Technical Slickest filler for smoothing welds on frame?

What is the best filler/sealer that can be slicked down with minimal sanding around welds on frame elements?

And no they aren't booger/bubble gum welds. Just want them smooth.

 

I’d just leave them!

You answered my first though, buggered welds! Lol

But , if you want smooth welds, just weld more on and grind them smooth with a 4 inch grinder with a grinding wheel and flapper disc.




Bones

 

If that is for a roll bar and you want to race it wont pass tech with smoothed welds or with filler on them. I think the welds look pretty good also, I'd leave them alone.

 

Hell, the carpet will cover up those weld’s…
You can’t see crack’s in the weld or bars with bondo on them..
But if your just building a bar for aesthetics most any filler will work…

 

Easy sanding, dries fast...

 

I like to smooth the welds, I think it looks good but also is easier to keep clean.
After sand blasting and epoxy, I use a quality filler applied with my finger, doesn't need much sanding.

 

Roll Bar, I would leave it alone

 

At one time I was smitten with smoothed welds, at least on show rods, etc.
That was before I had the opportunity of gazing on some beautiful Heli-Arc (that was the common name for TIG) welds.
There is nothing sexier than a well executed TIG weld.

 

Yeah...well executed...mine not so much.

 

Don’t touch the weld , it shows the quality of your build . I did not touch one weld on my 32 . As best as I can recalled I added 12 lbs of wire boxing and adding crossmembers and brackets . I did pass my fracture tests many times welding .

I have worked with welders the could weld with mirrors better than , I could seeing it .

 

If you have to grind your welds ,, your are a grinder , not a welder !!!

 

Who mentioned grinding?

 

Boneyard 51 did just below your orginal question

 

While I do like the smoother street rod look that Blake showed I am getting to the point where letting great welds show is a lot cooler. My welds aren't pretty but my son can run a bead that rocks and if I need some serous welding my buddy is the area go to guy to weld things that no one else is qualified to weld.

 

I personally like the look of a good weld. Luckily I can get a very nice looking weld…..well most of the time! Lol I mentioned grinding , because the OP didn’t like the look of his very nice weld.
Here is a pic of one of my welds, after a ten year vacation from welding, using ten year old rods with an A/C Miller Thunderbolt welder. I never grind my welds!

 

Nothing to do with slathering bondo on bad welds, and yes the welds on the opening post aren't perfect but they're not that bad but just wanted to share some TIG art.

Oh baby!
Not mine by the way.

 

That's years of experience under the hood. Its hard for a hobbyist to have enough time to master something like that.

 

I'm not quite sure why I find the need to defend myself but...
When I started my T project I thought it might be my last, so I vowed to do the best job I'm
capable of which included refinishing every piece. I did grind and fill many of the welds but not to hide poor quality.
I also ground and polished my stainless exhaust. I set certain standards for MYSELF, I didn't always
meet those standards, but I tried and it was a fun hobby that I'm pretty happy with. And yes I added some filler on the fenders.

 

No defense needed Blake, myself included, we love everything about your car, just did not word my previous post effectively.

 

What is the best filler/sealer that can be slicked down with minimal sanding around welds on frame elements?

 

I agree with the above, the icing is hard to beat for minor filling. Sands easy too, holds primer well.

If it were me icing would be my first choice.

.

 

A nice bead or stack of dimes applied by a true artist is a sight to behold and I would never attempt to conceal such beauty.

I, on the other hand grind, sand, fill with with rage gold, sand some more and primer.

 

Food for thought, but you'd be surprised how much powdercoating does to smooth out an otherwise average weld. Alternatively, a few coats of filler primer and maybe a skim coat of filler would make those welds smooth out rather nicely.

 

I know I'm not adding anything productive to your post but your weld looks fine. I personally see a weld as artwork.

 

If the welds aren't going to be inspected like they would at NHRA tech, then nothing wrong with smoothing them up with filler. I would use either All-Metal filler or Duraglass filler on the welds. Just mix it up, and smear it on using your finger and a glove to keep it off your skin. It's been done for decades on high end show cars to make all the exposed welds look perfect, even if they were perfect looking welds to begin with. Some people just like everything smoothed over.

 

I second what 1971BB said. Use your gloved finger when applying the filler. That stuff has a funky smell when it attaches underneath your fingernails and the stank lasts for at least a week.

 

I agree, that weld would need minimal work to disappear. Even high build primer might be enough to satisfy the OP

 

Don't hide them, show them. They won't look bad after priming and painting.