Dash gauge "welding"

Is this why guys bypass the ammeter? Or do I have that wrong...
No sir. bypassing the amp meter and/or replacing it with a volt meter does relieve the possible short circuit scenario. Best plan is assemble the bezel as rigid as the factory did. Never tap on a lens.
With hot glue, silicone, whatever... Scratch away the chrome plating as needed so you're adhering to roughed up plastic and not the chrome. I repaint the inside of the bezel back to white with black areas, just like OEM was so... I scratch away some paint and chrome before heat staking.
While I'm typing... When I'm taking the bezel apart I find one of the stakes at each green lens is fairly easy to get to while the other of the 2 is more difficult. I melt away just enough of these OEM stakes to tilt the lens out from under the difficult one. Then at re assembly I need to work the lens back in and under it. That probably doesn't help you at this point. I've done all of this a bunch of times. Made my mistakes. Learned some dos and don'ts. Good luck with yours.