Simple Lead Repair 

I've been doing it for over 40 years

It seems it would be more durable than bondo

Good for you Jon! In the old days things didn't need to be so precise. Everything improves as technology advances. Great for the do it yourselfer. Have fun with your F150.

Well, the first purpose of flux is to clean and prevent oxidation. It also helps the solder to flow, that is what I meant by lowering the melting point.

+dogbitefred That's awesome! I'm glad it worked for you

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@Logan Armando instablaster =)

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+Carlos Avila You can use the same process if you take the glass out. I do it all the time

You're right, thanks for the correction

Flux etches the surface. Tinning (applying a thin coating of solder) allows heavier layers to stick. I have seen people use solder paste (solder particles in flux paste) applied with a copper scourer on to the hot surface to tin large areas.

Tinning and soldering little psnippets of metal is a great way to patch - did it recently on a Suzuki fuel tank. Never throw away old desktop computer cases - lovely sheets of thin steel!

Thanks Jason. The lead is a great base for holes. It is certainly strong enough to fill bolt holes. I do it all the time.

No problem Luke. I use this lead on every seam I weld, like quarter panels and seams. It lasts forever if you do it right. I use bondo very sparingly.

You can do it and it will last forever

Thanks my friend

That is really cool!

Thank you, everything is easy when you practice.

+OneInch Punch It's easy to do,take your time

+Petes Garage this worked really well, thanks again for sharing!!

You can spot weld in a piece of metal, that will work well.

Great Thanks

A lead flower pot? Sounds like a dangerous material to make a flower pot out of. It probably got too hot somehow, even just sitting in the sun

Yes, less heat, unless you are really good at spot welding.

No. This is either a polyester putty or a solvent based spot putty you would buy at an auto supply store.

Yes on all of that

Yes, that's why you clean it with baking soda

Lead is pretty strong. I have used patches like that before and it worked fine.

Thank you! You too!

I use an etching epoxy primer

Metal repair is always better than plastic filler

It's a handy skill to have

It's very easy to sand and even polish

I've welded in patch panels, countersunk the seams and leaded them flush.

I've filler in A pillars and body seams 3/16"

Thanks Frank

I always grind enough so it does not burn the paint. You may heat it enough to melt undercoat...but not burn it

Good...thanks Anthony

You go girl!!

I get lead from Eastwood, butany lead will work

Not at all. Just clean the surface with water and baking soda to neutralize the acid.

+Chris Craft I use this type of repair on any car. All cars have leaded seams actually. That was a job on the assembly line. It is actually a factory original repair

cool... oh, i know about leading but i was just trying to make sure that this method with the solder and small torch will hold up and i will be trying this pretty soon.. thanks,,,, good video

Thanks John

+Eifion Davies Vinegar is a mild acid. Acidicilic acid to be exact.It is about 5% acid in water. It can work, but a stronger acid like battery acid diluted in water will be more effective.

Don Desnoo why not just weld it

@@mr.quimby_is_newclyde8830 welding can cause hole to het larger and If you have an aluminum hood you might as well use this method

Thanks Patrick

Yes, absolutely

+No One You can use all types of lead, even lead free wire. Melting old tire weights is smart because they're cheap if not free and are made of lead. You can get a starter lead kit from Eastwood. Comes with everything you need.

Yeah but with all that acid residue on the solder wire ? Does that not create more issues further down the track with rust and paint application etc ? AND does the lead need to be clean ? I imagine , eg tyre weights are I think made out of old car batteries so the lead is not clean . I also heard stories of panel beaters that work from under passways would use solder wire and that rust would form quicker then usual ? And also it says that you should not use power tools on lead as the dust particles are highly toxic and considered extremely dangerous to humans ? Sorry mate im not trying to slander you I have just been trying to do the job proper and dont want to cut any corners . I like what you have shared but would like some more insight to this job you have done.

+No One The last step is to clean the area of any flux, that is simply done with baking soda. The weights are made of lead. When you melt lead any impurity will rise to the surface and leave behind pure lead. Rust will not form as long as you clean the area thoroughly. If you do the job right you can form the lead with a body file. I used a power tool to speed up the job, but yes, you should wear a dust mask. I think you can do it!

Andreas Dokken You can do it

It works awesome! Give it a go

It melts at the same temp

This is the product I use www.eastwood.com/ew-tinning-butter-1-lb-jar.html

Whats the tinning butter for? You didn't use any in your video

Yes

Maybe a putty knife would work to smooth solder (no wax)?

No. not at all, it's made for lead work

@@PetesGarage - Pete I have several areas where I removed crappy Bondo repairs on my 70s Challenger. I took it down to bare metal at the areas and removed all rust. I bought an Eastwood kit for lead work. Is there anything I need to be aware of to avoid ruining the body metal like overheating it with torch? What do you suggest to apply to bare metal to prevent surface rust while car is stored in garage?

Absolutely correct

No, chrome does not work well over lead

You have to prime and paint it because the steel around it can still rust. It will hold up for decades

@Pete's Garage thank you so much my 70 challenger has some little spots that’s perfect for this. You saved me from needles spending (times is rough for me right now) in my efforts to save my car thank you!!

Good luck

I'm so glad you found it, I could have just told you

@@PetesGarage Thank you for being a surprise walk-on guest during last night's stream and personally explaining it to our eager audience!

It's always a pleasure to walk-on

Great to hear!

You can do it

+rickym49 Thanks my friend

I have not

Baking soda and water

Glad it helped

Thanks Charlie

I'm thinking pretty low. Pot metal has a low melting point, but you could try.

I try

I do it all the time

@@PetesGarage awesome... so the process would be , clean metal/sandblast, then wire brush /sink the hole around the edges with body hammer or countersink spike, tin with 95% tin 5% silver solder and a zinc chloride flux, wipe, neutralize the hydrochloric acid with baking soda and water, then melt lead to fill the hole, shape a needed?

That's how you do it

It will last decades and filler will stick to it

True

Good luck!

No

Fill it with water. If there is no air in it there is no risk of fire.

@@PetesGarage Don't use water Pete, it will start rusting almost immediately and you will never stop it. Best to use nitrogen gas, just flood the tank while you are welding or soldering. If you have a shop and do this repair often just order a nitrogen tank from your Oxy/Acetylene supplier, then pick up a cheap regulator and attach a short rubber hose. Safe, easy and does no damage to the tank whereas water destroys it... a lesson I learned the hard way.

Yes

It works very well

Very well

+c dl I have filled many clip holes after taking off vinyl tops. You can do it yourself

As long as it's steel

No, as long as you neutralize with baking soda

@@PetesGarage Is that baking soda and a water mix? if so what's the mix ratio?

Just make a baking soda slurry like paste

Would a non acid flux work the same? I worry anytime acid is near my paint or metal.

Because when you use body lead you don't heat the metal enough to cause permanent warping. It will bend when you heat it, but as it cools it will go back into place.

Any lead will work, but I would melt out all of the impurities first.

You can not solder cast metal. I wish there were a way to fix it other than plastic fillers.

On pot metal repair (muggy weld) Works perfect! Been using it for years!

This is a scrap fender just demonstrating the steps

Thanks for that info

That is actually from a 1969 Mustang

Good luck

You're welcome!

I like solder but use plastic quite a bit

Thanks my friend

christoffer1973 This was a junk fender I was using to show how the process is done

***** OK. That explains it all. But great tip. Nice when you weld up a hole ex from antenna. Normal filler uses to shrink after few years.

I've been using lead for 30 years....it's the best way to do it

Interesting

No, powder coating is heated up to 375 degrees F and the solder will melt

@@PetesGarage There is low temp powder out there but is mainly epoxy base and will chalk in UV. Or you can lower the cure temp if you bake it longer. All depends on powder manufacture specks. Will be attempting this in the days to come..

That does work as well

Activated Fiberglass is not faster and it does not become a permanent part of the metal fender, unfortunately it just does not adhere well to raw metal. Bondo may adhere better but it does not last as long, give it 10 years and it looks like the bottom of the fender that Pete was working on. Lead the vehicles you want to keep a long time, only use an extremely high-quality polyester filler as a thin topper over the lead if you can't smooth it perfectly. If doing larger areas use a stick of 100% lead and a professional flux paste, it's a lot faster and you can almost spread like a plastic filler with a wooden paddle and just the right amount of heat. Not trying to be pushy but I have been in body shop business since 1970, so have tried all products and concepts. Just give it a try, you may like the results.

+caduceus33 This method of repair is actually a factory original repair. When cars were built with seems, they were all leaded shut. This was a job on the assembly line. When restoring a car it is critical to know how to use lead if you replace any body panels especially the rear quarter panels. The mast and A pillar seems are all leaded smooth. This type of repair will never bubble, or lift like bondo usually will. As with any process it is completely safe if you take the proper safety precautions.

+Petes Garage Thanks for your reply! I originally thought that lead was just used in the old hot rod days for customizing. It looks as though the lead really has to be coaxed to get it to stick.

+caduceus33 If you tin the metal correctly it flows right on

Interesting. Growing up I always heard is pronounced as sodder.

No. The lead melts at a low temprature

No se .... que no se oxida

Welding is too hot, it will warp the metal

@@PetesGaragewith knowledge comes power. I stand corrected Thank you Pete.

Thank God this is not plumbing