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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Welding
        
(Message started by: Jonnycab on Mar 24^th, 2011, 12:48am)

Title: Welding
Post by Jonnycab on Mar 24^th, 2011, 12:48am

Just a quickie ;)

When using a gasless mig welder, you obviously have to disconnect the battery. But is it also advisable to remove the alternator output lead as well, to prevent damage to the electrics ?

Would appreciate any advice :)

Title: Re: Welding
Post by PJDavis on Mar 24^th, 2011, 7:56am

Gas or no gas, I would always remove battery leads and alternator plug. The only time I can think of when not removing is when doing TAGS welding like on a Stainless Steel exhaust, but even then I'd be disconnecting.

Title: Re: Welding
Post by ernie on Mar 25^th, 2011, 8:50pm

Always pull the battery negative lead but usually don't bother with the alternator and have had no problems. However on modern lorries with a truly frightening amount of wiring and computers (with even more frightening price tags) I just fire them up and let em tick over.

Title: Re: Welding
Post by a900one on Apr 3^rd, 2011, 4:38pm

I have one of the things you clip on the battery terminals, a surge protector.

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Jonnycab on Apr 4^th, 2011, 9:07am

A surge protector eh ?...that's a good idea :) ...where do you get them ?

Title: Re: Welding
Post by a900one on Apr 14^th, 2011, 4:53pm

I got mine at a bootsale for £2 , ;D ;D, but they are on ebay for £40 app.

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Jonnycab on Apr 15^th, 2011, 2:49am

Something like THIS (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Welding-Vehicle-Spoke-Surge-ECUs-Battery-Protector-Kit-/260597046381?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item3caccb5c6d) ? :)

Title: Re: Welding
Post by a900one on Apr 22^nd, 2011, 9:17pm

Thats the one

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Jonnycab on Apr 24^th, 2011, 4:06am

Thanks mate, I'll definately be investing in one of those :)....removing the alternator leads everytime is going to start to become a bit of a drag ;)

Reason I started this post is because the wifes 2.3 estate failed the MOT on O/S rear sill...victim of an over zealous MOT tester ?....hmm :-/

Anyway, the garage gave me a silly quote for welding & I basically told them to put it where the sun doesn't shine & I'd bring it back the next week for the free retest.

Time to start practicing with that Powercraft gasless mig welder I bought from Aldi last year ;)

Here's the results....

After I cut out the rotten bits of the sill, I thought, "why stop there ?"...the wheel arch was pretty bad as well
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/P3260071-1.jpg

Sill & part of the wheel arch welded
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/P3270085.jpg

Both sill & wheel arch welds finished & ground down
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/P3270092.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/P3270096-1.jpg

Skimmed off/neatened with some Isopon 'Metalik'
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/P3280077.jpg

All primed with Zinc 182
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/jonnycab/P3280083.jpg

What do you think ?....Not too bad for a first attempt at welding, eh ;)

Just gotta get a batch of paint mixed & matched...& some laquer. Think I'll do it with the airbrush, seeing as it's just a small job. Hopefully should look good as new when finished :)

P.S.... it did pass the MOT a week later & the tester said that it was pretty good job 8)

Onwards & upwards as they say :D

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Mike H on Apr 24^th, 2011, 12:05pm

Well done that man! http://livinginthepast-audioweb.co.uk/images/misc/th_thumbsup.gif

Title: Re: Welding
Post by lesterlad aka Rodders on Apr 24^th, 2011, 12:21pm

Well done @ your first go.
I've had about twenty go's (with the powercraft stick welder) on different thickness's of metals and my attempts always finish up looking like blobs of pigeon droppings. :o >:(

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Mike H on Apr 25^th, 2011, 2:44pm

Probably be the same if I tried it! ;D

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Apr 25^th, 2011, 9:12pm

Nice work JC ;)

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Jonnycab on Apr 25^th, 2011, 11:02pm

Cheers guys :D

If anyone is wondering why the sill patch is blue...it's because it was cut from the door skin of one of the two doors I replaced on my Scorp a couple of years ago....ideal welding material ;)

The Powercraft welder is okay, but very difficult to get a smooth continuous weld going (wire slippage ?) & tends to easily make holes in bodywork even at the lowest 25 amps setting (if that is what it really is ?).
I'm using 0.9mm flux wire (came with welder)....maybe 0.8mm would be better ? :-/

It is well worth the £90 paid for it, but probably not worth much more than that ;)

I'm looking at a Clarke EN90/100/110 as an upgrade, as I've read some good customer reviews about them :)

Anyone own one of these ?....& can they recommend them ? :)

Title: Re: Welding
Post by Tekno on Apr 26^th, 2011, 8:15pm

there is also 0.7mm flux wire to consider. good for thin but needs low current.

Title: Re: Welding
Post by PJDavis on Apr 26^th, 2011, 9:25pm

Clarkes are good machines, but also tend to suffer from slip unless the rollers are really forced together. People always tend to use 'pub-gas', but if you can get a hold of an 'active' gas like Argon/O2 mix 10%, you'll find the weld much easier, and a much better finish. Even with an 'Inert' gas like pure Argon the finish would be a lot better. Cleaning and Preparation is the secret as well, and joining in wee spurts from either-end followed by joining up the small welds. I used to do loads of welding on cars, after serving my apprenticeship on the Railway which involved all-sorts of rubbish welding on Locomotives, Gas-Welding was 'my-thing' though, you can't beat Oxy-Acet' welding! Boys and Fire eh! ;D