6
That quarter panel replacement that turned into a full afternoon
I started a quarter panel job on a 2018 Civic this morning thinking I'd be done by lunch. Three hours later I was still fighting with spot welds that just would not let go. Turns out the previous shop had used some super hard aftermarket welds that my regular drill bit couldn't touch. Switched to a carbide bit and finally got through but man, what should have been a 2 hour job ate up almost 5. Anybody else run into mystery welds that just wreck your schedule?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
val_williams1mo ago
And here I thought I was the only one who could turn a simple panel swap into an all-day sitcom, welcome to the club I started last Tuesday.
7
ray_miller841mo ago
Heard a guy on a podcast last week talking about how some shops use those high nickel content MIG welds that are basically like trying to drill through chrome. Said he had to break out a plasma cutter just to get the old panel off a Toyota once. Sounds like you got hit with the same kind of nonsense. Carbide bits are a lifesaver but it stinks losing hours to someone else's bad work.
4
Wait, was this on a Civic Si or just a regular one? I've heard the aftermarket panels can be hit or miss but this is next level. Honestly, I used to think spot weld drill bits were all the same and that spending extra on carbide was a waste. But after fighting mystery welds on a Camry last month where I burned through three standard bits, I'm a total believer now. Those high nickel welds are no joke, they're like welding with armor plate. You're right that carbide bits save the day but it's still brutal when your whole afternoon gets eaten by someone else's shortcut.
4