Use rough about 40 grit.
Patching a sheet metal hole.
Cover the surrounding metal with masking paper and tape.
Place the repair sheet metal.
The sheet metal patch should overlap onto the metal panel at least 2 inches past the edges of the damaged area.
Cut the sheet metal along the scribed lines using metal shears or a handheld rotary cutting tool equipped with a.
A filler for the holes is needed i used some soft copper from a pipe hanging fixture hammered flat it was a perfect thickness for this application.
For thicker sheet metal an old copper penny might be a quick source of material.
How to repair sheet metal 1.
Mark the dimensions and shape using a metal.
The complexity of welding increases as the thickness of the material decreases.
Leave the rusted area exposed.
Cut some sheets of masking paper to size with a sharp pair of scissors.
The most permanent repair to a hole in sheet metal is to weld the hole shut.
Cut the chosen sheet metal to a size that matches the area to be patched.
Press them flat against the surface of the metal then secure the edges with masking tape.
The welding process actually adds new steel to the thin steel and can result in a repaired spot that is stronger than the original metal.
I used a piece of pvc pipe a vice mount miniature metal break and body hammer kit.
Easy to do and really strong.
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I then used the templates to trace out the patch panels on some sheet metal.
Use coarse sandpaper to remove paint rust oil and dirt from the surrounding metal in a minimum.
After slicing the patches out with a cutoff wheel next came the bending hammer and dolly session until the patches matched the holes and fit snug and flush into the flanged seat.
Measure the repair area and cut a patch.
Patching a hole preparing the hole.