Pro tip: Found a trick for welding thin sheet metal at a farm in Ohio

I was at this old farm equipment repair shop near Columbus last month and the guy there showed me how to use a copper bar behind the weld to soak up heat, it stopped burn through almost completely on 16 gauge. Anyone else use copper backing for thin stuff or got another method that works better?

2 comments

2 Comments

schmidt.blake5d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah I used to swear by wet rags but this copper trick actually works way better.

riley5956d ago

Jumped right on that trick a while back myself. Copper bar is a lifesaver on thin stuff, I use it all the time for patching up car doors and fenders around here. Tried a wet rag once as a heat sink but it just made a mess and steamed up my lens, never again. Also found that cranking the amp way down and moving faster than you think you need to helps a ton with 18 gauge. That copper bar method saved me from ruining a whole afternoon of work on a rusty truck bed.