Hello everyone. I’ve been using the forum over the years for information as I have had nothing but grief from my dads old cebora. It’s has only been used for automotive related repairs, mainly patches and even since new had me and my old man pulling our hair out and throwing tools across the garage. Now ultimately a lot was down to not being a welder and having to learn over the years hence me normally having a read on here, and for years I have blamed myself constantly, and the only reason I haven’t binned the machine has been the information available on this site and pictures of the welds the machine is capable of. Now I made a set of coilovers for my last bmw, an e34 and the machine was brilliant and was no issue with the welds I was happy, but now I have arrived at having to put a patch repair on a visible panel and I have got to the point of either wanting to wallop the cebora with a sledgehammer, or stick the angle grinder into a main artery I’ve had enough. I have followed many posts and suggestions on here and have cleaned the contacts in the swan neck, cleaned and regreased the motor gearbox (unnecessary as it was clean grease in there) , replaced the earth wire with something meaty with a strong clamp, I am yet to replace the liner may be heading to wecs tomorrow for a new liner and swan neck liner. I am getting some good welds on a practice piece of steel that is also from another vw and getting some brilliant tack welds, then sometimes not, then outside onto the car with no adjustments other than increasing the gas and it struggles to strike up and I’ve put one good tack on against about 25 **** ones. I don’t no whether to blame myself, the machine or both, please can someone advise me, if needed I will take pictures. Thanks I’m advance jon
- Thread starter Jon w
- Start date
Outside ? How long and how thick is your extension cord ?
johnrev
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- Norfolk, UK
Hi Jon. I don't think I can help but there are plenty of clever guys on here who can and will no doubt.
I would suggest you put up a few pics if possible. Some of the dodgy looking welds and of the innards of the machine would be good. It gives the guys something to relate to and makes diagnosis easier when you can see what you're dealing with. Clever chaps with good diagnostic skills won't necessarily know the details of the particular machine and 'a picture paints.... etc. etc'. It amazes me what Eddie49 and some of the others can tell just by looking at a picture.
I'm sure you'll get the help you need and I will follow with interest.
John
Oops looks like I was a bit late!
I would suggest you put up a few pics if possible. Some of the dodgy looking welds and of the innards of the machine would be good. It gives the guys something to relate to and makes diagnosis easier when you can see what you're dealing with. Clever chaps with good diagnostic skills won't necessarily know the details of the particular machine and 'a picture paints.... etc. etc'. It amazes me what Eddie49 and some of the others can tell just by looking at a picture.
I'm sure you'll get the help you need and I will follow with interest.
John
Oops looks like I was a bit late!
Think it’s a 10m roll up one, should I invest in something better and where would I find one, will the welding spares shop be the best place to look, thank you
I will have a look thank you
These pictures are of the practice panel 2 of the front 1 of the back, annoyingly only cleaned one side and welds I’d be happy with on the car but I’ve cleaned the ones on the car with the grinder so can’t show them. I will definitely have to try a better extension lead, could I make my own, only needs to be about 2 metres long
Thanks will do
gaz1
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- 19,010
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- westyorkshire
here you are
The mods that made my topmig 150 actually rather good
Been meaning to say thanks to the various people who have helped me convert a £50 knackered old topmig 150 to a really pretty decent welder. Here's (from memory, but with some links) the mods I've made. I would probably have spent less if I'd bought a used (or possibly new!) Clarke but I now...
www.mig-welding.co.uk
johnrev
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- 225
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- Norfolk, UK
Doesn't look to be much wrong with the spots in your pics and if it's only deteriorating when you're running through the extension lead then Eddie has probably hit the nail on the head. The standard reel type extension lead is usually rated at 13amps but the cable used is very skimpy and will lose a lot of oomph over it's length when you're pulling the sort of current a welder needs.
Would be well worth investing in some really beefy three core and a good quality plug and socket to make up your own extension lead.
John
Would be well worth investing in some really beefy three core and a good quality plug and socket to make up your own extension lead.
John
Well I did just that and it has improved, I think I need more practice still, nowhere near the quality of butt welds I have seen on here, I did ok on the practice panel and the odd one on the car , it’s bloody frustrating but I will carry on practicing as it’s something I’ve always wanted to be capable of, and once this car is fixed it will be sold so I can get on with the car I want to my Sierra
johnrev
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- Norfolk, UK
That's good- Eddie does it again!
Welding thin stuff, especially old car thin stuff, is probably about as hard a job as any you could find to practice on. You'll get a real 'feel' for the machine by the time you're done though.
Had a Moggy traveller till a few months ago. Looked fair when I bouight it but after a good poke around I found it needed a whole heap of welding. After a few weeks crawling around underneath I got fed up with grinding and welding sparks fizzing around in my hair and ears. Decided I was too old and too fat to play this game and sold it. I still have little pangs of regret but with no undercover space and no means of getting it nice and high I know I did the right thing getting rid.
Hope your renovation goes well and you get yourself ready for the Sierra. Let us know how you get on.
John
Welding thin stuff, especially old car thin stuff, is probably about as hard a job as any you could find to practice on. You'll get a real 'feel' for the machine by the time you're done though.
Had a Moggy traveller till a few months ago. Looked fair when I bouight it but after a good poke around I found it needed a whole heap of welding. After a few weeks crawling around underneath I got fed up with grinding and welding sparks fizzing around in my hair and ears. Decided I was too old and too fat to play this game and sold it. I still have little pangs of regret but with no undercover space and no means of getting it nice and high I know I did the right thing getting rid.
Hope your renovation goes well and you get yourself ready for the Sierra. Let us know how you get on.
John
I feel for you it can be crap working outside the vw is outside and can’t be put inside unfortunately and I have lost all enthusiasm for working outside over the years. I’m very fortunate with the Sierra as it is mint, only downside of picking a lhd shell over rhd, similar price but not requiring any welding other than the bulkhead conversion so I want my welding to be up to scratch so more practice
johnrev
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That's going to be a much more rewarding job I should think. More technical but working on good strong steel should be a breeze after what you're doing now.
Hope we get a nice long balmy summer so you can get the VW sorted without too much hassle.
John
Hope we get a nice long balmy summer so you can get the VW sorted without too much hassle.
John
