Best way to close up bumper mounting hole in fender?

[NoobDude]

I've decided to close up these holes in case I don't reuse the 'Farm' bumper.




I'm thinking of tacking a patch piece ( I still have that computer terminal case that's within a couple thou of the fender ga) over the hole to center the pilot drill and using a hole saw to make a larger cleaner hole. I can make a patch on the drill press sans the pilot hole for the actual patch then and weld them in. (tack at a time... a long time) but the question I have is what size is going to be least troublesome as far as shrinkage goes? Keep it as small as possible or go for a 1.5 or 2 inch?

 

[Bob Hollinshead]

Keep it the same size, hammer and dolly the hole flush first then make your patch fit as close to perfect as possible, back up the patch with some copper, tack weld,grind,tack weld till filled, hammer and dolly as needed. Do some practice runs on scrap first if needed.