Thread: What to do about lead seams

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I'm working on the cab of my stude and there is a seam all the way across the back of the cab above the window. I think it's filled with lead, it is kind of rough so I want to do something with it. I have some fiberglass reinforced filler I was thinking of using, is that a good idea?.
I also have some lead filler at the top edge of the doors right where the gutter ends and it is cracked. Is it better to try to heat it and reform it or just get rid of it and use filler?

I usually melt the lead out of the seam and do a bit of welding of the seam before applying any filler. Factory seams on old sheet metal tend to loosen up over time, if not welded and ground any movement will crack the filler. The weld will also prevent the filler shrinking and leaving a visible line after all the high dollar paint is applied!

It's a really long seam across the back of the cab above the window, I'd be afraid of the shrinkage from such a long weld, it's a good sized gap there.
The lead at the rear of the door openings, right at the end of the rain gutter is super thick, like 1/2 inch.
A guy on the stude forum who does a lot of painting said to leave the lead and epoxy primer over it and then use the fiberglass reinforced filler.