/buckles because it is thin an it isn't very stiff.

another idea, use a spray bottle to keep the inside of the door wet and you shouldn't have a problem, and remember that dampness and welding don't mix. So make sure everything is dry before welding

 

tack it in a few places far apart (ie. either end of the patch panel) and let it completely cool off, then do a few more, then let it cool again... and keep doing that.

I learned that watching American Hot Rod, and its true... it really does work. I've tried it.

 

deal with it, bust out your hammer and dolly, and if you cant get it 100% perfect, thats why we have bondo

 

As long as you prepare the surface correctly for the bondo and not put more than 1/8" layer of filler on the car it will be good for a long time.

 

Thanks laiky, I was unsure about that.

Matt