Welding a seam question.

[Martin.p]

I need to weld a joint that would have been spot welded originally, but I don't have a spot welder

It's the rear rail with the spring mount on, and its the joint that holds rail to the inner arch skin.

Would it be best to drill holes in one half of lip and weld in holes (closest idea to spot welds)
Or
Cut one seam lip slightly shorter than other and do a continuous weld along joint.
Or
Like above, but insted of continuous weld, do a stitch weld so it has some flex

Thanks

[Benn]

I'd cut one side a little lower and seam weld it in/on.

[Martin.p]

Great, thanks

[Jon_nova1]

i'd just weld it then smooth it down afterwards if it needs it, the penetration you get will (if you can weld) be enough

[Martin.p]

Ill post some pics of what I do. And I'll let you/ others judge my efforts.
I'm far from a expert. But quietly confident of my efforts so far.

I have a few pics of (what I feel are my better bits)

Tool that I use for work
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/34AA486E-847D-4696-A5EB-467887B3BA60-5574-0000082120D5EE95.jpg

Making my spit
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/742E3076-448E-4D07-8E23-C3FE8232A4CA-5574-000008214749AD0C.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/7BD9A24E-B5E7-453B-933A-9739405F52EB-5574-00000821848E7191.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/889DD8FF-B2C4-44D7-8513-F845E06BF08B-5574-0000082178EADEE6.jpg

Both welded with co2.

I've found the argon makes a much nicer weld (sounds better as you weld and seems cleaner)

This is what I'm trying to repair
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/E01ACFA5-A892-4EC5-B2A0-D4098BC1FB95-5574-00000821F9F217B2.jpg

And what I have done so far

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/5DDE3195-C930-4FFB-A926-8D2E63B68578-3579-00000595DF489EA2.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/7C57D773-4E28-49BC-B9F2-48A5333268FB-3579-000005963890BF9E.jpg

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/401BB915-5872-4624-8D72-C0AFACA3097E-3579-0000059650A4AB95.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/1F1B27C9-31B1-45A7-8BCF-F60C32610CAB-3579-000005964B000640.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/E38119C0-8685-4341-8E7B-66DAED6E51E2-5574-0000082197233E7B.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/EFB7E7A5-0ECB-4F9B-B17F-84C7953268DE-5574-000008219F7B4A64.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/AFCE442A-EAF6-4201-9FB4-120DC1E52FA5-5574-00000821A8D09EC4.jpg

You can see in last pic where I have welded up through the 4 holes I drilled in spring mount and heat transfer on new steal. (??)

I have not cleaned anything up in them pics or finished! To start with I was struggling to get wire feed speed right and once I did I ran out of bloody gas. I only have them small 1L bottles you get from local car shops.
I also blew a hole strait through at one point so needs finishing.

I cut a piece for the front tonight and its this part I was wondering how to fix.

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/BBDE52EE-6202-4084-AA38-7FF2515D3A55-5574-000008271B024199.jpg


So I've opened myself wide up to all comments. :/

Opinions?

[meritlover]

http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/742E3076-448E-4D07-8E23-C3FE8232A4CA-5574-000008214749AD0C.jpg



not bad, need more amps or hold the arc slightly further away to make more of a puddle before you move forward. Welding thin tube is always hard as the gas wants to bubble through the joint and into the puddle.

[Martin.p]

^^^thanks for advice. :)

[meritlover]

keep practicing. your repair sections are good. Just keep everything prep'd very clean before you start and you will find it a lot easier. If you are welding outside, keep the wind away as much as possible or it will be a nightmare.

[Martin.p]

These where practices.
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/5AB7F500-6473-461B-A607-93DDDE6EFBDF-107-0000000072D1AFF4.jpg
http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/af46/martinstu/EB6D4C69-474D-4569-90CD-AF061BF4B5E9-107-000000007D134888.jpg
First pic is the top side and 2nd pic is underside.

The shortest weld seems to 'sit on' the sheet quite high and shows heat on back

The 2nd longest line was a bit flatter (like the pool spread more) and it came through other side almost the same.
The 3rd (longest line) was flatter still and looked almost the same both sides!

Which should I be aiming for?
(My guess is 3! Longest one)?

[Martin.p]

keep practicing. your repair sections are good. Just keep everything prep'd very clean before you start and you will find it a lot easier. If you are welding outside, keep the wind away as much as possible or it will be a nightmare.

Thanks again. I think There was a coating on sheet that I should of cleaned off and I could of spent a bit more time on prep work to the car.
Yes I'm outside, but under a carport with 3 sides and the 4th is 4/5 foot from main house. So have some protection from wind. Which is partly why I put it up to work under. I still have to pick the better days to weld though. Tryed gas less wire and it made a mess! Didnt like it one bit.

[Benn]

Fab work on the chassis leg is very good. I'd get some weld thru primer on them before welding them in, tack it so you know its all in the right place then seam it on. It's what i've done and most people have. Plus you want it sealed in there the best you can...

And in the pic Merit quoted, most gas is needed there isn't it? Stops the brown burn being there....

[Martin.p]

I thought about painting it with something. But wasn't sure what. I've orderd some por 15 rust preventative paint and was going to do all the inside of rail befor I weld it shut.
Reason being I was told all primers are porous.?? So I thought it would just rust in there again!?

How about por15 on 90% of surface and primer on the lip I'm going to weld???

[Benn]

Only prob being that you'll be welding very close so it might just burn it off.. Weld thru primer doesn't burn and can take alot of heat. Get in all the joins and bits then you can just and get something else in there to protect it once you're finished welding.

[Martin.p]

Gotcha, thanks