J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Any idiot can weld 2 bits of metal together (look in most garages), I fit into that category but doing it well is an art, safety is an issue, I was welding my old trusty Metro 1.0 Clubman for the MOT, underneath it behind the front offside wheel where a hole was forming, tacked on a patch and was putting a seam all round it (as the MOT dictates) and inside the car, unknown to me the carpet fell from where it was held out of the way onto the other side of where I was welding, I put it out with a pint of Orange Juice I was drinking !

David_Wallis

Before snide comments, I work in IT!!. No training.. not saying Im good, but Im better than some that say they can weld.. (these are all from circa 2003) Will post some pics of the seam welding on the new car.

Machined this in the lathe at home from a lump of billet..


Some up pipes I quickly re - bent (gas axe and wood ) and welded and pissed about with.. Not enough heat - **** poor penetration, but I didnt want to burn through and leave bits that would break off.. as I didnt back purge.. If you dont know dont ask!


Didnt dare use enough heat, functional but messy.. Probably my 3rd or 4th tig weld


Evidence of me welding (Note skinny )



The weld in question


I always take the **** and say thicker is easier, but any contamination will soon put an end to cockyness.






David

Fuzz

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-SIP-Topmig...QQcmdZViewItem

That's the same sort of sucker I bought as my first welder when I was about 17 / 18 and it's still in good order today, although the wire is rusty now
I'd say for an all round machine it would be prudent to go for a slighty more powerful one if you can afford.
I think a 190-200 amp one would make a perfect DIY all rounder.
It'll go low enough to weld up those rusty sills on a classic and high enough to be useable making things like a rollcage for eg.

Andy

Fuzz

Nice tan the next day David ??

fooking weld burn.

Andy

David_Wallis

PS, My MIG is 230A and my Tig is 200A (AC/DC)

Fuzz, my recommendation stopped at that current rating as bigger needs over a 13A supply normally

David_Wallis

Fuzz.. Ive not had it too bad yet Torch gets too hot before I do.. Need a water cooled torch if I was doing it for a living.. Having said that with welds like that best stick to IT!!!

David

David_Wallis

PS part 2..

Wear gloves when learning to weld with an AC tig.. when you strike the arc onto the rod rather than the work piece... you know about it.. makes me cringe watching American Hotrod / American Chopper.

David

David_Wallis

PUB TIME!

16vmarc

I made these with MIG, I wont be going back to welding as a career again!:

Crap working environment, silly targets to make and no thanks/gratitude from employer.

16vmarc

I had a water cooled set, makes a big difference. Until that is the bugger springs a leak!

DIPSY

Alu a bit of a pain to weld with tig eveything needs to be clean .See the Americans they don't wear any safety gear .I was watching southern choppers one of the welders was tiging steel bike frame no gloves tshirt open toed sandals nutters must go home with welders tan.David just go over the top of the weld with a bit more amps makes it look neat with out filler wire

Brit_in_Japan

I have a lot of respect for skilled welders, it's the hardest of all workshop skills in my opinion. Getting welds which are both strong and look good is not trivial and takes some practise.

I tried to get on a welding course at a local technical college but the thing was constantly booked solid by the rally boys who used the facilities to prep their cars. Previous course students had first dibs on the follow on course and so they had rolling enrollment and nobody else got a look in

16vmarc

They stopped the course at York College after i left as the students kept leaving.