Thread: Wondering if someone would be able to assist me with some welding

Possibly a bit far for me to get to, but what sort of welder are you using, stick, mig, (gas or gasless) or tig? (I'm suspecting its not a tig)

Originally Posted by 3lud13

Wasn't sure where to put this post so figured I would drop down here and ask.
Im currently giving my perentie abit of a rebuild and trying to do as much of the work myself to assist my budget as much as possible, however I have decided that my skills just aint good enough to tackle the welding as I believe I would create more holes than I would fill.
Currently I have the vehicle pretty stripped down and have decided that there are a mountain of holes in the firewall doing nothing and would really like to fill them in, but my welding just isn't good enough on my practice panel I am creating more holes than I am filling in.
Would there maybe be someone who wouldn't mind coming out and doing some welding for me or have some options of where I could go that won't charge me too much.
I live out near Castlemaine in central Victoria and have a welder that is suitable for the job if my skills and experience were good enough.

Go for it ... if your burning holes... your learning Turn the amps right down, the wire speed down to "almost nothing" ... Get the metal really clean with a wire brush in an angle grinder and only tack it ... then move somewhere an do another tack ... then move back. If your still blowing holes, the metal is too rusted and thin. The idea is you eventually turn all the tack weld into a continuous bead. Do NOT to try to run a long bead of weld onto thin metal!

This is assuming your using a MIG welder with gas. If your using an arc welder or gasless MIG, this is your problem.

seeya
Shaen L.

Are they neat round holes???
If so I would simply buy a grommet grab pack(box of assorted grommets)and simply plug them.
Andrew

Download the Miller welding app , or pdf it is very helpful and accurate as a guide - practice will improve your welding .
Or go and ask at Hadfields rods - they will have someone who could work for beer ?
I can weld ........ As long as you like it strong but ugly !!!

Can you post up any photos.
Sorry If you were closer I could do it.

As Double Chevron said if blowing holes the original material could be thin and require replacing.

Are they factory or rust holes?

A couple of options - if all the holes are close together you could A) make a cover plate and pop rivet over them Cut out an area around all of the holes - make a filler piece about 10mm bigger, flange it as well as the hole you cut out and get some automotive panel adhesive and glue it in. Panel adhesive is expensive and could be purchased from a panel beater or possibly an automotive paint supplier.

Ok so to answer some of the questions and ideas,
Yes they are mostly clean welds from rivets drilling holes (mostly 5mm some with access both sides others only one side) and whatever else the military felt like doing to the firewall though there are a few really rough ones where it looks like something has been ripped off, they not really all together just all over the place I did think of putting a grommet or something over them but figure since Im at this stage I would much prefer to do it properly.
The welder is a older weldcorp 600 mig gas gasless and I am running with .6mm wire and 20%80% argon co2 mix have the amps set as low as I can unfortuantly this machine only has 4 settings for amps though maybe my wire speed could do with being turned down a little not sure how fast its going but its not almost nothing
I do have a old bonnet I have been practicing on that I found dumped in the bush behind our place and some of the welds are looking pretty damn good but others are terrible, I just need to keep remembering not to hold the trigger for too long I guess.
Didn't think of the rod shop now just to find it I guess I only know where his house is not where the shop is not sure he would apprieiciate me going to his house and asking for some welding lol.
Can post photos tomorrow I guess but its just a standard defender firewall so can't imagine the material being too thin and it certainly aint rusty, I haven't tried welding the firewall yet but so far some of my practicing on this bonnet isn't looking overly good and im a little hesitant to start working on my firewall incase I end up with a huge molten blob instead of a firewall

back the holes with some copper. I just use a bit of copper plumbing pipe I've hammered flat. This will soak the heat away as well as bridge the hole. The weld will not stick to it at all!

if your welding verticle, this does make it a lot harder

seeya,
Shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

back the holes with some copper. I just use a bit of copper plumbing pipe I've hammered flat. This will soak the heat away as well as bridge the hole. The weld will not stick to it at all!

if your welding verticle, this does make it a lot harder

seeya,
Shane L.

I have a copper pipe joiner piece I have been using at times though I am still undecided if it makes it easier, harder, neater or a better job, though it is something that many recomend so it must do something good I guess