butt weld or overlap weld which is acceptable??

[tez]

Hi all, im new to welding just got my self a welder to do a project that i am currently doing.
At the min i am currently restoring a fiesta mk3 rs turbo and need some advice on the best way.
i have just cut the rust out the floor pan and need to weld a piece bk in but want it to look the best it can. is there a right way to do it i want to butt weld it up but every one telling me its to hard and i will just blow holes in the metal.
so the other way is to joggle the metal and over lap it an

would it matter which way a do it or is one better then the other as i dont want it to look bodged
if there any one that has restored a car and can help me out that would be great
any help is welcome many thanks terry

 

[piman]

Hello Terry,

I prefer to butt weld a patch as it looks better but more importantly there is no water trap that could cause more rusting in the future. Yes you can seal it but it is not as good as doing a butt weld.

Alec

 

[Justme]

For a resto I would butt weld. For a repair to a car that still has loads of life left in it I would also butt weld. However for a car that at best has only a year or 3 left in it I would slap a patch on it & underseal the join / overlap after welding.

 

[Coo]

Butt weld....look at the thin metal technique (loads of tacks) for doing on a car.
You can get good 'invisible' repairs once sanded down with a flapdisk.

Fairly easy - biggest issue you may have (well I do) is making the right shape patch!

 

[Pete.]

Making a patch fit isn't too hard. Cut & shape your patch slightly larger than the hole you made, draw around it then open the hole out to the line. With care you should get a nice fit.

 

[tez]

Thanks for all the help so im defo going butt weld this ill practice on some scrap first and see
How i do many thanks for the help thanks terry