Positional Welding

[Arfron]

If you have to weld-in patches / plates under your Moggy, frequently it is a problem to use clamps etc. A useful , and time saving process , which saves using the normal self - tappers/ drill !!!

Go to your friendly builders' merchant and purchase a quantity of dry lining-self tapping screws ( Lafarge trade name ) Each screw has its built in drill point . You use an electric drill with a phillps driver head , and just bang the screws in . Much easier !!! Then tack weld ; I usually weld straight ocer the screw heads . Arfron

[Cam]

I usually hold the piece in place with a large screwdriver, so that the edges line up and tack one bit, then repeat the process hammering and tacking until it's held, then seam weld in-between the tacks.

But if you are doing VERY large areas, then I see your point.

[Arfron]

Point taken. Arfron

[rayofleamington]

Small plates I tend to use insulation tape to hold them for tacking! It will fall off anyway when you start with the real welding.
Bigger plates - I also use a screwdriver, but normally a wooden hammer handle (less likely to get electrocuted).
Under the car I've found it very handy to hold the panel in place (eg. a sill) using a scissor jack.

[James - St. Helens]

What about the easiest method - Find some one else to hold the plate.

I have used with good success welding magnets.

You can also buy panel clamps that are drilled and screwed very much like the screw idea but more expensive.


James.

[Arfron]

Thanks for all the various suggestions about how to position steel,prior to welding ; however, the point that I was trying to make is , that you could use the self- drill screws when necessary . Maybe, that a lot of folk had never heard of self - drill screws . I hadn't until I came across them in a non- welding context . I rest my case ! Arfron