Second attempt on my van.....

[smoggyrich]

what you do need is drip check brush on seam sealer on the welds first
halfrauds sell it or car factors

Thanks for the advice octo. Like I said before I've Never done any body work before apart from
paint touch up's etc.

What is a drip check brush?

 

[octo0072000]

drip check brushing seam sealer just a name of a seam sealer another one is 3M brushing seam sealer

try this tells you about seam sealer

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...&resnum=4&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[octo0072000]

hows new welder going we need pictures

smoggy

How,s new welder going we need pictures and progress

 

[Wedg1e]

How smoggy man, I'm just up the road from you (in fact I work in Billingham, not too far from that bloody tower block they're about to demolish)... if those gas bottles turn out to be pure Argon I could take them off your hands for my TIG set... should be able to chuck a full pub CO2 bottle in for your MIG as part of the deal (and tell where to get it refilled!)

(smoggy) Ian

 

[smoggyrich]

How smoggy man, I'm just up the road from you (in fact I work in Billingham, not too far from that bloody tower block they're about to demolish)... if those gas bottles turn out to be pure Argon I could take them off your hands for my TIG set... should be able to chuck a full pub CO2 bottle in for your MIG as part of the deal (and tell where to get it refilled!)

(smoggy) Ian

How do mate.

I'M on the look out for a pub bottle the only problem is, is that these bottles of argon were only disposables and one of them is now empty!

Would you still be intetested in a deal?

 

[smoggyrich]

Hello again chaps.

I've been having a little play about with my new machine.

When I first had a go I found that the regulator was no good. No matter how far I wound it on I was
only getting a small blast of gas then it would stop. So I've fitted a different reg and it worked fine.

Here's some pics of my first attempts. (Hope you can make them out ok as I'm sending this from my
Phone as our laptop is knackered).....

This first pic shows a plug weld and a but joint....

This pic shows a lap joint....

[IMG]http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww302/smoggyrich/utf-8BSU1HMDAxMDMtMjAxMTA2MjktMTAxMC5qcGc.jpg

This pic shows the butt weld and plug welds again...

This was all done using 1mm mild steel using the thin metal technique.
I've been using pure Argon disposables which I know isn't ideal for this
but it's all I have at the moment.

I can see what everyone has been saying about getting a gas setup it is much easier to controll
And I'm quite pleased with my first attempts.

What do you guys think?

 

[octo0072000]

welds

your welds are 100% better than before just a bit more pratice and see if you can get some pub gas Co2 argo shield is better but i have used both and pure argon as well it's all just practice your getting there

 

[keith19]

Looking good, Smoggy, especially as it's only 1 mm. Plugs look fine, too. Just watch the ends of the joint on thin stuff, where the heat builds very quick and has nowhere to go. I generally do a 'soft' tack on the ends of thin stuff, then work up to it and blend it in.
Glad you got your reg problem sorted, should be a lot easier from here onwards.

 

[smoggyrich]

Just watch the ends of the joint on thin stuff, where the heat builds very quick and has nowhere to go. I generally do a 'soft' tack on the ends of thin stuff, then work up to it and blend it in.

Thanks for the tip i shall try that next time out there.

 

[smoggyrich]

Bit of an update.....

Hello again.

Haven't had much chance lately to do any more work on my van but had a few spare hours today so i've had a bash. I'm set up now with a Co2 pub gas bottle and i've been having a play about with the settings on some bits of scrap whenever i've had the chance.

I've had a go today repairing the section at the top side of the wheel arch. i had to replace this whole section as this is where the repair panel (including the seat belt anchor nut) will be welded to.

It took me 90% of my time cutting the patch to fit. I managed to get the patch to butt up or have a gap as little as 1/2mm. I then had to bent it into the shape of the original section.

Here is how I'm planning to finish this section with the repair pannel......

I'm quite pleased with how the welder is working. much better than gasless.

What do you guy's think???

 

[keith19]

No' bad, Smoggy! I'd be quite happy with that for MOT repairs.

 

[gavuk]

Welding looks good for mot work ,co2 is not so bad is it not so sure about the shoes and shorts?.....hopefully only worn at the photo stage...

 

[octo0072000]

progress

it's all about practice your weld are 100% better than with the old gas less one and i bet you never thought you could ever do what you have done so far keep up the good work
and more pic's of the progress etc

 

[smoggyrich]

not so sure about the shoes and shorts?...

Haaa. Photo was taken after i'd cleaned up.

 

[JohnMcBob]

Just had a wee read through your thread and its amazing how quickly you've improved your welding, see for flattening them down, i take it that it's just a case of gently grinding them down with the flat side of the angle grinder yeah?

 

[smoggyrich]

for flattening them down, i take it that it's just a case of gently grinding them down with the flat side of the angle grinder yeah?

Hello mate, thanks for your post.

For flattening down i've taken the advice from the very helpfull chaps on here and been using something like this. (available on ebay)......

They are far less brutal than a normal grinding wheel.

 

[JohnMcBob]

what are they called? gonna be getting myself a wee cleake grinder seeing as my other one won't work and its only £20

 

[smoggyrich]

If you search for flap disc on ebay they are on there for about £2. You can get them in Halfords and places like that as well.

 

[JohnMcBob]

Awe wicked, cheers bud

 

[smoggyrich]

Bit more progress....

Had another bash today. Feel like I'm starting to get a feel for it now. I've still been practicing on scrap every time i get the chance.

I have the week off work this week but un-fortunately the missus hasn't and i have the two smoglets to look after. These summer hols last too long. (I'm starting to sound like my dad).

Here goes......