That time a quarter panel weld blew through on a classic Mustang

I was in my shop in Dayton last spring, working on a 1967 Mustang's rear quarter. I set my MIG welder to what I always used for that gauge steel, but on the first pass, it blew a hole the size of a dime right through the panel. I stopped, cleaned the area, and cut a small patch from scrap. I turned the voltage down a full volt and did a series of quick tack welds around the patch, letting it cool between each one. It saved the panel and the job. Has anyone else had a go-to setting fail on a classic car?

4 comments

4 Comments

beth2762mo ago

Ever feel like the metal just decides it's had enough? I mean, my settings have betrayed me more times than I'd like to admit.

samflores6d ago

@beth276 hit it right about metal deciding it's had enough. On these old cars especially, you never really know what you're going to get with the metal. I've had patches that welded fine one day and blew out the next, just from a little rust or stress in the steel.

dylan_brown302mo ago

Ever have that happen on a newer car? Metal quality is just different now, so old settings can burn right through. Glad you caught it and fixed it.

shane_hayes2mo ago

Seems like everything's made thinner and cheaper these days.