welding advice, all comments appreciated

[Asa-James]

going to have a go at welding on the nova tomorrow (been doing a bit of practice with bits and feel ok to try for real!) most of what i'm going to be doing will be out of site but i'm just after pointers, do's/dont's for welding on the car...
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/E801%20GCG/IMGP2095.jpg
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/E801%20GCG/IMGP2096.jpg



also, what to do about this, the rest of the crossmember is solid as is the other mount. i wont tackle this until i feel comfortable about decent welding, else i'll get a garage/someone else to do it for me. do i just plate whats gone?
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k155/asa_037/E801%20GCG/IMGP2094.jpg

[Pistol Pete]

Cut out as much rot as you can, welder will blow it to **** otherwise! Cross memeber, same thing really. Be very thorough and check for rot. No point in welding it if if is shot.

Have a look on www.mig-welding.co.uk (http://www.mig-welding.co.uk) for tips and help. Good site and lots of pics. Good luck.

[chimp007_uk]

I've never welded properly before until two weeks ago, and I'd say grind everything back to good metal, get rid of any rust.

Cut the new metal to shape.
Tack in place
Get your current and feed sorted
get welding

Be confident, don't stop start, try and get the weld flowing nicely and it'll be fine. When I started doing mine I was more worried about cocking it up than being confident.

Don't rush it and you'll be fine. I'm by no means great, but I know where your coming from. Once you get going you won't want to stop lol

[adam c]

EDIT:CHIMP007 has mentioned everything that i was going to say!


plus so true about once you get the hang of it you'll want to weld everything!lol

[Pistol Pete]

Also worth remembering that the areas you are doing are covered so doesnt have to be 100% in all honesty!

When doing the cross member remove the rad, pipes etc make it easy for yourself. Plenty of room to work in.

[buzbi]

disconnect the battery before you start, and get the area to be welded like new (ground/sanded back to bare metal) and make yourself as much room as possible so be good to take he rad out. have a look at my project thread as i had rot in the same places and have got before, during and after pics

[auzzy2000]

you will be fine mate.the more you do the better you get.its all about having things clean,get your settings right.keep an eye on any underseal.nice thick welding glove normally works.fire extinguisher for health and safety.mask is a good idea to.lol

[buzbi]

before
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3337/73/111/682607709/n682607709_1561674_545103.jpg

after
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3337/73/111/682607709/n682607709_1561677_7908307.jpg

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3337/73/111/682607709/n682607709_1561673_3612529.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v3337/73/111/682607709/n682607709_1561670_7905570.jpg

:thumb:

[Asa-James]

funnily enough i was flicking thru your build thread this morning which is when i thought " mine really needs doing"!
@buzbi

[tarmacghost]

also make sure there is nothing flamable behind where you are welding :thumb:

[The Simps]

Those ends bits aren't the easiest of first jobs tbh! Isn't there a nice piece of flat plate you can weld in first to practice making templates etc?

Spend loads of time making your new piece so its the best fit possible as like most things in life the prep is everything.

Tack everything in first then try everything for fit etc then your last job should be to wip round to finish it off. This way if you realise what you've done is wrong you can change it easily but more importantly the hardest bit you can do in one go and get into a flow.

[buzbi]

i don't want to go against what other people have said but on thin stuff (exhaust, body etc) it can be easyer to spot weld then spot on the edge of the first and so on all of the way. althouth a continuos weld is stronger it can be harder to do as it could keep melting through. and as an inch of good well can hold a ton it will be fine to spot all the way and it will be easyer to get it to look good

[The Simps]

^ very true.

[Asa-James]

i'm going to take measurements and make cardboard templates from the better of the two sides before i cut anything off,

[Leeboo]

If you are welding on a plate, tack/spot weld it on and beat it round the area to the shape as you are welding, the heat should help this. If that makes sense. I am not a good welder but I do know some things like that as my mate is a good welder.

[buzbi]

the cardboard won't last to long once welded in it will go all soggy when it gets wet ;), on a serious note templates are good :thumb: also as leeboo said weld it, tap it into shape, weld it, tap it into shape, etc.