It's simple, don't fill any of the pits that are going to be hidden with the strips anyway. There won't be any primer there to burn.
Be sure you do protect behind the strips though. You need to etch prime or epoxy or something behind the strips (maybe Ras O Nil)and then clamp the strips in place and drill the hold to plug. Only drill through the bed and the tip of the drill hitting the strip will be your bare metal for welding.
