Stick welding

[jimbloby]

2.7 td short wheelbase

Well first time welding. Tried welding using 1.6 mm rods on lowest setting. First time ever. Impossible couldn't get a strike let alone a run. Ended up having to pop riveting. Anyone can give advice on welding car body I would appreciate the input

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[rustic]

I am no expert, but having read loads of threads, most would use a mig welder with seperate gas bottles, for thin steel. No welder can weld to rust, it needs to be solid shiny steel.
With any welder, as a novice you need to practice on similar thickness steel before attempting any welds on a thin wing.
Good luck.
Rustic

 

[Banshee]

2.7 td short wheelbase

Well first time welding. Tried welding using 1.6 mm rods on lowest setting. First time ever. Impossible couldn't get a strike let alone a run. Ended up having to pop riveting. Anyone can give advice on welding car body I would appreciate the input

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That's how I envisage my first time welding going, it looks like such an art when you watch what people do.

 

[Fez_uk]

waste of time trying to weld bodywork with stick, get yourself a small mig welder.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Ideally use a mig welder but there are loads of great welding tutorial vids on youtube mate :thumb2

 

[macabethiel]

It's not as easy as it looks !

I can feel your pain it's not that easy until you have had some practice. As others have said MIG is much better for thin stuff.

It was a good 40 years ago when I did some electric welding and once I developed a steady hand it was not too difficult on thick steel - I was re-enforcing a Mini front sub-frame for rallying.

When I tried to put some sills on I was hopeless so pop riveted them in position and got a mobile welder to do the welding and brazing for me. He was so good I used the same bloke for many years before we moved house.

 

[jimbloby]

Anyone difference between mig and tig. Expense, ease amount of kit needed, etc

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[panelbeater]

you wont need tig as plant costs more and the argon gas costs.tig you feed rod into arc made with gun,mig wire is fed as you trigger and feed.
get a small 100a mig even gas less will do as wire is coated with flux.

 

[jimbloby]

you wont need tig as plant costs more and the argon gas costs.tig you feed rod into arc made with gun,mig wire is fed as you trigger and feed.
get a small 100a mig even gas less will do as wire is coated with flux.

Ok thanks

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[jims-terrano]

As said about the sticks. Mig is the way to go for sure and in actual fact I found it a lot easier than stick. Gas less works but I found using gas (argoshield which is co2 argon mix) does work better. The small bottles about 14" tall or useless though as they hold hardly any. Even using a mig expect to blow holes though.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Tig is harder to do than mig and I think gas less mig welding is hotter than normal mig welding! I would definitely use conventional mig.

 

[Terrano Steve]

Arc welding is easier with bigger rods ( it's to do with the amount of flux on the rod) that said you are right to be using 1.6mm rods on thin metal.
The reason you are unable to strike an arc is probably because amps are to low or the earth (return) is not good enough.
As said above MIG with gas would be a lot easier look for a welder with settings that go down low enough as a lot of the cheaper migs have only min max 1 & 2 settings.

 

[Monaro Pete]

As said by a few. Don't use stick on thin body work. Get a decent mig with a gas set up.
Gasless is ok, but you won't get half as decent weld.
I'm a qualified Welder/Fabricator & I've been welding since I was 21, I'm now 49. I know what I'm talking about.

Always make sure you have a decent CLEAN area for your earth. Always fully clean the area of paint, rust, oil or anything that's on the surface you're welding.

Get a bottle of Co2/Argon mix. You could use pub gas (I have before), but with the Co2/Argon you'll get a really decent weld. With you being new to welding I would suggest this way as it's easier to work with.

Basically it'll be trial & error for your settings on the welder, too much amps & holes appear in the steel, too much wire feed & you'll get pigeon poo welds.
It's a fine balance that comes with experience.
Try to get someone to help that's had experience (not someone that says "yeah, I can weld" when they can't). After all you want your plating to stay in place & not fall/break off.

 

[Monaro Pete]

Also get a decent welding mask. They're cheap enough nowadays. You DON'T want arc eye. Also keep your skin covered up (overalls), the sun has nothing on arc rays. You will look like a lobster :lol

 

[Monaro Pete]

If you're buying a welder. What you pay is what you get. Don't go for one that has min/max for amp settings, they're crap. You'll need to fine tune, so a dial for wire feed & a knob with lots of amp settings.
I've seen many a guy trying to weld with a Machine Mart special cheapy cheap. They're crap.
I don't want to put you off, I just hate to see you waste your money.
I paid £280.00 for my welder second hand, but it's a good one.

My mate borrowed it to weld his Astra MKI & was very impressed with it, he bought a mediocre one from Machine Mart & he hates it.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Pete, was I right when I said gasless mig is hotter than normal mig?

 

[Monaro Pete]

Pete, was I right when I said gasless mig is hotter than normal mig?

Looking at it in a logical way (Mr Spock). My thoughts are yes, because you have the gas to slightly cool the weld as it's being laid.

I am up for being proven wrong.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Looking at it in a logical way (Mr Spock). My thoughts are yes, because you have the gas to slightly cool the weld as it's being laid.

I am up for being proven wrong.

I can't remember where I heard/read it, may even have been youtube, probably when I was doing some research of welders.

 

[jims-terrano]

Dont forget although standard mig with gas is better in my opinion of course. If welding outside the gas can get blown away from the tip. Also gasless will weld body work.

 

[Monaro Pete]

Dont forget although standard mig with gas is better in my opinion of course. If welding outside the gas can get blown away from the tip.

Very true :thumbs Aero choc bars :lol