'67 step side from the weeds

[fonfixer]

I don't have any experience with spot weld cutters, but the HF cutter seems to work. It took a couple of tries to get it right but you have to center the cutter, bare down to just before the teeth engage, go full trigger on your drill. Once you see a puff of brown from the rust underneath your through. I got to find my bit extender to get at lots of the spot welds.

[fonfixer]

Don't know if anybody is actually following this or not but here goes. The harbour freight spot weld cutter works like its designed. Once the body piece is removed your left with round raised body metal that needs to be ground down. I feel back on my original plan, which was to use a good 1/4 metal drill bit. If you drill carefully you can stop before you drill through all the sheet metal and it doesn't leave anything to be ground down. I have something kinda like a putty knife but a lot more stout and has a cutting edge for scrapping from Lowes that i pound in between the two pieces of sheet metal. I also use lead working tools from work, a chipping knife and lead hammer. The hammer is about typical weight but its short so your arm doesn't get tired swinging it. The chipping knife is used at least where I work to cut the sheath off lead cables or open lead covered splice on telephone cable. The chipping knife is thicker then scrapper/putty knife and works like a wedge, putting stress on the spot welds which makes them easier to see when its not obvious where they are.

My project truck is still coming along, but very slow. I have the dash/cowl/firewall/floor vent box from one truck that is to be grafted on to another. As it is I'm in the middle of separating the kick panel from the firewall and vent box.

[hfdco4]

So far sounds good. I have to ask why you don't like the spot weld cutter? It would seem that it leaves the two pieces in a state to be put back together with good penetration. I have some work to do and have the same tool that's why I ask. Keep the pics coming, I am so jealous of the short bed.

[AZf100]

I Have used the HF Spot weld cutter as well and upon reassembly found it really convenient to use those hole to weld up what I had pulled apart.
By the way people are following so keep it coming.

[shortstack]

When I started my restoration, we didn't have a shop either. The majority of the teardown was done on the gravel driveway. My dad built a shop a few years back and it is so much nicer not having to drag a jack through the gravel. I'm glad he has allowed me to keep my project there until it is up and running. I do not miss the feeling of gravel digging into my back while under the truck.

Keep up the awesome work, and make sure to take more pictures than you think you'll need. I wish I had taken more during the beginning stages of the restoration. Not only for reference, but to be able to see how far I've come.

[fonfixer]

needs grinding.JPG

This is what you get when you use spot weld cutter and of course the the other piece is full of holes. I haven't gotten to putting pieces back together yet but would think those little round spots would be trouble.

tools.JPG

I've never attempted anything like this and there maybe better tools to do it with but this is what i know and what i have (not opposed to getting new tools though!) the drill, grinder and air chisel are common, but the chipping knife and hammer came from work and the putty knife looking thing came from Lowes i think. Keep in mind that I'm taking the best parts from two different cabs and making one. Start with a rough cut from grinder and cut off wheel and then use 40 grit flap wheel to grind down the unwanted metal. Once its thin enough the chipping knife or putty knife can cut the rest. I try not to use the air chisel to much cause it can distort the sheet metal, unless its something I don't need.

small drill.JPG

A small drill bit leaves a smaller hole then the spot weld cutter and it doesn't leave metal behind. So far they seem to work about the same, drill/cut until you see a little puff of brown dust/rust. The spot weld cutter from HF has a spring loaded pin in the center to act as a pilot bit. The point gets dull really quick and it will start to walk making it difficult to use. I got a small drill bit and predrilled a hole for the pin to fit in to keep the cutter in place. Bottom line is they both work, just trial and error.

[fonfixer]

I got two things to update with this post. First, I lucked out and won a bid on a spot welder in an auction. The people didn't both to tell me I had won, I checked my credit card statement at the end of the month and saw a $90 charge to the auction company. The way these people do it is they have an Internet auction where anybody can bid which is followed by a live auction. They never told me I won, just said "may have won" on the item description at their website. Short of it I finally got spot welder, water cooled with wired remote. It can be table mounted or suspended.

Second update, I finally got everything trimmed down and ready to go together. Just waiting on global warming to kick in and get rid of the snow in north Louisiana so I can sandblast everything outside the shop.