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Welding Question

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by sybe, May 16, 2017.

  1. sybe

    sybe Active Member

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    I am looking to do a bare metal tank on my build and all the xj650 seca tanks i find have dents. In my researching the best way to pop them out there was a guy that was using welding slag to raise up the area and then grounded it down. Since i dont want to paint the metal is this a feasible option? If i was painting the tank i would use bondo but i am at a loss for that bare metal look.
     
  2. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    one dent removal was to weld pin to tank and pull the dent out

    had someone tell me you can heat a dent then use chilling spray and dents will pop out.
    freeze spray or inverted can of duster spray ect..

    do not like the idea of heat to gas tank
     
  3. sybe

    sybe Active Member

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    I saw all those. And each one isn't a 100% fix. Using welding slag would come in after all the steps you outlined. filling and smoothing out the metal. Only other way would be to cut the bottom bead of the tank and beat them out. Which that aint happening.

    My main concern is burning through the tank and or showing visible weld outlines. I would be using a mig welder.
     
  4. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    If you're going for a bare metal rat bike look why are you concerned about a little dent?
    This just adds to the Patina, no?

    I also have a tank I need to pull a big dent from.
    There are auto body dent puller kits sold with the pins epoxied in place instead of welding the pins on.
    E-bay has them and there are youtube videos.
    I'm going to attempt this first before resorting to welding pins to it as XJ550H has described.
     
  5. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    the utube vid i saw on epoxy was goofing on using epoxy. do you have a link I have a flat dent to pull
     
  6. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    You can try this video. Again, I've never used this so I'm certainly not recommending it.
     
  7. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam

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    There's guys that do paint-less dent removal on gas tanks, not cheap but it's similar to the work guys do with hammer and dolly on body work. Blows my mind how well they do that work and need no filler when done. Not cheap but if you find a cheap tank a with a few dents (good luck there) it might be worth it for the look you want.
     
  8. sybe

    sybe Active Member

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    Thanks for the advice. I found a 1982 xj650 seca tank in germany that i cant pass up. Inside is clean and the seller says the tank has no dents so the metal shoild be clean. Only concern i have now is if the bike will have a German accent and go "das vroom"

    The look i am going for is less rat and more class. Hopefully i can achieve it. This was i will look classy till i open my mouth.
     
    LeClairerog, Stumplifter and jayrodoh like this.

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