Having a go at welding

[poplars]

Ha - have the auto welding mask ready to order.

Any ideas where I can purchase sheet metal appropriate to put on the body work if say for example I have to fill a gap? What thickness, sort etc etc??

[tysonn]

For the body repairs you need 1mm or 20g mild steel.If you can't find anywhere local you can buy it online.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Metalworking- ... teel+sheet

[poplars]

Brill! Thanks for that! Just what I was looking for!

[bmcecosse]

I doubt even the most experienced welder would attempt to repair underside of doors still on the car..... Joining up blobs is not a satisfactory way of MIG welding. You can however replicate spot welding, where that was the original assembly method used in the factory. Patching in new metal requires continuous welding.

[mattinhertford]

Man I am so going to try welding sometime

You guys are all making it sound so easy, and thanks to you Poplars for asking all the right questions, pretty much everything that was running through my head every time I've thought "I should learn how to weld, it could save me £££'s in the long run, but where the heck do I start...."

Poplars, some photos of your practice pieces would be good too if you can.

Cheers

Matt

[poplars]

May be a while before I post but definitely! Worst that happens is I electrocute myself I suppose.. or burn all my bodily parts in the process!!!

[Trickydicky]

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher handy when you start, small fires around underseal etc can soon cascade.
Wear a cap,gloves and overalls to protect yourself.

[panky]

Remember to disconnect the battery before you start welding too.

[bigjim]

whereabouts are you ,some of the more experienced welders on here may be able to provide some practice /hands on advice

[poplars]

Lincolnshire - not far from Newark or Lincoln. No real rush - as not doing anything for a while, but will be fun to learn the basics I think. Don't want to have to run to garage every time some little thing goes wrong - hence my objective is to learn a few things.

[GustavPumpkin]

Following this post with great interest, as I would love to learn how to weld, but could do with somebody showing me how to get started.

My poor Morris has been badly neglected the past few years and now I'm paying the price for it, RUST!!!!! Need to do something about it now or pay someone to do it for me.

How did you get on?

[don58van]

could do with somebody showing me how to get started

I think this is a good place to start. There are plenty of others on Youtube and the like. Have a poke around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzBGZaS1apw

I also did some classes at night college -- worthwhile.

Don

[GustavPumpkin]

could do with somebody showing me how to get started

I think this is a good place to start. There are plenty of others on Youtube and the like. Have a poke around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzBGZaS1apw

I also did some classes at night college -- worthwhile.

Don

Fantastic! Thank you!!!!!

[bmcecosse]

I regularly complain to the lads at the railway - that if they had taught me joinery and welding at skool - it would have been a dam site more useful then the ****** Latin and History.........

[Mark Wilson]

I regularly complain to the lads at the railway - that if they had taught me joinery and welding at skool - it would have been a dam site more useful then the ****** Latin and History.........

Snap! Those at my grammar school who were even less bright than me got to do metalwork, woodwork and tech drawing. Bit ironic that I've spent over 40 years on drawing boards and CAD and spend my spare time shaping wood and bashing metal.

Nil carborundum.....

Mark

[twincamman]

I've just started a Level 1 welding course (MIG) at my local college. I've had 4 sessions so far, and I'm managing to lay down some decent beads. Considering that I've got co-ordination issues (I'm banned from dancefloors under HSE guidelines!), I'd say that if I can pick it up that quickly, anyone can.
By the way there is a lot of useful info on the mig welding forum mentioned earlier. Have a look in the automotive projects section and you'll see a couple of Minor projects on the go.