Prince George Vintage Motorcycle Club
Technical Section => Painting => Topic started by: Dennis on September 30, 2010, 05:16:31 PM
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I guess I should just ask Stuntmanfubar but ... have any of you guys used a stud welder when pounding out dents? I have seen reference to them on line (for repairing dents in gas tanks), and they look kinda cool. I have a little cash in my Paypal account and I was thinking of buying one on Ebay. Several of my bikes have dents buried under gobs of bondo. It might be a nice tool to add to the arsenal.
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I would say no only cuz the older tanks are made out of thicker gauge metal.When you use a "Uni spotter" as they are known in general they tack weld a stud on to the tank and when you pull it using a slide hammer it just rips off,not all the time but on the most part that depends on the dent. If the dent is a slight gradual one you might have some luck but if it's a sharp creased or deep dent the metal is stretched it will not pull very well if at all without either A: ripping the stud off B:ripping the stud off and then realizing it wasn't the stud but you have just ripped a hole in your tank :-\ this is where the welder comes in >:(. C: you pull the dent but because the metal is stretched you now have a high spot on your tank :-[ this is where the hammer comes in to play and try to tap it back down a little and this is where you end up with a DENT!!! or if you have the know how heat shrink the high spot ???.
I know this cuz I've bin there done that :o I've welded washers on with some luck pulling a larger area to pull with but also ripped a BIG hole in tanks doing this(good thing I have a welder)
Not all tanks are the same guage metal some thinner tinned will pull easier but usually stretch easier also.Unless you are losing gallons of fuel because af a dent or you have the patience of Russ with his tweezer hammer dent tapper thingys mix up some filler"BONDO" and be proud you sculped yourself a beutiful work of art.