Welding vs. bonding body panels

[woodbn]

I am ready to tackle rockers and cabcorners on my 87 K10 and Ive been told that overlapping the replacement panel, bonding it, and grinding it down is a better way to repair it versus the conventional welding the replacement panel in. I am brand new to cutting and replacing panels and want input on the pros and cons of each please.

[FlatBlack77]

bonding them with what?

[SkinnyG]

I think it's called "Corvette Panel Adhesive."

The gun itself is pricey, but probably on par with a cheap welder.

I have heard of others doing this with other adhesives including "No More Nails" from Home Depot.  Not sure if that's a good idea or no.

I hate doing bodywork, so I'm interested in what others have to add.

[1967KaiserM715]

IMO, welding gives a stronger bond, just "gluing" the panels in could lead to failure.

I would say on rockers welding is best, but "gluing" in the floors and cab corners can work out if you can reinforce with rivets, something mechanical in nature to help prevent failure of the "glue" in the event of poor application or a weak formula of glue

[VileZambonie]

Panel bond adhesive is great for skins, no warpage, nice and easy no grinding welds etc.

For structural and rust repairs, there's only one right way to do it. Cut out the bad, protect the areas, weld in the new. I would never do this for cab corners and rockers.

[roundhouse]

Depending on how bad the rust is

It might be stronger to cut out the rust and glue the new metal on top of the old


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SkinnyG]

You don't want to glue structural panels.

Quarters and the like are fine.  You slap down some adhesive, attach the panel with sheet metal screws until the adhesive sets, then grind the heads off the screws as you prep for filler.

Or so I am told.  Never done it before.

[Blazin]

What Vile said.
Body panel glue works great for patching a panel.
For structural repairs you need to weld them.
I don't know where your getting your body adhesive gun, but the two I have were both around a $100. Your not going to find a decent welder for that $.
As far as grinding screw heads off goes. Not a good idea. Remove them, then fill the hols with body panel adhesive.

[haroldwca]

Is it accurate to assume that you are considering bonding because you don't consider yourself a good welder?  It is definitely worth taking the time to learn how to do it.  And don't let people talk you out of starting your learning using a simple $100 flux welder.  Many will criticize it, but the quality of the weld is largely in the skill of the welder.  Yes a several-hundred dollar MIG welder will make cleaner welds.  However, if you are just beginning, buy the cheap one, pick it up, and use it.  Yes, there is a learning curve.  But once you get the basic idea, you will begin to look for things that need to be welded.   There is NO substitute for experience.  As many have said, "Just my two cents."

[1967KaiserM715]

Is it accurate to assume that you are considering bonding because you don't consider yourself a good welder?  It is definitely worth taking the time to learn how to do it.  And don't let people talk you out of starting your learning using a simple $100 flux welder.  Many will criticize it, but the quality of the weld is largely in the skill of the welder.  Yes a several-hundred dollar MIG welder will make cleaner welds.  However, if you are just beginning, buy the cheap one, pick it up, and use it.  Yes, there is a learning curve.  But once you get the basic idea, you will begin to look for things that need to be welded.   There is NO substitute for experience.  As many have said, "Just my two cents."

in addition, buying a decent welder, but getting $#!^ wire for it is going to be a pain, I know many that have used a harbor freight unit, with good wire, with good results-they normally just chuck the wire that came with it, and having just recently borrowed one(had no 220v outlet for mine) I can say that the wire is terrible, and just putting in Hobart flux wire was thousands better

[Blazin]

I've been welding for 25 + years. If I pick up a flux core welder, & use it, the weld still looks like crap.
Flux core is good for nothing in my opinion.

[Irish_Alley]

even with welders that cost 3k if you have bad wire or even a batch of bad wire from a good company it will look like crap.

[Rattler12]

CHeap welders are like cheap fiddles........even a pro can't do squat with them......spend the money and buy a good MIG.......in fact buy 2. I have a Lincoln 255 for heavy duty stuff, framework, headache racks, trailer etc and a light duty 120 V for sheet metal. The right tool for the right job makes the job much easier and cuts the frustration level to near zero......just sayin. You can thank me later.