Tom
Chats A Bit
Posts: 218 
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Post by Tom on Feb 26, 2016 13:27:10 GMT
Hi, Not sure if this will take off or not, but since the nature of 5s is to swiftly develop aids of the monocoque I figure some people must be able to weld? I learnt(ish) briefly at college a good few years back and have just got my own little MIG set up, not for any holes in my car that I know of anyway, but because I have a bit of a thing for fabrication! Thought it would be a good idea to start a thread for advice, constructive criticism, learning and the like if there is enough interest in it? I can begin, today I did my first real bit of welding in 6 years, and made a cube! simply for practice! I have to say it wasn't that easy using nothing but a hammer, vice and angle grinder but I'm pretty chuffed with it!   |
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Post by Reechard on Mar 6, 2016 21:35:35 GMT
Good thread idea, I really need to learn, or find someone willing to work on my car. Painter dave is too far away.
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Post by trackiebear454 on Mar 6, 2016 21:41:13 GMT
there is plenty of welders around. I have dabbled a bit and have a mig in the garage but until the summer i dont really fancy trying too hard  |
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Post by FreakyParts on Mar 8, 2016 16:50:20 GMT
If you build a kit car, you soon figure out how to weld. If not, you soon figure out the flappy wheel on the grinder cleans the birdprarrie canoe up pretty well  |
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Post by Binney on Mar 11, 2016 8:49:10 GMT
I'd always wanted to learn to weld and then in a stroke of fortune somebody gave me a welder! I've been playing round in the garage and with the help of YouTube and a welding forum have gotten this far...   Once I get good enough there are some rust repairs on the 5 I want to have a go at. Any feedback or advice would be welcomed!! |
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Post by olionabike on Mar 11, 2016 11:42:13 GMT
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Post by wigwambam on Mar 11, 2016 20:58:05 GMT
Also not a big MIG fan given the choice but I can't deny it is super flexible and has saved me and folk I know a ton of money so far as DIY migmonkeys. Extremely jealous of the fancy TIG, I haven't done any for too long. Your welds are purdey. Any ideas what happens with ordinary household power circuits and TIG welders? The fella in the welding shop scared me off buying a TIG set saying I would need to put a heavy duty circuit in at home but I have found loads online that say they will work on an average household supply. Hmmmm
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Post by wigwambam on Mar 11, 2016 21:09:37 GMT
I'd always wanted to learn to weld and then in a stroke of fortune somebody gave me a welder! I've been playing round in the garage and with the help of YouTube and a welding forum have gotten this far... Once I get good enough there are some rust repairs on the 5 I want to have a go at. Any feedback or advice would be welcomed!! I would say you aren't far off being able to do car repairs at that. I have seen worse done by professional garages. That plate looks quite thin. I realise that is likely the thickness you are trying to learn to weld, but you can make your life a lot easier and get yourself running consistent beads in no time with some thicker stuff I found; that way you are less concerned about the heat and can really tell the difference between different wirespeeds and speed of travel. With most types of welding position is everything, position of the thing you are welding as a workpiece be it horizontal, flat, overhead and also very importantly positioning yourself around it where possible. I found that practicing some overhead position before I started zapping my car helped a lot, and if you can figure out how to do it one handed in that position all the better, as that is the horror that often has to occur when you are in your own garage at home with no lift and crap light. |
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Post by wigwambam on Mar 13, 2016 15:31:58 GMT
Just to add, having been welding two massive holes in the floor of my pa's XK8 over the past few days, on reflection I should have made more of an effort to minimise fume exposure. All sorts of nasty canoes get vapourised when you weld a panel that was previously covered in paint, zinc coating and underseal. It is often not possible to remove as much as you would like from around the perimeter of the weld so VOC fumes are pretty standard. There are both disposable and reusable masks which will offer some protection, but do be aware that in tight spaces a forced air mask or extraction is preferable.
You will see quite a big difference in the consistency of welds where there is contamination when compared with welding brand new plate so it might be worth getting some rusty offcuts from somewhere, practicing getting the paint off without thinning the metal too far and welding some of that. I found it quite useful as you soon find that unexpected things can happen where metal is thin and still retaining a film of oily stuff, ranging from cratering/porosity all the way to fizzing/flaring/exploding holes and showers of lovely sparks so sleeves and sensible protection for any exposed skin (ought to go without saying but I get complacent) will prevent permanent branding.
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pewe
Chats A Bit
Posts: 157
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Post by pewe on Mar 13, 2016 17:52:58 GMT
Nice welds especially the TIG (wish I could do that!).
I part-built a kitcar (chassis was professionally welded) and achieved some nice looking welds towards the end.
What I would suggest if you are contemplating welding underneath your pride and joy (and besides all the other obvious kit) is to buy some welding gauntlets which fit over the cuffs of welding gloves to protect your arms.
Hot blobs of weld burn through overalls and flesh faster than you can say "I need to get the f*ck out of here"!
Oh and a fire extinguisher handy's not a bad idea either!
Cheers, Pewe.
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Post by olionabike on Mar 13, 2016 20:41:26 GMT
I love it when a good weld gets laid down! Really makes it all worth it, my welder works great at home, it's an esab so a good bit of kit, also +1 on the fire extinguisher, I got a load of cheap out of date ones for £1 each haha tested one to make sure it worked which it did so don't be put off  ?? |
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Tom
Chats A Bit
Posts: 218
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Post by Tom on Mar 14, 2016 13:04:06 GMT
I have had a little dabble with TIG at college and loved it! However, cost limited me to a MIG for home use, especially as I don't do a huge amount of welding.
Having said that I found a nice R-tech welder for about £60 a month interest free recently, and most stuff I end up wanting to make up is aluminium so maybe once I have paid my van off I will invest! I get so much satisfaction from making things up and fabricating bits and pieces, I often wonder if I should have done it as a career. I think its a bit dangerous though, could end up resenting my hobby!
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Post by Binney on Mar 15, 2016 13:17:22 GMT
I would say you aren't far off being able to do car repairs at that. I have seen worse done by professional garages. That plate looks quite thin. I realise that is likely the thickness you are trying to learn to weld, but you can make your life a lot easier and get yourself running consistent beads in no time with some thicker stuff I found; that way you are less concerned about the heat and can really tell the difference between different wirespeeds and speed of travel. With most types of welding position is everything, position of the thing you are welding as a workpiece be it horizontal, flat, overhead and also very importantly positioning yourself around it where possible. I found that practicing some overhead position before I started zapping my car helped a lot, and if you can figure out how to do it one handed in that position all the better, as that is the horror that often has to occur when you are in your own garage at home with no lift and crap light. Thanks for the kind words and advice Wigwambam. Practising welding upside-down is a great idea! Especially considering that some of the part of the car I need to weld are underneath. |
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Post by wigwambam on Mar 16, 2016 21:45:01 GMT
Another thing that helped for me was practicing on different joints. If you can get hold of some slightly thicker plate you might want to try and bash out some corner joints and T sections as well as more butt joints and lap joints. Once you realise that the welder's fury can be directed, and that any type of joint is possible having practiced the fundamentals in various different positions, you start to get more of a feel for weird and wonderful garage projects henceforth unimaginable!!! I like welding tips and tricks with Jody on Youtube. Very specific high end stuff sometimes but he gives some awesome insights. my welder works great at home, it's an esab so a good bit of kit Cool, I will take a look at esab, might be a bit outside my price range but I have been keeping a look out on the for sale section on mig-welding.co.uk as there is some really good stuff there from time to time if you are near enough. Nice to know I probably could be practicing TIG without shelling out for new circuits on the power supply, Not looking forward to paying for argon but there are a few places locally. I have been sending the missus money every so often for a new welder because I am crap at saving but I am very nearly there now! |
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Post by Reechard on Mar 16, 2016 21:57:32 GMT
I really want to get a welder at home and just have a play, will come in handy even if I can just do basic stuff.
But damn that tig weld is sexy. Do like a bit of weld porn.
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in going to be doing my exhaust once I move into my new house until then I have no space for my welding setup, here's some work I do 
