To weld or not to weld.

Soldato
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I have a project car that needs a fair amount of work. For one, it needs some patches of welding done to pass its MOT. How easy is welding to teach oneself? Could I pick up a welder and "have a go"? Do I just suck it up and stump up the supposed rip-off cost at a garage?

Has anyone here self taught?
 
I was self taught, there are enough videos on youtube etc to teach yourself but don't jump straight into it without spending a day or so practising on body panels/.8mm steel.

Don't cheap out on the welder - buy a decent one either new or second hand (you can get some incredible welders that are 10-20 years old and will last for a long time). Get a big bottle of gas from one of the rental places, an auto dimming mask and make sure the area is well lit at all time.

A bit like painting, good welding comes down to good preparation so don't rush it.
 
Practice, practice, practice.

It is enough enough to do, but do not tackle it without havino a go on practice panels. Go buy a beat up bonnet or panel, cut out a patch and try welding it back in.

You will blow through, it will look crap but plenty of practice and you'll sort it no problem
 
Great thanks for the feedback. Typically, the rusted panels are all out of sight, so doing it myself isn't so bad as if they were all in view. There are some large bubbles of rust around the window and outer edge of the wings though , and I'm unsure how to combat them or to just leave them.

I predict fun times ahead either way.
 
I taught myself to weld, I am ok at it.

I say a OK, you wouldn't confuse anything I've ever welded with the work of someone who knows what they are doing.
 
Taught myself after watching a few mates do it.

Turns out that forming metal is just one of those things I like doing, Yep I love making plates, Nowt better than beating a piece of metal into the shape/form you need.
As far as actually welding goes the welding bit is the easiest, Grinding back & finding decent metal to weld to is the hard bit. Actually getting access is another big problem.

Anybody can weld 2 pieces of metal together but it takes a fair bit of skill to cut/form the panel & prep the area you have to patch. Welding old cars can be a nightmare but I do find it satisfying once done.
There are cars & vans rolling about out there with panels I formed out of sheet metal & I love it, Am sad like that. :p
 
Yeah, I think I'd find it quite fun too. The car needs lots of work, but welding being the main thing. I think it is going to offer as much fun (and frustration) being worked on as it will be driven :p
 
As said above the welding is the quick and easy part, I'm partway through putting a rollcage in the MR2 and the amount of time spent actually welding has been a fraction of that spent shaping brackets, offering them up, adjusting and generally faffing about.

I did an evening course to actually learn welding, it was useful to be taught the theory and get plenty of practice in before I had to commit to buying my own gear however when it comes to dong it for real, welding old metal of varying thickness at odd angles with restricted access and only one chance to get it right is a totally different ball game to welding clean bits of scrap metal on a workbench!
 
Much has been said already, but to reiterate.

1) Do NOT cheap on the welder! One can do decent welds with a cheap sealley. But the cheap welders are not particularly forgiving for a novice. The more expensive welders will have better quality wire drives and more stable electrics. They will also tend to go lower on the amps. You do not need a 160 amp welder to do car bodywork!. You do however need a 25 amp one! I have one of these and am very pleased with it. (You can order it with a spot/plug weld timer which is a useful addition)

2) Use argosheild (Or similar) Again, one can do reasonable welds with CO2, but argoshield is more forgiving. One can get "Proper" bottles from places like albee-weld which for occasional use is a lot cheaper than BOC.

3) Preparation is everything. MIG relies on completing a circuit via the arc. The slightest particle of rust or paint will interrupt this, as will any gassing from nearby paint etc boiling off, so you need to clean the metal of all old paint near the work area.

4) Practice on scrap metal first!

5) Dont forget the welding gloves etc. If working overhead wear ear muffs! (Welding spatter in your lughole is a tad uncomfortable and welding spatter comes equipped with Lughole targeting AI!:D)

6) Make sure you have the means to put out any fires that might start! A turned on hose pipe with a trigger nozzle is pretty good! and be vary careful if the car has ever been waxoyled!

7) Make sure you have plenty of spare nozzles/gas cups. While you are learning you will get through these
 
If the labour cost is going to be at or above the £400 mark then I'd seriously think about buying the gear to do it yourself.
After a while you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
It's easy to learn and if you have a quandry there are a million and one "how to's" on YouTube for advice.
 
Tried to teach myself and then even went to an evening course at the local college and just couldn't get the hang of it. :rolleyes:
I guess it's not for everyone, I'm usually good at that kind of thing.
I found it too much of an 'art' really.
 
There's no art involved, it's just melting two bits of metal together.
And for MOT purposes it can pretty much look like pigeon **** and they will pass it!

Are you sure you were learning MIG and not something like TIG.
 
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