Patching Rust Holes Sheet Metal

I then used the templates to trace out the patch panels on some sheet metal.

Patching rust holes sheet metal. 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. 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. Switch to 120 grit sandpaper to feather the edges of the repair area. 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.

Then spread the patch out so it s flat against the remaining metal. The most permanent repair to a hole in sheet metal is to weld the hole shut. 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.

I used a piece of pvc pipe a vice mount miniature metal break and body hammer kit. Sand through the rust spots down to bare metal. Scrape and sand the first step was to scrape off the loose paint surrounding the rust spot and to sand off most of the rust. Have you ever welded something so thin and worn out that all you do is blow holes in it.

I found under the outer layer of metal what i thought were additional layers of rusted chipping metal was actually dense foam padding. I scraped the rest of the metal chips off of the foam. The complexity of welding increases as the thickness of the material decreases. Then enlarge the sanded area so you ll have space to feather the edges.

Keep it stuck in place by spreading a little bit of the body filler around its edges. Insert the metal patch behind the hole. The patch should completely cover 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.

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. Screwdrivers putty knives etc this just scratches the paint and allows more rust to form. All of the rust needs to be removed from the hole and the metal surrounding it. Another good idea when replacing any type of sheet metal is using weld through primer.