How to Drill Out Spot Welds & Remove the Frame

Resistance or spot welds fuse metal at localized points. Multiple spot welds hold two pieces of metal securely together without excess weight. Attempting to separate spots welds with force will damage both pieces of metal. When a frame and metal panel is spot welded, the frame will often distort, rendering it useless. Drilling through spot weld on the frame will allow you to separate the pieces without destroying either piece. The hole left by the drilling process allows for a plug weld when reassembling metal pieces.

Instructions

1

Measure the diameter of the spot weld with a tape measure.

2

Set the point of a center punch on the center of the spot weld. Strike the center punch with a hammer.

3

Select a drill bit two times the diameter of the spot weld from drill bit set. Secure the drill bit in the chuck of a variable speed drill motor. Coat the tip of the drill bit with cutting fluid.

4

Place the center of the drill bit on the depression created by the center punch. Pump the trigger of the drill motor to drill into the spot weld. Stop drilling frequently to check the depth of the drilled hole. Continue drilling until you notice a crack forming at the bottom of the drilled hole. Repeat the drilling procedure at each spot weld.

5

Slide the end of a flathead screwdriver under one drilled spot weld. Hit the end of the screwdriver with a hammer to "pop" the spot weld. Move the screwdriver along the frame to separate the frame from the panel.