Welding

Post by **bev27** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:02 pm

any one interested in doing it for me! ( for free!! ) Saw a VW camper van on tv, it needed welding and everyone who looked at it was tutting and saying how bad it was... looked out the window at me moggy and times that by 2! now im seriously depressed!!

Post by **Onne** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:27 pm

Not that I can weld (nicely) but what needs doing then?
And where are you based

Post by **bev27** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:51 pm

im in kent, i shall get some piccies and try and put them on here! I dont want to give up on her as out of the two i've got shes my main mission as the other one is garaged. I just need a gentle reassuring push!

Post by **Onne** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:53 pm

At least you have found the right place to look for that!

Post by **bev27** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:56 pm

look for what?!!! Having a blonde moment! lol!

Post by **bev27** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:01 pm

i have only done a little welding ( made a metal ashtray at college ) but it is enough to make you give up smoking!!! And also the vw van was being slated for the previous welding ( looked like i got hold of it!! )

Post by **Onne** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:07 pm

look for a reassuring push

If you master the basics, just start with something simple

Post by **bev27** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:13 pm

i thought an ashtray was simple....its was promptly locked in someones locker. The painting side doesnt bother me, got compressor and guns etc, but welding...ekkkk!

Post by **Onne** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:32 pm

I have only just tried my first bit, made me quite confident

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:50 pm

For welding - you just need to get started. Look out for a second -hand TIG machine - and start practicing. Gas welding is much easier (I find) but you do need to have the gear and it's not so easy to get hold of the cylinder refills - unless you have 'contacts' !!

Post by **bigginger** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:22 pm

Mig is far cheaper initially, generally considered easier to learn, and fine for most jobs.

Post by **paulk** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:37 pm

Mig is a much cheaper set up. But buy quality wire thats coated or it'll rust between weekends.

Tig is a great quality job but for starting on it can be quite tricky. Also more expensive kit.

Post by **Welung666** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 4:40 pm

I have a 130 Arc welder I use for heavier jobs (not on the car's I might add) and a Clarke 120 gas Mig for working on the car and it's a great little welder. Only cost around the £200 mark from machine mart.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 5:35 pm

Bev, are you the Bev that contacted me on the EKMM forum?? You are on a restoration course?? Just get some metal and practise. Once you've got the nack, the welding is easy, its the cutting out of the rust and preparing the new pieces to fit that is harder. You should have come to our advanced welding day the East Kent club held. Good chance to get some practise and good advice and look at the car I'm currenlty working on. Come to the next East Kent club night and you'll find plenty of folk with good advice and encourage ment!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:31 pm

I find MIG very difficult to use - easy enough downhand on good fresh steel - not so easy upside down under the car on rusty steel!! TIG is easy to control - and you feed in the filler wire as and when needed as opposed to the MIG which relentlessly pushes in more wire whether it's needed or not!

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:38 pm

Don;t weld on rusty steel then. Remove all the rust before welding in new sections and the Mig works well, as long as your Mig is set up properly.

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:19 pm

Sounds as though you have the wire speed too high BMC. A mig can only weld what its given. Tig is not easy unless you are already used to rod /stick welding, plus tig is far more fussy over the cleanliness of the steel. All rust should be removed and good steel taken back to bare metal before either mig or tig welding. I find mig straight forward, and no ,not always easy(blow throughs, differing amp settings part way through a job) but for upside down welding its very hard to beat it.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:27 pm

I find my oxy/acetylene is by far the most versatile - but TIG is excellent once mastered. I find the MIG hard to control - and usually end up with wire fused into the nozzle. But perhaps it's because I am trying to use it like gas welding - going back over bit's that are not quite right inof just charging on - and going back later!

Post by **bev27** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:04 am

i am the bev, the thing is at college i am doing respraying, but they let us have a go at welding. keep meaning to go to one of the club nights, but its finding the time! in between my fiesta conking out, school runs etc etc, getting a twitchy eye with all the stress!!!

Post by **chickenjohn** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:02 am

If your Minor was on the road that would be less stress ;-)