Patching Rust Holes Sheet Metal

Did you want to learn how to work around that and deliver a solid re.

Patching rust holes sheet metal.

The complexity of welding increases as the thickness of the material decreases. Get all of the grass out of the mower deck before storing it and don t use sharp tools to clean the underside of the deck. I used a piece of pvc pipe a vice mount miniature metal break and body hammer kit. Screwdrivers putty knives etc this just scratches the paint and allows more rust to form.

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. Switch to 120 grit sandpaper to feather the edges of the repair area. I scraped the rest of the metal chips off of the foam. Reach underneath the metal if you re able to or push the patch through the hole.

Insert the metal patch behind the hole. Another good idea when replacing any type of sheet metal is using weld through primer. I found under the outer layer of metal what i thought were additional layers of rusted chipping metal was actually dense foam padding. This high zinc paint helps protect the backside of the sheet metal from rusting a very important step in the restoration process this is something most people forget and they end up with rust bubble just a few years down the road.

Keep it stuck in place by spreading a little bit of the body filler around its edges. The patch should completely cover the hole. Sand through the rust spots down to bare metal. 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.

Cut the affected metal away from the hole with tin snips or a grinder. Complete the feathering with 220 grit. The most permanent repair to a hole in sheet metal is to weld the hole shut. Then enlarge the sanded area so you ll have space to feather the edges.

I then used the templates to trace out the patch panels on some sheet metal. All of the rust needs to be removed from the hole and the metal surrounding it. If you don t have a grinder or angle grinder you can use heavy duty tin snips to cut the rust and rusting metal out of the hole. Also once a year or so when you have it really clean underneath get under there and spray any bare metal spots with spray paint.