Best way to remove spot welds?.

[Keithmac]

Hello all, I've seen a fee different methods of removing spot welds and I have a lot to deal with tomorrow.

Seen some people drill straight through both panels which seems a bit too destructive but quick.

I have some 8mm spot weld drill bits but they are hard going (maybe pilot hole first would make it easier?).

I was considering grinding them down with an Angle Grinder or Die Grider with Carbide bits?.

What's everyone's quickest method?.

Cheers, Keith.

 

[James1979]

8mm spot weld drill - if it wasn’t tomorrow I’ve some new ones I could have let you have.

Failing that, get a chisel in there and pop them. A long sharp bevelled one. You’re not bothered about the panel coming off so direct the damage into that if you can.

Air chisel works well if you’re good. If you’re not then you get plenty of welding practice

 

[Dcal]

Spot weld drills work well for me.

In a pinch a standard drill, stopping before cutting through the second layer works fine as well.
A wood chisel is great for splitting the joint.

 

[Keithmac]

Thanks all, I might run a little pilot hole first and then the 8mm Spot Weld drill.

Thanks for the offer @James1979 I've got 3 new 8mm bits to go at. Seemed overly hard work using the bits but possibly need to get my technique refined a bit!.

 

[Keithmac]

I'd like an Air Chisel but have to be mindful of the noise really as working in my garden so manual chisels only.

I bought a Needle Scaler and only used that a few times due to the noise (saying that I've got rear beam to go at with it in near future!).

 

[masleeve]

I use the spotweld drills when I can clearly see them and when I cant use the finger belt sander to find them and then thin the metal enough to use the air chisel to separate them . ( I picked this up from watching Blue Collar Kyle on You Tube)

 

[daedalusminos]

I tend to use a mixture of drilling and grinding with sardine tin peeling

 

[AKN]

Been doing a lot of this restoring the Range Rover. There are spot weld drills and there are spot weld drills the best seem to have a sharp central point. Use high speed lots of pressure to start getting the point in then slow and ease off worked best for me.

 

[Dcal]

Don't run them too fast.
I use a slow speed air drill, plenty of pressure and they will cut well.

 

[roblane65]

or these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181832860646

 

[maroon]

Depends where they are. Sills, under the door rubber meets ect.. I use a hatchet as a chisel (it's like having a chisel with a handle) small axe. Wings and panel stuff I'll either drill or grind. Bits where you're going to fork surrounding things with the impact.

 

[Ruffian]

Thanks all, I might run a little pilot hole first and then the 8mm Spot Weld drill.

Thanks for the offer @James1979 I've got 3 new 8mm bits to go at. Seemed overly hard work using the bits but possibly need to get my technique refined a bit!.

I used to 2mm predrill the centre through the first layer.
Helped the spot weld drill gets it flats onto the panel faster without dulling the tip.
Run the spot weld drill, slow speed and lots of lube.

 

[Keithmac]

Been looking all bloody night for my Power File, finally found it..

 

[stuvy]

Mac tools spot weld chisel

Spot Weld Chisel

Separates spot welded panels .Use to separate panels after the spot weld has been drilled out .Drive the blade with a hammer from the end or the side through the panel seam .Panels are separated without damage .The blade is sharpened on three sides and offset for clearance .Resharpen on a...

www.mactools.com

Angle grinder
Finger file
Spot weld drill

The go to for me is the spot weld chisel just never resharpen it

 

[caprinut]

Power file them out using the nose of the file and 40 grit belts, don't use the cheap diy ones, go to https://abrasive-systems.co.uk/
Air chisels bend panels, spot drills don't always follow the spot and hard to use in some places.

Bert

 

[Keithmac]

I've done around 40 today, 3mm pilot drill dimple first seems to be the best approach with the 8mm Spot Weld drill to finish.

I found cutting the panels as you go a lot easier than trying to remove a complete panel (makes sense really!).

Not a nice job but no way round it.

 

[Jack_K]

If I am replacing the panel I use a 10mm belt sander. I usually cut most of the panel out first so then I only have the spot weld area to remove which I can then bend off with vise-grips as I grind each weld.

 

[Bluemotion]

Sorry it’s a bit late but the FASTEST and I mean fasted way to rough cut spot Welds out is a ‘ball’ shaped 6mm tungsten die grinder and bit. Itll leave ‘c’ chippings which stick in your skin so be careful but I did a classic merc 190SL this year with aprox 1000 -2000 to drill out and it just eats them.

 

[Keithmac]

I might have a go with Die Grinder on the other side, I have the bits and tool.

To be fair once I got cracking with spot drill bit it wasn't too bad but if you don't get it bang on in the middle you still have a bit of hassle with the chisel.