Page 1 of 2

Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 1:04 am
by wazzabie
I'm butt welding two panels together using 023 wire gas Mig. What should be the gap size between the panels? Dime width size, Nickle width size, quarter with size, silver dollar width size or larger like two quarter widths?

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 7:12 am
by chopolds
I try to fit it up for no gap. Can't see the advantage to any sort of gap, if your welding is good.

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 26, 2021 12:28 pm
by Doright
chopolds wrote:I try to fit it up for no gap. Can't see the advantage to any sort of gap, if your welding is good.



:clap: :goodjob: :happy: :rockon: :wazzup: :wink: :goodpost:

Zero GAP! Not with Thin sheet metal
And if I may add while some advocate and accept Mig welding as acceptable.
GAS welding or Tig is the preferred method in my opinion especially for panel repairs.

When gas welding OR Tig welding its completely possible and Preferred to fusion weld the two pieces together with NO filler rod when you have ZERO GAP which is the best in my opinion.

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:13 am
by NFT5
chopolds wrote:I try to fit it up for no gap. Can't see the advantage to any sort of gap, if your welding is good.


Yep. Advantage of no gap is that the holes I blow in the edges are smaller. Sometimes don't even need their own patch panels to fill. :happy:

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 9:12 am
by '68 Coronet R/T
NFT5 wrote:
chopolds wrote:I try to fit it up for no gap. Can't see the advantage to any sort of gap, if your welding is good.


Yep. Advantage of no gap is that the holes I blow in the edges are smaller. Sometimes don't even need their own patch panels to fill. :happy:


:rotfl: :rotfl: Now I can relate to that. :wink:

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 11:22 am
by Doright
Loose the Mig guys
Easier with a Tig

Yes the learning curve is steeper

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:11 pm
by JCCLARK
Doright wrote:Loose the Mig guys
Easier with a Tig


Please send me your tig so I can practice and find out.
I never could get my mig to weld like I want on this thin
auto sheet metal :mrgreen:

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 7:19 pm
by chevman
Jim, I didn't think you even had a welder.

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 10:24 pm
by Doright
JCCLARK wrote:
Doright wrote:Loose the Mig guys
Easier with a Tig


Please send me your tig so I can practice and find out.
I never could get my mig to weld like I want on this thin
auto sheet metal :mrgreen:


I dunno about that BUT you can come by any time for free lessons with my Gas and Filler wire and tungsten. Its not hard just takes Practice.
Best learned with Gas welding cheaper to learn technique.

What I do to teach, is Get guys to be able to lay a Bead with gas first Then a Bead with filler wire then Jump to Tig.
And just practice drawing Beads then step up to drawing beads with filler Then Butt welding panels. fast process. after you burn up a bottle of gas Youll have a pretty good idea whats going on. Enough to practice on your own any way.
Couple hundred hours you'll have it down pat its not hard but you do need to put the time in. Its a skill an art that must be practiced constantly.

I haven't welded in Months so I have to practice before each weld myself.
Its like riding a Bike though


I tell you what though If you want I will give you a hell of a deal on my Miller Shop master 300 with a Miller 251 Hi freq Box. with leads and air cooled Torch. all nice stuff in good condition? I will just add some coin to it and Buy another bigger Inverter machine.

Re: Butt welding panel gap size?

PostPosted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 4:42 pm
by wazzabie
chopolds wrote:I try to fit it up for no gap. Can't see the advantage to any sort of gap, if your welding is good.


I thought there had to be a gap because the metal will heat up and expand. Otherwise the metal would buckle.