floorboard tack welds

[jveik]

i had a lot more trouble than anticipated with removing my floorboards because of tack welds every 2 or 3 inches along the supports like the front the back floor support and the cab support. apparently the floorboard had holes in it that they tacked it to the rails thru the holes then painted over the top.

the importance is this... is that from the factory or is it likely from a previous restoration job? does anyone know for sure?

[mbumgua]

It's factory--They like lots of spot welds. There is a spot weld drill out tool available I believe from snap-on or Mac.

[jveik]

thanks for the info...

i got most of the driver's side floorboard out a few nights ago. i just used my grinding wheel to grind thru the welds just enough that it doesnt grind the support rail but it makes the rest of the metal thin enough that i can use a pliers and give it some torque and it rips the floor right off of the spot weld and then i just grind the remaining spot weld metal down to be level with the rest of the support rail. its a tedious but quite simple process that just takes a little time...

o and words to the wise... dont be an idiot like i was the first time and not wear a face mask. i got metal dust stuck in my nose and i was blowing metal snot out lol into a paper towel. just get some cheapo disposable ones at some store and they work great. you can tell if its working by if you can "smell" a burning metal type of smell or not. this is it will "smell" like burning metal if particles are getting thru the mask into your nose. in that case you have to adjust the mask to seal it as good as possible and there will not be that "smell" if it is properly in place...

[acewelderman]

Just grind the tack welds out as best you can then smack it w a hammer it should come loose w a little work .As far as the smell its the paint & under coatings that stink when you heat them up.Your smart to wear a mask!!!!Thats why us welders make the big bucks cuz we have to breath & deal w smelly & quite poisonous gasses every day !!So next time you need somthing welded dont bitch about the price,Just smile & pay him for doing work that most cant or wont do .Thanx ACE

[jveik]

lol the smell couldnt be the paint or undercoating heating up because there just plain isn't any. lmao its all surface rust and holes. but yeah i heard that many people who weld for a living and do inert gas welding get nervous system damage from the gasses they breathe in and stuff and get shaky hands and whatnot over time from it. that must suck.

[gremlin96]

i worked in a fab shop there are all kinds of stuff coming off the welding wire. just read the heath wornings some time. then there is what ever coating or junk thats on the metal to keep it from rusting.

[goinbig]

Just make sure you have good ventalation. A good fan and some open doors should do it.

[jveik]

yeah ill probably roll the whole truck out into my driveway unless its windy outside (im using a mig welder) ill probably invest in some por 15 and completely slather it on the rockers before i put a new outer rocker over the inner one...