Morris Minor Owners Club

Can anyone suggest the best way of removing lead loading?

I've finally got round to resuming the restoration of my rather shabby 2door saloon after several months of "resting" and i've just come across some lead (presumably from an ancient repair). It's right in the middle of a cut I made to allow me to weld in a new wheelarch flange and I only realised it was there when large globs of metal started pouring out as I was welding. I'm really reluctant to grind it out (don't want to end up like the mad hatter) and I can't weld with it there.

Any advice gratefully received

Hi

Just heat the area gently with a blowlamp until the lead softens then wipe it away with a slightly damp towel or old flannel.

Try not to get it too hot as the fumes are not good for you and it will pour everywhere.

Before welding the joint you should sand off the lead tinning which will be left on the steel by about 1" either side of the weld.

Again try not to breathe the dust or fumes.

Once welded you could redo the tinning and lead loading as detailed in the workshop manual.

Taupe

Frost do an excellent lead loading kit. Lead loading is not as hard to learn as most people make out and gives you the best way of repairing the seam after the welding, it is a far superior technique to just filling the seam with body filler and, if you follow sensible precautions is safe to do.

Thanks very much for the advice. I succesfully removed the lead last nigh and managed to finish one bit of welding (lots more to do elsewhere though).
Not sure that I have the skill or patience to put the lead back though - so'll be looking to follow any advice on the best filler to use that gets posted on the SPL thread that was started yesterday

The best filler to use is the lead body solder that was used in the first place!!

Really, it is not that hard to learn lead loading. If you are skilled enough to weld and make repair sections then you should also be able to learn lead loading.

OK I feel suitably chastised. I'll order up a kit and give it a go. I guess I've nothing to lose and if I really struggle with it I can always revert to filler as a last resort.

Hi Sparkey, didn't mean to chastise you!!

Just trying to encourage others to have a go at body soldering.