I got 2 front wings, a scuttle, a front and rear panel to weld. is it worth me trying to do it myself or should i just take it somewhere?

 

if u got a welder get practising, im pretty crap at it, but seam sealer, a grinder and shutz become your best friend

 

for what it will cost may as well have some where do it, its not a big job and would be easy enough if you have experience welding

but, with pannels im sure they need to be spot welded anyway ?!?

 

its 1 of those things that if you can do it, then ypou make it look dead easy
but if you aint ever done it before, then your 1st few attempts will be terrible
takes a lot of practise to get good
for what your needing i'd recommend getting somebody else to do it
as panels need gapped right as well,
and the welding will be seen, so better it looks good

 

with your wings just do like me and bolt them on it'll be so much better in the long run, just as strong and if your ever to bump them or doing an engine swap you can just take them off and yea most your panels will need spot welding on you can hire one if you feel brave just have a few practice welds first to get the strength right, and with mig welding well i can't weld but getting a crash course at work so will let you no from a beginers point of view

 

admitted westus has a good point depends how beginer you are, i work in a body shop and around cars most my life i'm self taught and still have a long way to go but i have a good idea of cars, i think he's advice would be best taken and i'll shut up because i'm tired and babbling on lol

 

Buy yourself a mid range mig with a proper BOC gas bottle!

Spend the time to learn it REALLY isnt that hard! In the long run it will pay for itself MANY times over!

Perhaps contact your local college for evening course's you wont look back! Any outlay will be easily covered by the few MOT jobs you do for your mates!

Welding is 75% of RS ownersip!

 

IMHO its a fucking nightmare on rotten panels, its ok on mint new metal though.

 

The trick is to cut out ANY rottern metal! You cant polish a turd!

 

Indeed, but thats not always easy depending on what access you have to the metal in question.

 

lol short but sweet i like it, well i'v got lot's of turds that need cutting out then it's the only thing i hate about fords they all rot like fooking tin cans

 

Thats where the training comes in! I would agree totally that is not always the easiest route! I tend to brace and then just cut ALL the rot out! You are far better making good from there even if it isnt pretty it will be far stronger and long lasting than a bird shit patch over shitty metal!

Perhaps gets some training and try on some obvious easy repairs taking your time. This will give you the experience you need to try more complex projects!

What I am saying is that people think welding is some sort of ART you are born with! If you plan to spend the rest of your life/hobby time playing with old cars then spend the time to learn! It will allow you to take on many projects and earn extra cash where this was never an opion before! Hence paying for itself in a VERY short time!

 

yea very true ratboy i'v always and always will be interested in old cars and wish i had learned earlier because now the shit job i had done as a favour from a friend has bugged me to the point where i'm redoing all my own work again just to get the strength back again, and to tidy it up, plus it will always come in handy i'm just lucky i work in a body shop because a couple of mates of mine there are willing to give me a free crash course to get me started, i'm a MET mechanic by the way, not a panel beater that can't weld

 

yeah you need proper gas really, pub gas is shite

 

i dont have ANY rotten panels im converting a MK4 escort to MK3.

 

Pub gas is bottled by the same people depends what gas you are talking about comparing with BOC, I use Krystal myself.
Mig is no biggies to learn, even better/easier if you have good hearing, or like fried bacon!!
tabetha

 

if you want to give us a ring today ill talk you through what to do and how to prep pannels for spot welding cos if you dont do it right the rust will start within days

 

...and if you dont mind setting fire to your self, sniffing up black shit up your nose, melting holes in your arms, getting sparks in your ear

As said get a mid range mig. I have a migmate 130 turbo (oooh turbo ive yet to find) which is fine for little jobs.

And my old chap has a massive mig with 5' bottle on it. Which is what i used when I did my S1, which had all the pannels you mention and more.

A little mig from say halfords will set you back about £150-200. And well worth it, i find i use mine for all sort of little odds and sods.

You can uses gasless fluxed wire, its hastle free but buy no way does it perform as well as a bottle.

Think you need to ask your self how much welding are you doing and going to do in the future. If not too much then may be worth getting a rough quote from a mobile welder.

But id say go buy a mid range jobbie, you wont regret it. As long as the metal and surrounding area is clean, Its piss easy to do, its the male testosterone filled equivelant of sewing!

 

Tabs,

Do you know what pub gas is???

Unless they have recently started putting argon in fizzy drinks you will find it is 100% co2.

Unless you are welding up inch thick plate this is no good. Your weld pool will run too hot and there will be splatter everywhere. Certainly no good for thin car panels.

For car panels you should be using argoshield light. 95% argon 5 % co2. Even argoshield heavy for thick plate is only 15% co2!

 

Get yourself onto www.mig-welding.co.uk

They have tutorials on how to weld.. also there are some good pointers on you tube.

If you want to buy a welder then speak to a chap called steve who goes by the name wedequip on mig welding.co.uk . He is cheaper than machine mart including delivery. I bought my Clarke 160TM off him and got it 2 days later. Its a good machine and takes x size gas bottles on the back,not those throw away, last 2 mins jobbies that halfords sell.

If you want gas, then a place called Adams Gas in Margate is good. There is no yearly rental for the bottle and refills are around the £25 mark for Co2/Argon. There is a £40 deposit. They trade on ebay if your interested and do delivery

Oh yeah, get yourself an auto shade welding helmet... The thing you get with a welder is no good for man nor beast

 

i think im deffo going to take it some where to hve the welding done.
Cant be arsed, seems like alot of hard work,

im a lazy git

 

a machine mart 150 a and recently changed from halfrauds disposable bottles to a ful size argoshield bottle.chalk and cheese.
was ready to give up but this is the right combo.
every weld is getting better and better.plently of practice and wasted tips.was doin two tips a session before i copped the wire feed speed was to slow hence burning back into the torch.
mg weld form above is very good.

have built a spit for the mk1 which doesnt need to look good only be strong.good practice.will do some unseen runs on the car next.

rob v

 

Yes I do know what pub gas is, used it myself many times, but prefer crystal myself.
I have a 150amp mig with 5 foot bottle and a gasless, fierce but ace outdoors.
I've welded for MOD, UK FIRE, Van Diemen, Railway stuff, plus at least 100 other companies, thin panel stuff as well as major structural stuff, with MMA, tig, mig, gas, on site off site.
tabetha