[TAKerry]

Originally Posted by dataway

Might experiment with a propane torch, would not trust myself with the Oxy/Ac. As a welder for years ... shrinking hot metal was always the enemy. Spent a lot of time trying to prevent it, or compensate for it ... rarely USE it ... except flame bending long pieces edgewise. Heat with a welding torch in a series of triangle shapes with the base of the triangle on the side you want the inside radius to be ... but that was always metal at least 1/4" thick.

Sorry for the hijack, but there was an old timer welder pop would use. This guys first career was as a fabricator at Beth Steel in Bmore. He told me of a time they were shaping large I beams for bridge work. Said there were a gang of guys with rose bud torches heating the beam to bend it.

To get back to the original program, I had to repair some accident damage on the lower back quarter of a car, I did use a contour gauge comparing to the other side. But like Musclah said, as long as its close, youre only going to see one side at time.

[MUSLCAH]

A set of torches with the small brazing tip...is the ticket for shrinking metal. A small fine ..pointy flame. The propane flame is way too big ..IMHO.

[n20ta2]

I wouldn't use a propane torch, that will only cause more problems as it heats to large of an area and takes to long allowing the heat to disperse on the panel distorting it.

[dataway]

You just gave me a reason to buy and new set of torches. I've lost half the tips for mine and it's pretty much obsolete anyway, can't get parts for it.

[nytrainer]

I’ve used my stud welder with the shrink tip on those pesky high spots then check with a body file.

[dataway]

Curious how the shrink tip works, something like a copper tip that heats up a spot using electrical resistance like a spot welder?

I just ordered a Harris #1 torch tip which hopefully fits my 1980's Craftman torch.

[dhutton]

Originally Posted by dataway

Curious how the shrink tip works, something like a copper tip that heats up a spot using electrical resistance like a spot welder?

I just ordered a Harris #1 torch tip which hopefully fits my 1980's Craftman torch.

Yes.

[Tim66]

you can even use a mig welder. heat it hammer it down preferably with dolly and then cool it down.

[dataway]

So pull the wire out of a MIG welder, use an old tip as the contact?

I assume I'd have to play with the settings on some scrap so I don't blow holes in things, including the welder.

[Tim66]

just make believe you're welding a hole 1/2 " after you finish cooling down just grind it and cool with air as you grind

[dataway]

Oh, so you mean actually apply metal with the MIG, I thought it was just using the MIG transformer to provide current to heat a spot of metal.

[Tim66]

The wire is the heat .

[MUSLCAH]

What a mess.....

[dataway]

I'll give the torch method a try first I think.

So far my experience for small imperfections has been ... less is better. Get it close and stop messing with it until a more experience hand can look at it.

[Tim66]

I think the torch method works best,I just suggested the mig if you're in a pinch.Good luck with you're build.

[Greg Reid]

I thought you meant using an old tip too. Like dataway, I am curious as to how the shrinking tips work and what they work with. Do they make something like that for a standard wirefeed MIG?

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[MUSLCAH]

This carbon stick set up is the balls. Just remove your tip....wind this rig in...shut the wire speed to off....up the heat a touch....ground said panel...touch the rod to the panel and pull the trigger....flame Less heat to a specific area.

[dhutton]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

Attachment 567749

This carbon stick set up is the balls. Just remove your tip....wind this rig in...shut the wire speed to off....up the heat a touch....ground said panel...touch the rod to the panel and pull the trigger....flame Less heat to a specific area.

I read somewhere that you cannot use those with an inverter style MIG. Have you tried it?

Don

[MUSLCAH]

Originally Posted by dhutton

I read somewhere that you cannot use those with an inverter style MIG. Have you tried it?

Don

My old Solar 165 mig ran it....It’s best to check with your manufacturer to be sure.

[dataway]

Excellent ... I'll get one of those, I have two transformer based Lincoln MIGs that should do the trick.

I'd guess it wouldn't work well with an inverter MIG, they use a computer to sense what's happening at the tip and adjust on the fly ... not sure it would play nice with something like this.