1st attempt at gasless mig welding !

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:16 pm

Well heres the first go with the new gasless mig & flashy mask too

Figured migth as well start at the deep end so went scrapheaping and got some rusty panels

Pretty poor shape

cut out some practice squares

And............

drum roll !!!!

Thats about 4"s of 2 unrelated bits of crappy old metal stuck together pretty bomb proof - there are a couple of tiny low points in the weld after cleaning but a filler coat would get rid of that.

All in al pretty darned chuffed - first go properly on a mig and a gasless one at that and start to finish in 15 mins ! quicker than resizing the pics and posting this in fact.

If i could have afforded it then now know would have gone for the £150 option not the £99 option i got as the dearer one has a lower setting - that said though it can be done with care - also the splatter contrary to rumour is quite minimal.

Drivers door and wings will be doable now i have no doubt so in effect that will more than pay for the welder. (mask already paid for itself repairing cement mixer with the stick welder)

Post by **Spag** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:41 pm

Good stuff !!!

Re the splatter, it really depends on the setting of the MIG, but is worse than with gassed, so needs to be mentioned...

Have fun !

Post by **tickman** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:10 pm

Nice job there. Are you sure you didn't just badly paint one side and take the middle back to bare metal

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:21 pm

Horrible stuff to get off with the grinder that paint !
When ive had a bit more practice will get an old door, chop it in half and try to weld together again to see what the problems will be.

Theres a nice little method too i saw on a site - drill holes along your two edges, weld a backing strip through the holes - bit like an improvised spot weld - then make an overlap joint. Apparently the heat dissipation on teh but weld is then much better and reduces blow throughs and warping.
Seems really sensible but not sure how practicle on actual panels.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:22 pm

Lets see an example weld without grinding it smooth! Just out of interest to how the gassless looks compared to gas mig.

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:29 pm

Orkney wrote:Horrible stuff to get off with the grinder that paint !
When ive had a bit more practice will get an old door, chop it in half and try to weld together again to see what the problems will be.

Theres a nice little method too i saw on a site - drill holes along your two edges, weld a backing strip through the holes - bit like an improvised spot weld - then make an overlap joint. Apparently the heat dissipation on teh but weld is then much better and reduces blow throughs and warping.
Seems really sensible but not sure how practicle on actual panels.

Very useful way, sometimes

a

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:30 pm

Will do one later to show you - you'll see my lack of co-ordination too no doubt LOL
I'm not worried on the thin stuff looking neat as it will be ground back, but it should with practice get better.
Need to try some 3 & 4 mm brackets too which wont be cleaned back so will be better for being 'tidy'

Post by **chickenjohn** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:36 pm

If you buy a lower doorskin repair section, it will have a joddle set into it. Cut the door skin to fit into this joddle and punch holes in the door skin for plug welding. Hold the existing bit of skin and the joddled repair piece in close contact with self tapping screws. Plug weld through the existing skin into the repair piece.

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:01 pm

Here it is then

Lower piece is old bonnet, top piece is 3mm

the 2 right on the lower forgot to put ant splat spray on so you can see quite a difference - its pretty easy to blow through as can be seen on the left there, but thats just going to take practice - the correct speed will be the meak or break on the thin stuff hence what i said about wish i could have afforded the mig that had the lower setting than what i have.

Post by **alex_holden** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:04 pm

I'm sure you know this but there really should be a guard on that angle grinder... Discs do shatter and explode sometimes, particularly thin cutting discs.

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:08 pm

I know Alex - just find it MUCH easier to use and i know it well - always have a gauntlet & face protection on though, i migth be brave but not stupid

(alledgedly)

Post by **ASL642** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:04 pm

Just think how much money you'll save on welding bills. More beer money and piggie food!

Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:47 pm

Thats impressive Orkney!

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:09 pm

Cheers Matt - but reckon its nothing to do with my skill or lack of, just having the right tools and a fair bit of reading up.
Had always feared the ability to be able to do it, but if i can get that far in next to mo time or practice then dont see why anyone else should have a problem with it

Post by **Matt** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:35 pm

There is skill involved! Wait until you try welding upside down!

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:45 pm

Prefer to weld a roller together and flip the car

Post by **ASL642** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:48 pm

Wouldn't it be easier to roll the car over onto its side?

Post by **Orkney** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:12 pm

Yes thats what i meant

but fortunately have no underside welding need doing, but will be handy to clean and paint it.

Post by **8009STEVE** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:31 am

There is skill involved! Wait until you try welding upside down!

And on rusty bits

Post by **paulk** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:56 am

You were lucky

Rusty, Upside down and previously covered in Underseal or you don't know your born.

Now wheres that Chateau le chasolay

Nice welding Orkney. Much Much better than my first attempts.

And I don't know about the spatter but I found most of that vanished as I got more practice.