i have a 71 chevelle that i am welding sheetmetal in. i am looking at the chart inside of the welder for the heat settings and wire speed but i don't know what gauge this is.... i would guess 20 gauge or so, would that be right?

This was posted by rubadub and should be a pretty good guide for your '71.

Panel Sheetmetal Thickness
Every once in a while the question will come up about this.

I came across this thickness when doing my 1969 chevelle

Goodmark trunk pans are .039 thousands thick, NPD floor pan toe boards,the toe boards are tagged [toe board-floor pan] so I'm assuming the floor pans are the same thickness as the toe boards and the toe boards are .033 thousands of an inch thick from NPD.

The metal sandwiched together on the bottom inside of the rocker panels, some of it is .060 and .040 thick, so when you're working different panels and braces, be aware you have different thickness's of sheet metal.

Also the rocker panels are galvanized, be aware of the fumes when welding or grinding, galvanized fumes are dangerous.

Standard sheet steel, galvanized, and aluminum are measured just a little different in thickness. These are measurements for standard sheet steel, like we use in our cars.

Gauge Thousands Fraction

24 --- .0239-----between 1/64 and 1/32

22--- .0299----- hair under a 1/32

20--- .0359----- between 1/32 and 3/64

18--- .0478----- hair over 3/64

16--- .0598----- little under 1/16

14--- .0747----- little under 5/64
================================================== =====
1/64 = .0156

1/32 = .0312

3/64 = .0469

1/16 = .0625

5/64 = .0781

3/32 = .0938

7/64 = .1094

1/8 = .1250

Maybe this will help some of you out.

Rob

Hey Alex, if your not sure just use some scrap to practice on first. Set for 20 ga. and try to break it apart. Lowest setting is best, and don't over heat body parts. Tack tack tack, etc. use a sponge between tacks to cool off metal.

i have a lincoln weldpak 175hd but i don't have an argon bottle yet. do you guys think i can get away with flux core? there will probably be a lot of spatter right?

I just did some custom floor pan work in my 72. I used 18 guage and it worked great. It cost me over $30 for a 2x4 sheet. Pretty pricey stuff. I didn't really notice any difference in heat temps between the original floor and the new metal, it welded nice.

i wouldnt try to do sheet metal work with fux core, that **** is really jsut meant for wealding heavy stuff and for welding out doors where the wind blows sheilding gas away.

ok cool, i'll get myself a bottle then, hopefully i find some welding supply....

thanks to everyone who replied, i really appreciate everyone's help.

i have a lincoln weldpak 175hd but i don't have an argon bottle yet. do you guys think i can get away with flux core? there will probably be a lot of spatter right?

No...Get the biggest bottle you can afford!

No...Get the biggest bottle you can afford!

X10 on that! I've upgraded bottles twice and lost on the trade in both times.