Welders

[gaffersminder]

Hi everyone

unfortunenatly my morris is suffering from the dreaded rust problems in the usual places, some panels will need repaired, some replaced. Since its been twenty years sincei have done any real amount of welding, i am abit out of touch with the different welders on offer, can anyone recommend a decent, value for money welder and weather to go gasless. i like the idea of gasless but having never used it, i was wondering what problems there may be.

Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Gasless is a poor substitute for the real thing! Ok for the odd patch-up I suppose. I use oxy/acetylene - best by far!

[kennatt]

buy the best mig you can afford,plenty on net,go for gas/gasless since you can then swop over, you can use gasless outside on a windy day' If you are working from home forget oxy set ups will invalidate your insurance in the event of a fire and expensive since you have to register and hire the bottles.Migs cause virtually no distortion in thin panels.Its what all the pros use,and uou can weld stainless and alloy with the corect wires.No competition in my view,and I've used every sort of welder over the last 50 years. The only real problem with gasless is that it gives a thicker weld which needs dressing up and produces fumes which are hard to see through but very handy if you run out of gas in the middle of a job on a sunday ,just switch over and finish the job. Go on the mig forum for more info.

[Alec]

Hello Kennatt,

I agree with BMCE on this "I use oxy/acetylene - best by far!", particularly if you regularly do a lot of workshop work as it is so versatile. It is the best in my view for letting in outer panel patches as it is a softer weld than MIG and is also much flatter.
For the occasional job a MIG is the best bet but I don't believe it's what all the pros use, at least not exclusively.

Alec

[chickenjohn]

I have used oxy-acetylene many times at college and yes, for panel repairs, such as repairing a wing it is a far superior technique plus gas can be used for undo any bolt for example.

However, I would not have oxy acetylene at home because it may cause problems on your house insurance- if there is a fire in a building with oxy acetylene the fire services have to declare a 400m (I think) exclusion zone and that would be most of your neighbours. So, yes, get oxy acetylene but only if your nearest neighbour is more than 1/4 mile away.

Otherwise use Mig (with shielding gas).

[kennatt]

I repeat BUY THE BEST MIG you can afford. .Give your local fire safety officer a ring and see what he says about oxy.I have seen the results of home use by diyer .I wouldnt have it anywhere near my home,as for rusty nuts, high output butane torches, do the same they can even be hot enough for brazing. So why take the risk ,the original poster, is talking about a one off home use. read this if you have any doubts about the dangers http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg327.pdf

[Alec]

Hello Kenatt,

I don't think there is any disagreement about what to buy for a one off job or even two or three, but others may be interested in alternatives. I have to say, however, I've seen so many dreadful examples of MIG welding pictures on verious forums that I wonder how many beginners really get to grips with it? And that is with the posters thinking the end results are acceptable?

Yes there are hazards with oxy\acetylene as there is with butane cylinders, if they are located within a fire, but the example in your link is due to serious misuse. I don't know where you spent your time welding but I have a lifetime (nearly 50 years) in plant maintenance and where the oxy\acetylene set was an everyday tool and I don't remember any incidents in that time. Pay due respect to procedures and it is safe. Being aware of the procedues and taking care is the key.

Alec

[mattyb]

If you do go done the MIG route - make sure you use a decent gas mix (95% CO2 and 5% argon if my memory serves me correctly) NOT pure CO2. The difference between the 2 is dramatic. I started off using just CO2 on my 4 door (because that's all I get at the time) and having just changed to CO2/ argon mix and cannot believe how much better the welds are - I'm not saying that MIG is better than oxy-acetylene because I've never had the chance to try it, so can only offer my opinion on MIG.

Also with MIG welding, the metal must be spotless - as BMCecosse has pointed out in another post, clean what your going to MIG weld with panel wipe- a good tip - again its makes a big difference to the quality of the weld.

[mach2]

hi gaffersminder

some good advice here.

mach2

[Ratbag]

Hello Kenatt,

I don't think there is any disagreement about what to buy for a one off job or even two or three, but others may be interested in alternatives. I have to say, however, I've seen so many dreadful examples of MIG welding pictures on verious forums that I wonder how many beginners really get to grips with it? And that is with the posters thinking the end results are acceptable?

Yes there are hazards with oxy\acetylene as there is with butane cylinders, if they are located within a fire, but the example in your link is due to serious misuse. I don't know where you spent your time welding but I have a lifetime (nearly 50 years) in plant maintenance and where the oxy\acetylene set was an everyday tool and I don't remember any incidents in that time. Pay due respect to procedures and it is safe. Being aware of the procedues and taking care is the key.

Alec

See : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8454404.stm
Was more than a week before we could use the road again due to the safety cordon.

Phil.

Edited to add that for all practical purposes, use a MIG with CO2 gas for DIY welding (indoors).
Outdoors, turn the gas up high or go gasless!

[kennatt]

well everyone to their own but I woul'nd be happy if the guy next door to me had gas cylinders in his garage three foot from my house.

[dellerie]

i've a sealey gasless mig so i can weld outside. i've even purchased 5 rolls of wire extra for less than £20. it's all about technique with welding. i can weld perfectly fine with gasless and i can also use oxycetelene as well (i lead weld sometimes as a plumber).

oh and as for rusted bolts...... use a cordless dremel!

[Alec]

Hello dellerie,

I'm sorry but I can't take a Dremell seriously with regard to working on a car?

Alec

[dellerie]

Hello dellerie,

I'm sorry but I can't take a Dremell seriously with regard to working on a car?

Alec

can't think why? perfect tool.