Stud Welder

[The Flintstones]

Has anyone used a stud welder and a slide hammer to remove any dents. Is it usable on aluminum? From what I can tell it would be a good solution. No holes to drill or inside gutting to get to the dent? I have a local body shop around the corner and am going to pull over to see what they say. But if able to do myself and save $$ I would rather try myself. Not looking for a factory finish just pleasing to the eye.

Thanks for any info
James

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by The Flintstones

Has anyone used a stud welder and a slide hammer to remove any dents. Is it usable on aluminum? From what I can tell it would be a good solution. No holes to drill or inside gutting to get to the dent? I have a local body shop around the corner and am going to pull over to see what they say. But if able to do myself and save $$ I would rather try myself. Not looking for a factory finish just pleasing to the eye.

Thanks for any info
James

I would like to hear what they have to say. The skin may be to thin. I looked at a stud-welding site but did not feel like figuring out all the details.

[Mikethefixit]

I would NOT try it. Stud welders are made for steel. Alumunium is too soft and melts easily.When U melt a hole in a panel U will have more problems than a dent.
Roger

[The Flintstones]

Harbor Freight has one (stud welder) for 139.00 and it comes with a slide hammer and 100 studs. I know they are on the cheap end but if it works, what the hey.
James

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Mikethefixit

I would NOT try it. Stud welders are made for steel. Alumunium is too soft and melts easily.When U melt a hole in a panel U will have more problems than a dent.
Roger

Unless you are willing to test out the concept with a piece of aluminum scrap first (match thickness and alloy type) you could be putting your whole airstream into worse shape than before you started.

Try finding an aircraft airframe mechanic - these people are experts at just this kind of repair.

[Aerowood]

It will not work period. The alloy of the aluminum Airstreams are made of is a non weldable alloy

Kip

[The Flintstones]

Thanks fo the reply's. . . Oh well, that settles that. I am taking our AS to the body shop next week to see what he says, when I talked to him on the phone today he said he has several different options available? I will let yall know what he says. Can the endcap inside be cut to access the dents and re-fiberglassed with any success?
thanks
James

[uwe]

You can get similar results by using a suction cup dent puller. Unless, of course, you have badly creased metal, in which case the studs won't help much, either.

[nsteel]

What about those guys that say they can pull dents from your car without affecting the paint? I think they use some sort of glue to attach a puller. Probably similar to a slide. I think I saw a kit in one of those auto body magazines.
I guess after looking it looks a lot like these Auto Body Toolmart - Glue Pulling Dent Repair

[Distantdrummer]

Originally Posted by The Flintstones

Thanks fo the reply's. . . Oh well, I am taking our AS to the body shop next week to see what he says, when I talked to him on the phone today he said he has several different options available? I will let yall know what he says. Can the endcap inside be cut to access the dents and re-fiberglassed with any success?
thanks
James

Ok Fred er Barney, Wilma, whoever...
Hows about the long-awaited follow-up you promised...?

How'd the dents get in the cap area and did you ever cut a hole inside the inner cap? I would think that could be done but I'm thinking only a fiberglass artist (pro) could patch it back well. I'd never do it that way.
Also the pain, frustration and difficulty of dropping (actually of re-hanging it) the inner cap "aint" no fun either so I've read.
Sure curious about the glue on stud idea. And if it would apply.

[Happycampers]

I have used stud welders for years doing body repair. As far as I know they only work on steel and then sometimes they will pull off and the metal will come with it leaving a small hole. If you can find one that works on aluminum I would not use it for that reason.

Marvin

[Crusty]

Find a body shop that's got a suction cup slide hammer - not the cheap Auto Zone type but rather the kind that you hook up to an air compressor to generate the hard vacuum necessary to get a firm grip.

There's even a member of the forums here who has one that he takes to rallies along with a compressor and makes lots of new friends every time he gets it out. I can't remember his forum handle however - so maybe someone else can fill this info in.