What Is Oil Canning in Auto Body Panels?

Learn why oil canning in auto body panels creates strange waviness and popping, and what hidden causes might be warping your finish.
Your complete guide to automotive welding with Ryan Mitchell — a 38-year-old professional welder with 17+ years of real-world experience in collision repair, custom fabrication, and classic car restoration.
In this category, Ryan breaks down everything you need to know: MIG, TIG, spot, stick, and resistance welding techniques, weld joints and types, common defects (porosity, undercut, burn-through, etc.), troubleshooting tips, welding parameters, materials, and all the essential terms every auto tech and DIYer should master.
Whether you’re repairing a daily driver, building a custom chassis, or restoring a vintage muscle car, you’ll find clear, practical, shop-floor advice designed to help you weld stronger, smarter, and safer.
New articles added regularly. Start learning today and take your automotive welding skills to the next level.

Learn why oil canning in auto body panels creates strange waviness and popping, and what hidden causes might be warping your finish.

Diving into interpass temperature in welding reveals the hidden control that can make or break weld quality, toughness, and crack resistance.

The answer reveals why I-CAR welding certification matters—and who needs it most.

What is heat straightening on a frame, and how can careful heating restore alignment without replacement?

How does bird nesting in MIG welding affect your projects, and what can you do to prevent this frustrating issue? Discover the solutions inside!

Automotive welding joins vehicle parts with precision—discover how it works, which methods fit each repair, and what makes a strong, lasting bond.

Discover how arc length shapes weld quality, heat, and stability—and why the smallest gap can make all the difference.

Plunge into the world of oxyacetylene welding and discover how an oxidizing flame can transform your metalwork, but be wary of its hidden risks.

Crafted to control every critical welding variable, a WPS reveals how code-compliant welds are made—and why one detail can change everything.

From stick rods to tungsten tips, discover which welding electrode fits your job—and why the right choice changes everything.