shaving side moldings

Alright guys obviously this is not fiberglassing but I need help and cant find any, anywhere else.  I need to know about shaving the side molding of a 97 civic. I have studied up on door handles so I know that on them you cut out a square and then you tack weld in a plate of sheet metal to cover the hole, grind, primer, paint, voila.   I'm doing some side moldings this weekend though I need to know do you still cut out an area then tack a plate to that or do you just start tacking without cutting it out? 

how good can you weld? if not great you can EASILY warp a door skin to where it is basically no good lol. but, get some metal of same thickness, grind a little area above and below the molding, featheredge where you grinded with 80 grit, tack in small area by small area skipping around until you have it welded thoroughly(you can use a wet rag to help keep the thin guage metal semi-cool, grind your welds, i prefer using a filler like evercoats fiber-tech on top of the welds but you may use a regular filler like rage extreme. next block with 80 until almost smooth, block with 180 to get it "perfect" and to cover your 80 grit scratches, *3 good coats a primer surfacer, spray guide coat, wet sand with 400 grit, scuff entire door panel with gray scotch brite pad (scuff stuff, scuff and clean or just regular ajax will work), clean with wax/grease remover, tack off, base 2 times, tacking off in between, clear (2-3 coats should be fine)

*only do this if you are sure your body work is "straight", if not then use 3-4 coats of a high build primer on top of your filler, then block this using 180 grit (of course using a guide coat), then if you do not go thru to the metal anywhere you can water sand this using the 400 grit and contine the steps from there out

I welded mine in and then bondoed over it.  Then the first time I opened my door it met the front fender not nice. Make sure you cut out where the indention is on the front fender before you weld your new plate in or you will have a lot of work ahead of you.

I welded mine in and then bondoed over it. Then the first time I opened my door it met the front fender not nice. Make sure you cut out where the indention is on the front fender before you weld your new plate in or you will have a lot of work ahead of you.

once you take your moldings off there is a cavity...to not cut it out just cut a seperate piece of metal and weld it in the cavity.  also on 9x percent of the cars you should NOT cut around where the handle used to be. just cut a piece of metal to fit in the hole

Oh ok I got you.  I went back and looked at the car they cut out and there was no way they could done it without cutting it. It was a grand am or something. I see what your saying now.    So uz2b  tell me how hard is this?