Tig welding alloy wheels

[fizzy]

No, they'll be using a welders that have the same attitude as many on here "Looks okay, haven't had many back"
And they'll be using the biggest firm that can knock a load through the powder coating oven as cheap as possible.

As already mentioned, welding an aluminium HGV wheel is an MOT fail. So I hope your fleets aren't running any haulage...

Definitely all cowboys

https://www.supremewheels.co.uk/how-we-do-it

They have some serious equipment there!

 

[Woody.v8]

That is very true - there is a large element of the motortrade that will weld up wheels - there is also a large number of people who will sell second hand tyres as well.

You wanna see how they pack - stretch one tyre over another then another - to reduce the volume for "container packing".

I have never seen a tyre with "PART-WORN" label on it - in 4mm letters - but this is law as well.


Personally - The DVSA should push this (welded wheels) to a failure at MOT testing. Tyre valves fail for being perished.

My mate does part worn tyres as well as new ones, He gets his tyres from cars he scraps so mot fails etc.
Trading standards got on to him about the part worn marking so he bought stamp , it easily wears off though but it covers his back.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I can remember the days when folk happily bought and fitted remould tyres to cars, we could only assume the carcasses had been properly inspected before the 'refur'b' process began.

But how far fftopic: have we drifted on this one......

 

[Richard.]

a welding machine salesman

It’s what I do and what I enjoy
I’ve lots of strings to my bow and being in lots of positions in the industry over 2 decades nearly.
People can please themselves if they chose to weld such things. I base my posts from experience and whether you agree or not I still stand by my posts. You cannot weld on wheels without changing things metallurgically in a negative sense. This is a fact.
I do believe a metallurgist did pass many comments on this thread. Hotrodder. Sadly he’s not with us anymore but his posts are simply legendary
Have a read of them. His knowledge on this and many other subjects was quite exceptional.

 

[pressbrake1]

It’s what I do and what I enjoy
I’ve lots of strings to my bow and being in lots of positions in the industry over 2 decades nearly.
People can please themselves if they chose to weld such things. I base my posts from experience and whether you agree or not I still stand by my posts. You cannot weld on wheels without changing things metallurgically in a negative sense. This is a fact.
I do believe a metallurgist did pass many comments on this thread. Hotrodder. Sadly he’s not with us anymore but his posts are simply legendary
Have a read of them. His knowledge on this and many other subjects was quite exceptional.

How sad when knowledge is lost forever and one with such knowledge to share publicly on a forum
I’m sorry but I hate salesman, a rep from wes didn’t get the hint to go when I gave him the 9”grinder sparks treatment and stood there trying to sell me a years worth of grinding discs

 

[stuvy]

It’s what I do and what I enjoy
I’ve lots of strings to my bow and being in lots of positions in the industry over 2 decades nearly.
People can please themselves if they chose to weld such things. I base my posts from experience and whether you agree or not I still stand by my posts. You cannot weld on wheels without changing things metallurgically in a negative sense. This is a fact.
I do believe a metallurgist did pass many comments on this thread. Hotrodder. Sadly he’s not with us anymore but his posts are simply legendary
Have a read of them. His knowledge on this and many other subjects was quite exceptional.

How sad when knowledge is lost forever

Too true hotrodder and langy were a massive asset to this forum and now sadly missed

 

[Gizmo.Y]

I've been welding up wheels since i first got my TIG.

I've had very good success and i repair 3-4 a week, mostly for Trade and wheel refurbish companies.

Maybe 1 in 10 repairs return with the repaired crack failed, the rest usually crack next to or within 4-5" of the previous repair.

The worst that can happen is the crack will just open up and slowly leak air, giving the customer the idea it has a slow puncture.

All my customers sign a liability waiver, i explain to them in detail the repair i'm about to do and how long it may or may not last and they have the choice to either have it repaired or take it and get a new wheel.


Im pretty sure now welded wheels are an MOT Failure, or atleast Cracked wheels are an MOT Failure.

 

[PhillipM]

They crack next to it because you've weakened the rest of the alloy by reducing the strength when you heated it to repair the crack. It will be rare the weld itself fails. Same happens in steel to a lesser extent.

 

[premmington]

I've been welding up wheels since i first got my TIG.

I've had very good success and i repair 3-4 a week, mostly for Trade and wheel refurbish companies.

Maybe 1 in 10 repairs return with the repaired crack failed, the rest usually crack next to or within 4-5" of the previous repair.

The worst that can happen is the crack will just open up and slowly leak air, giving the customer the idea it has a slow puncture.

All my customers sign a liability waiver, i explain to them in detail the repair i'm about to do and how long it may or may not last and they have the choice to either have it repaired or take it and get a new wheel.


Im pretty sure now welded wheels are an MOT Failure, or atleast Cracked wheels are an MOT Failure.

10% failure rate - just sell them a new wheel!

 

[pressbrake1]

They crack next to it because you've weakened the rest of the alloy by reducing the strength when you heated it to repair the crack. It will be rare the weld itself fails. Same happens in steel to a lesser extent.

they crack again cos its a soppy 3ton rangerover on low profiles and English roads and the same with bmw wheels. Due to the heat soak of aluminium 4 or 5 inch away has nothing to do with it and more likely another pot hole

 

[Gizmo.Y]

they crack again cos its a soppy 3ton rangerover on low profiles and English roads and the same with bmw wheels. Due to the heat soak of aluminium 4 or 5 inch away has nothing to do with it and more likely another pot hole

Bingo! Lincolnshire being Pothole haven.

As i tell them all, it will last 2 minutes or 2 years...The reality is, if they go bouncing down every pothole they see, chances are the repair won't last long at all.

But, again...Its all fully loaded vivaro vans on BMW or Aftermarket wheels. Wheels not designed for the load. this type of scenario makes up for most of my repairs.

 

[stuvy]

When I worked for a wheel company it was 90% bmw wheels they would also need straightening as all but a few were oval

 

[Richard.]

I’m sorry but I hate salesman

Fair enough. A rather big stipulation to state based on a bad experience but if you hate us all then that’s that.
Yes it was an awful loss when we lost hotrodder.

 

[Ashley Burton]

@Gizmo.Y A waiver won't make much difference in a court of law. Your the professional in the eyes of the law, If you feel that its safe to repair & the customer has an accident then your still liable despite your waiver.

I don't see repairing any wheel a good idea. Fit new or a secondhand one in roadworthy condition & move on with life.

Trying to save someone a couple of quid isn't worth a life in my eyes

 

[premmington]

@Gizmo.Y A waiver won't make much difference in a court of law. Your the professional in the eyes of the law, If you feel that its safe to repair & the customer has an accident then your still liable despite your waiver.

I don't see repairing any wheel a good idea. Fit new or a secondhand one in roadworthy condition & move on with life.

Trying to save someone a couple of quid isn't worth a life in my eyes

+1 for the above...

Waiver means nothing!


I am not insured to weld wheels up - fit customer supplied parts - or even secondhand parts. (Sad but true!)

 

[pressbrake1]

What the last few posts on this thread tell us is we have a lot of alloys on unsuitable vehicles ie vans with low profile tyres and heavy suvs with low profile and ultra low profile wheels. Not forgetting slammed BMW’s with said wheels.
A lot of alloys are really light weight with the rim only 4mm or so thick where as my old Capri seven spokes were strong

 

[slim_boy_fat]

A lot of alloys are really light weight

Mine don't seem to be, I can hardly lift the rim/tyre combo when swopping over to winter set-up

 

[stuvy]

What the last few posts on this thread tell us is we have a lot of alloys on unsuitable vehicles ie vans with low profile tyres and heavy suvs with low profile and ultra low profile wheels. Not forgetting slammed BMW’s with said wheels.
A lot of alloys are really light weight with the rim only 4mm or so thick where as my old Capri seven spokes were strong

You can’t legally fit Ford Focus ST alloys to a connect as Ford did the correct thing and registered there vehicles as commercial vehicles unlike prison dodging hitler mobiles Vw that are shonky car derived vans same as crap Vauxhall estate astras that are now panel vans. The load rating is completely different

 

[Eric the chicken]

One of the regular Amazon delivery lads drives a Transit style van with BMW badged low profile wheels on it. When I suggested, In a friendly manner that they might not be suitable he just smiled and said something to the effect of maybe, but they look so good.

 

[Eric the chicken]

Sorry Gents that was way off topic. I'll wind my neck in Merry Christmas

Eric