day zero....sigh

[aslbow]

Hello everyone.

I am about to begin an auto resto and will surely need to weld some things. I have used a cutting torch, oxy actl, but not a Mig. As I understand it you have to heat both parts and flow a bead in overlapping circles and make three passes. Is that right? I realize that this is oversimplification. I expect to join a variety of scraps together until I have the "hang" of it. Any other tips?

Thanks. Have not purchased a MIG yet.

[H80N]

Hello everyone.

I am about to begin an auto resto and will surely need to weld some things. I have used a cutting torch, oxy actl, but not a Mig. As I understand it you have to heat both parts and flow a bead in overlapping circles and make three passes. Is that right? I realize that this is oversimplification. I expect to join a variety of scraps together until I have the "hang" of it. Any other tips?

Thanks. Have not purchased a MIG yet.

This is an intro video that will give you a quick MIG overview,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU8Wd...e_gdata_player

PLS tell us more about the project and post some pics...

Here is a good place to start for more MIG knowledge..

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/improving-your-skills/mig/

[Doughboyracer]

This has the potential to get good...

...Getting my popcorn for this one.

[Tryagn5]

sure if your restoring a t34 tank

Hello everyone.

I am about to begin an auto resto and will surely need to weld some things. I have used a cutting torch, oxy actl, but not a Mig. As I understand it you have to heat both parts and flow a bead in overlapping circles and make three passes. Is that right? I realize that this is oversimplification. I expect to join a variety of scraps together until I have the "hang" of it. Any other tips?

Thanks. Have not purchased a MIG yet.

if you are doing auto fab....no need for preheat or 3 passes. Maybe if your restoring a t34 tank, but not for sheet metal. You will be spot welding mostly anyhow. Run .030 wire, buy a millermatic 212 and it will be easy. Also buy a sheet metal flanging tool. Sheet metal should not be butt welded.
kevin

[H80N]

.... Sheet metal should not be butt welded....
kevin

Maybe you do not butt weld it.... but many of the rest of us do...

it is a matter of personal preference, skill and experience..

to each his own....

Here are a few videos on the process...

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ng+body+panels

[Tryagn5]

Maybe you do not butt weld it.... but many of the rest of us do...

it is a matter of personal preference, skill and experience..

to each his own....

Here are a few videos on the process...

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...ng+body+panels

Lets see I only make my living be able to weld. Butt welding body panels is the worst thing which can be done. Very small sections are ok, but quarters, doors, etc should always be flanged. First it reduces warpage and allows sealant to be used. No manufactor butt welds panels. Butt welding large panels is a lazy body man. Butt welds on body panels is hardly a hard skill to master. Maybe you should look at a video of a rusted out butt welded repair.
kevin

[H80N]

Lets see I only make my living be able to weld. Butt welding body panels is the worst thing which can be done. Very small sections are ok, but quarters, doors, etc should always be flanged. First it reduces warpage and allows sealant to be used. No manufactor butt welds panels. Butt welding large panels is a lazy body man. Butt welds on body panels is hardly a hard skill to master. Maybe you should look at a video of a rusted out butt welded repair.
kevin

You are certainly welcome to your opinions and preferences..

But that will not erase the fact that thousands of people are probably MIG butt welding body panel patches every day..

I myself prefer to TIG weld that type of butt welded patch...

that will not change the fact that there are many folks MIG butt welding sheet metal with excellent results...

To each his or her own...

[snowbird]

I have a body repair shop next door and 95% of sheet metal repair is done with

glue...!!!

a 3M specialty adhesive stronger than welds.

Many new cars these days are "glued together". Even the hood (fiberglass) of recent volvo tractor trailers have a bunch of different materials, plastic steel and fiberglass glued together... Is Welding to become a thing from the past?

I Certainly wouldn't be comfortable on glued bridge but it's just me

[Tryagn5]

flanged...glued and screwed

I have a body repair shop next door and 95% of sheet metal repair is done with

glue...!!!

a 3M specialty adhesive stronger than welds.

Many new cars these days are "glued together". Even the hood (fiberglass) of recent volvo tractor trailers have a bunch of different materials, plastic steel and fiberglass glued together... Is Welding to become a thing from the past?

I Certainly wouldn't be comfortable on glued bridge but it's just me

Yup. That glue is awesome. We do chevy cab corners with it. Welded no mater what method you use the rust comes back. Glued seals where welds rust. Actually glued two scraps together and tried to seperate them. The metal tore before the glue failed.
Kevin

[WillieB]

My experience with butt welds with MIG is All is good except distortion or more specifically shrinkage. I'm big on minimizing the size of heat affected zone by tacking, then hitting it quick with clean compressed air. This will have a hardening effect. Take steps to minimize the length of welds. I know a guy, a real professional who uses exclusively TIG to replace rusted out panels. he keeps the replacement as small as possible, and uses hammer and dolly to stretch the weld so it lays at correct shape. He has an air hammer on what looks like a big homemade C clamp to hammer welded seams spreading them.

I've read of using silicone bronze or better still aluminum bronze as it requires less heat. Aluminum bronze is stronger, but still not as strong as steel.

[nfinch86]

Yup. That glue is awesome. We do chevy cab corners with it. Welded no mater what method you use the rust comes back. Glued seals where welds rust. Actually glued two scraps together and tried to seperate them. The metal tore before the glue failed.
Kevin

Where do you get this glue ?

Norm

[snowbird]

Where do you get this glue ?

Norm

Any and most auto parts in canada that sells body work materials, it's made by 3M, lock-tite prematex, devcon etc...regular users buy it in tubes like caulking exept it's a "double barrel gun" and twin tubes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXrGJ_D4CWg

[FusionKing]

When I made ambulance doors the outer skin was bonded to the inner frame with "Lord's" brand glue.
It was a double barrel-two part product that came out of a single nozzle that you could see thru and watch it mix together.
It you made a mistake and had to take it apart you needed to decide which part you needed to save, because you had to destroy one to save the other.... The glue was simply that strong.

[WillieB]

When I made ambulance doors the outer skin was bonded to the inner frame with "Lord's" brand glue.
It was a double barrel-two part product that came out of a single nozzle that you could see thru and watch it mix together.
It you made a mistake and had to take it apart you needed to decide which part you needed to save, because you had to destroy one to save the other.... The glue was simply that strong.

Anybody want to buy a half dozen welders? I'm getting some glue!

[nfinch86]

Anybody want to buy a half dozen welders? I'm getting some glue!

LoL.