22 replies to this topic

[coventry_kid2006]

Hi

I just brought my first mini last week and I am planning on restoring it. The first thing I'm trying to sort is the rust.... Appears to be in the usual places floor pans, inner/outer sills, door step etc. I have a family member who has an arc welder so I was planning on using this to do the panel repairs. Will this be ok? Can body panels be welded with an arc if using a thin rod/low amps etc? Or will it just burn through?

Thanks!

[lrostoke]

I'm sure there are probably proffesional welders out there who can do amazing things with an ARC welder, but for thin body work I'd use MIG.

[bmcecosse]

Arc is useless for car - you need MIG - or oxy/acetylene. I suggest you survey the complete car VERY carefully to find ALL the rot before you start. They are often well beyond economic repair - but if it's just a 'labour of love' then by all means get stuck in - but best to find ALL the rot before you start - rather than find more and more as you go along - and the car becomes an unfinished project.

[Shifty]

Anythings possible, however it just not worth the effort.

Arc weldings tricky at the best of times, especially on thin and rusty steel.

I'd give it a miss if I were you, beg/borrrow/hire a MIG welder.

[dklawson]

As stated above, arc welding is not the ideal method/tool for panel work. It puts too much heat in too large a spot for too long.

That said, there are two attachments for arc welders that may be of help in your project if you don't want to invest in a new welder. Google for information on a company called Kel Arc. I believe they are from the U.K.

Kel Arc makes (made?) two tools with the intent of allowing arc welders to create both "spot" welds, and "stitch" welds. The spot welder uses a sharpened carbon electrode to create a concentrated melt pool. The device is not easy to use if the panel/joint are anything other than perfectly flat... and the panels must be pressed firmly together before the welder is brought into play. Their second tool is the stitch welder. It is a device that pulses the power through the welding rod to reduce the heat at the weld pool. You can see their stitch welder in this eBay auction (item 370232320476).

I have the spot welder. I didn't like it and bought a small inverter TIG unit which was much easier to use to make spot (plug) welds.

More info on Kel Arc here:
http://www.practical...3afd0d4373d5d39

Kel Arc for sale (and pictures) here (sorry, it's in OZ)
http://www.frontline...tegory.php?id=1

[norris]

I was a welder for 10 years and it's still not the easiest thing for me to do.

If it good metal on both side with little gap you may get away with small amounts, if you have quite a bit of work to carry out the previous posts are correct in saying that a mig is best.

Oxy acetylene is a much more difficult process so Mig is definitely the best option, flux cored wire will work fine and will be less hassle than a gas set up.

[project mini chris]

As stated above, arc welding is not the ideal method/tool for panel work. It puts too much heat in too large a spot for too long.

That said, there are two attachments for arc welders that may be of help in your project if you don't want to invest in a new welder. Google for information on a company called Kel Arc. I believe they are from the U.K.

Kel Arc makes (made?) two tools with the intent of allowing arc welders to create both "spot" welds, and "stitch" welds. The spot welder uses a sharpened carbon electrode to create a concentrated melt pool. The device is not easy to use if the panel/joint are anything other than perfectly flat... and the panels must be pressed firmly together before the welder is brought into play. Their second tool is the stitch welder. It is a device that pulses the power through the welding rod to reduce the heat at the weld pool. You can see their stitch welder in this eBay auction (item 370232320476).

I have the spot welder. I didn't like it and bought a small inverter TIG unit which was much easier to use to make spot (plug) welds.

More info on Kel Arc here:
http://www.practical...3afd0d4373d5d39

Kel Arc for sale (and pictures) here (sorry, it's in OZ)
http://www.frontline...tegory.php?id=1

arcs are also vey bright and can hurt your eyes! but yeah as stated above mig is the best

[coventry_kid2006]

Thank everyone for you replies. Most useful!

dklawson - Really useful thanks!!

[xBR4DLEY]

As stated above, arc welding is not the ideal method/tool for panel work. It puts too much heat in too large a spot for too long.

That said, there are two attachments for arc welders that may be of help in your project if you don't want to invest in a new welder. Google for information on a company called Kel Arc. I believe they are from the U.K.

Kel Arc makes (made?) two tools with the intent of allowing arc welders to create both "spot" welds, and "stitch" welds. The spot welder uses a sharpened carbon electrode to create a concentrated melt pool. The device is not easy to use if the panel/joint are anything other than perfectly flat... and the panels must be pressed firmly together before the welder is brought into play. Their second tool is the stitch welder. It is a device that pulses the power through the welding rod to reduce the heat at the weld pool. You can see their stitch welder in this eBay auction (item 370232320476).

I have the spot welder. I didn't like it and bought a small inverter TIG unit which was much easier to use to make spot (plug) welds.

More info on Kel Arc here:
http://www.practical...3afd0d4373d5d39

Kel Arc for sale (and pictures) here (sorry, it's in OZ)
http://www.frontline...tegory.php?id=1

arcs are also vey bright and can hurt your eyes! but yeah as stated above mig is the best

you mean the wrong arc lol
i think you mean when you are welding and the wire touches the metal (when you weld) it arcs as in the metals reacting and joining together

[crum01]

You might want to think about renting a spot welder to use along side the Mig welder, makes life a lot easier for the seams, etc.

[crossy71]

the only place id recomend a arc welder is on the subframes, and still at low amp's, if you can oxy weld then you can get some really neat welds but the distortion is too great for body panels a tig welder can be just as neat as oxy but dosent create as much heat, a good oxy/tig weld can be filled over with no grinding required. For most diy repairs a mig will satisfy and dosent take long to learn. I have a clarke 151en gas/gasless MiG from machine mart and hasnt let me down yet. Also if you are doing a lot of welding id recomend getting a reactorlight welding mask, they make things much easier.

hope this helped
Joe

[dklawson]

arcs are also vey bright and can hurt your eyes! but yeah as stated above mig is the best

ALL welding is too bright to look at without a face shield with proper lenses. Even oxy/acetylene welding is too bright for unprotected eyes. I've had good luck so far using the auto-darkening helmets.

[coventry_kid2006]

Thanks everyone. I have managed to borrow and Oxy Welder so am gunna give that a go!! Have conceded the Arc idea after your advice!

[dklawson]

For years Oxy/Acetylene welding was the only method for welded panel repairs. It definitely will work. However, it puts a lot of heat into the area and can cause panel warping. Before starting on your car, get some junk panels from a local body shop and practice, practice, practice. Be sure to let us know how your work is proceeding.

[coventry_kid2006]

Yeah will do. Im not doing any visable panels. Just things like floor pans, and sills etc. Picking it up later so hopfully get some practice this week. Need to get some sheet metal first!! Cant seem to find anywhere near me that sells to the public... Anyone have any idea's on good place to get some?