Welded my wheel arch, Comments :)

[Annie]

Hey Guys,

After freezing my a*se off today in the sleet & snow I've got round to patching my rear wheel arch.

Please bare in mind before you laugh I have never done anything like this, Just been waching & listen to youtube vids lol

Thought id take a few pics & post them up as im pretty pleased as done it myself.

I started off with removing the fuel filler which was a nitemare & cut my hand.
I then used a grinder to remove undersill & rust, The whole just got bigger & bigger lol
Gave it a wire brush, used some card to make a template & cut out the replacement metel.
Ready for welding, as im just getting used to it & didnt want to blow any holes I just done small tacks.
Finished off with the grinder to make it pretty :)
Just need to get im seam sealer tommorow, Paint & underseal then put my new shocks on.

Maybe I should make a project thead but not doing much more to tinker.
Comments would be great so I can impove.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53298.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53299.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53301.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53302.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53304.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53310.jpg

[Mike]

Top effort for a first time!

My kinda bird :p not scared to get down & dirty with a car...... lol lol

[General Baxter]

more doors more whores

[craig green]

That looks fine, pics of you welding or we'll think you had help!!

I will advise you that you MUST use some waxoyl or similar to seal it from the inside of the chassis leg aswell as the outside, that burnt metal will be itching to corrode from the inside out ASAP now. If you dont it will need patching agin in 2yrs but be much bigger patch.

Once again tho, spot on for havin a go. More welding that I have ever done. Any goggles btw?

[bmw156]

lol my first bit of welding was in the excat same place.

*runs of to get pics*

yours is much better then mine LOL, mine was with a GASLESS welder. so bird poo welds lol

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c325/bmw156/my%20nova/carwelding003.jpg

[Connor]

cracking job :thumb:
first time aswell :D

[Annie]

Thanks :)

here some pics of my welds.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53303.jpg

[bmw156]

those welds look top as well.

[craig green]

Got any pics of you wearing a welding mask by chance??

[Mike]

Alls you need to do now is get the hand of doing continues lengths of weld :)

[Damo]

Top job that annie better than mine that lol .

Keep it up practice makes perfect.

[Annie]

Got any pics of you wearing a welding mask by chance??

nope sorry, Maybe next time :p

[Annie]

Alls you need to do now is get the hand of doing continues lengths of weld :)

I did try but the metel kept burning thou abit, thought it better to tack with thin metel. oh & i was using argon&co2 & setting 1 min & wire 4/5, Ive got some scrap sheet metel so going to have a go on the that next.

[bmw156]

something i done when i was practising welding, on thin sheets was to put a bit of ally under the steel, absorbs the heat but doesnt weld lol

[Mike]

I did try but the metel kept burning thou abit, thought it better to tack with thin metel. oh & i was using argon&co2 & setting 1 min & wire 4/5, Ive got some scrap sheet metel so going to have a go on the that next.

Must be quite thin sheet if minimum power is blowing through it? Wire speed sounds about right tho.

My personal preference is pure Co2 for sheet work & Argon/Co2 for galv work.

[Mike]

something i done when i was practising welding, on thin sheets was to put a bit of ally under the steel, absorbs the heat but doesnt weld lol

Copper does the same too :)

[craig green]

nope sorry, Maybe next time :p

With a whip & some leather in that case.

Seriously though, top work there. I must learn myself, something to start this year.

[MK999]

With a whip & some leather in that case.

Seriously though, top work there. I must learn myself, something to start this year.

I got a shell you can go nuts on if you like, arches are made of filler and need redoing, front cross member is a little bit flaky, battery tray needs doing, and if you want to go for standard seats the rails need welding back in too! great practice lol

[Bubba]

more doors more whores

if i could rep you i would!!!!!!!

[Annie]

thanks for all the comments & help :)

[auzzy-b]

I did try but the metel kept burning thou abit

The best thing to do with thin metal is to skip weld it without the 'skip'lol Obviously the longer you keep the arc going the hotter its going to get so every now and then just let it cool, it will come with a bit of practice;)

[Tim-SR]

more doors more whores

you got it mate!

looks good that nice job :thumb:

[Adam]

Nice work!!
What thickness sheet was that?? And what welder are you using? You should be able get a nice continuous seam if the power will go low enough. :)

Top effort though! Miles better than my first welding attempt on my old car.

I always use argon/co2 gas, gives a neater weld than pure co2.

[burgo]

excellent that for a first effort. judging by those spot welds aswell i would say your not far off to be able to do a seam weld

[peester]

Nice work!!
What thickness sheet was that?? And what welder are you using? You should be able get a nice continuous seam if the power will go low enough. :)

Top effort though! Miles better than my first welding attempt on my old car.

I always use argon/co2 gas, gives a neater weld than pure co2.

whoa! mr welding geek club.com :)

[auzzy-b]

^lol

[Adam]

Not really, im far from a great welder!!!! lol

[Annie]

Nice work!!
What thickness sheet was that?? And what welder are you using? You should be able get a nice continuous seam if the power will go low enough. :)

Top effort though! Miles better than my first welding attempt on my old car.

I always use argon/co2 gas, gives a neater weld than pure co2.

I was using around 1.5mm & my welder is clarke 135te turbo using argon/co2

settings I was using wire speed 4/5, 2/min, I tried 1/min & 1/max but it kept spiting & making bubbles everywhere. 2/max & it blew throu.

[MK999]

if you're adjusting the power you need to adjust the wire speed to suit usually.

[Annie]

if you're adjusting the power you need to adjust the wire speed to suit usually.

Thats prob where im going wrong.. as i say have been trying to learn via mig welding forum & youtube lol

[burgo]

if you're adjusting the power you need to adjust the wire speed to suit usually.not necessarily as the welder will auto adjust the power with the wire speed. you normally set the wire speed to your own preference and then flick between the power settings for the thickness, with a little fine tune of the wire speed

[MK999]

hmm, didn't notice that on mine, i'll have to have a play lol

[burgo]

it is dependant on the welder but the majority of half decent ones do

[craig green]

settings I was using wire speed 4/5, 2/min, I tried 1/min & 1/max but it kept spiting & making bubbles everywhere. 2/max & it blew throu.

If it is a mk2 Nova, the metal is much poorer than mk1's & it will spit & burn more readily.

[zx7r]

I was using around 1.5mm & my welder is clarke 135te turbo using argon/co2

settings I was using wire speed 4/5, 2/min, I tried 1/min & 1/max but it kept spiting & making bubbles everywhere. 2/max & it blew throu.

ive got the same welder, turn your wire speed to 6, keep your same power setting and turn your gas knob to 4, should work a treat

[burgo]

ive got the same welder, turn your wire speed to 6, keep your same power setting and turn your gas knob to 4, should work a treat

just because that works for you doesnt mean it will for annie though

[peester]

Not really, im far from a great welder!!!! lol

im messin mate.. uve got da skills.


anywho, i welded a hammer at work today

[Benn]

Vey nice work.

[ade]

theyre top welds matey - well done!

I've a clarke 110e and set the wire to really low (4/5) and the power on 1 with minimum wire speed and it rarely blows through and I get good clean penetration without build up. I find "spot" welding easier - saves warping and although takes longer my welder doesnt overheat!

[Mike]

Ive got the same welder Ade, an for what i paid for it its a top peice of kit TBH. Just i find the gun a bit shÃ*t an sometimes have problems with the contact on the trigger :(

Its what me & Lee have been using to do the trailer of death LOL

[bazil]

Oxford Bantum arc welder FTWlol

well done, it gets easier with practice, and always remember that if it goes wrong you can cut it out and start again, lots of people put off welding cos they thinks its too hard.:thumb:

[Annie]

Update,

Had a day off today, As it was dry I finished my car off.

The fuel nozzle was a nitemare to get back in, cut my hand :(

Thats half the welding done, just the front end to do.

Just a few pics. :)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53313.jpg

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u62/Walshy-Sri/SUC53314.jpg

[Benn]

Nice work.

[Jon_nova1]

handy, I have a car here that needs welding, and i have the same welder as you, want to do it?:p

[_JH_]

Good effort and well done for having a go :)

But have you welded along the bottom of the patch?

And you're very brave using a wire wheel and no mask :eek:

[Annie]

Yep the following day which I didnt take pictures of I welded another small patch where the spring mount is. I then drilled holes a cm apart along the bottom & puddle welded them all the way along. abit of seam sealer & painted. :)

[Jon_nova1]

A wirewheel on a drill isn't too bad, wirewheel on an angle grinder gets messy to say the least lol

[Annie]

I had my wire wheel on a 9v tesco value drill, Would be more dangerous using an elec toothbrush tbh.