Cutting patch panels.... what do you do?>

[smillsey]

Hi guys, i chop and change so much in my methods of cutting the replacment patch panels to fit....

sometimes i cut the rusty area out of the car then place it on the new panel to cut a patch out....

sometimes i do the opposite, cut the panel then place it on the car, trace round it and then cut the rust out.....

It is rarely prefect, bloody annoying, sometimes i find say on an arch repair, to cut the new panel first, then clamp it onto the arch, then spray guide coat over the area (or similar) then cut inside the guide coat line, this normally fits well.....

I dont tend to use a joddler, and normally do but welds, as on arches specifically only a small area needs replacing normally..

What do you do? For best results....

Scott

 

[Jackle]

My normal method is to cut out all the rust first - this usually ends up in a much bigger hole/patch that it originally appears.

I then cut a piece of cardboard out as a template, and cut this down to size so it fits perfectly - much easier to do than a piece of steel.

Then use the cardboard template to mark and cut out a plate.

I've then got a patch that's pretty much the correct size, that just needs moulding to fit the space it's going in.

 

[hotrodder]

It depends on the situation but where possible i make the replacement panel, cut the rot out and then (with replacement clamped/taped in place) i scribe the final trim line onto the panel as it's easier to trim a (relatively) small patch panel to fit the car than visa versa. Obviously both sides of the panel need to be accessable with that method. Double skined panels... sometimes it'll be make the panel and scribe the trim line on the car, others i'll make use of pattern card or tape to transfer final trim line to the patch panel

The tape method (very simple, hard to describe)... rot is removed, tape around the perimeter flush to the cut edge. With the slightly oversize patch in place lay another line of tape using the visible edge of the first run as a guide. This layer of tape will overlap the patch panel giving a final trim line.