327 replies to this topic

[DaveJH]

It was done by some joker with a welder, claiming to be a professional welder. The bits above you can see and some similar patchwork welding in the boot cost me £250, hence my shortage in funds and desperation for a proper job! I'm gutted every time I see that, those welds were the nail in the coffin for me as far as the mini is concerned. However, after a week of moping around I decided to rise above it and sort it out. Unfortunately I have no garage and don't know anybody local with a spare one so I can't weld it, I'm looking into my options. I ideally want to try and get him back on the road for the new year.

[Shifty]

Ooof!!!

Thats pretty shocking work, on the plus side though the rest of it doesn't look too bad.

[grahama]

Looks like I can earn a fortune welding by the standards on show there, I have to agree with Neil, cut it out and have a go yourself. £100 ish quid for an ebay welder and off you go. It's surprising just how quickly you pick it up, I am testimony to that, still a few bad days where it doesn't all go to plan but you can re-do it and it costs you nothing.!!!

This for example is my welder

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27be9d193d

cost me about £90 last year and works like a trojan!!

Just my thoughts.

Graham

Edited by grahama, 30 September 2011 - 07:57 PM.

[DaveJH]

I have a welder, a Clarke 150 Turbo but without a garage or any cover whatsoever (plus I'm living away at uni for the next two and a half months) how I can utilise it?

[bcjames]

Do it outside!

[furiousjim]

Man I've sat here for a good 20 mins reading this thread word for word. All I can say is that for the most part your little mini seems in pretty good nick! (save for the holes ), It's a damn shame that you got shafted by the welder seeing as at the end of the day that was your hard earned cash going on a shoddy job, the guy should be strung up!

However, keep at it man, I haven't driven a Mini in over a year and theres nothing more I look forward to than the smiles and waves you get when you drive around. You seem to have a hard working attitude so stick to it and It'll shine in the end !

[jinjrich]

Maybe join a local club mate? I did about 3 years ago and met some cool peoplewho have helped me no end, to the point i can do most stuff myself now. We share the cost of welding equipment and gas and even share garages!

[DaveJH]

Plus I've never welded before, I have no idea where to start. Plus I'm only going to have time to revise when I get back in the winter and at easter so I'd have to wait until next summer! In the mean time it'll be rusting up even worse.

[sonikk4]

The gazebo you had at the beginning of the thread, you could use that for cover ndeither get sides for it or knock something up with plastic sheeting. Not the best in the world and you would have to be careful when grinding but people have used worse and less for doing there welding.

Grab yourself some gash steel sheet or an old bonnet and use it for practising your welding skills. Post up your attempts and we can point you in the right direction as to whether you are going the right way. Or you could use the Mig welding forum for more info.

[DaveJH]

Man I've sat here for a good 20 mins reading this thread word for word. All I can say is that for the most part your little mini seems in pretty good nick! (save for the holes ), It's a damn shame that you got shafted by the welder seeing as at the end of the day that was your hard earned cash going on a shoddy job, the guy should be strung up!

However, keep at it man, I haven't driven a Mini in over a year and theres nothing more I look forward to than the smiles and waves you get when you drive around. You seem to have a hard working attitude so stick to it and It'll shine in the end !

Thanks for the kind words guys, nice to see some people are reading my thread! Damn I wish my local club was more active. It takes ages to get a reply on southwalesminis, as such I'm not overly active myself. I doubt anybody would lend me garage space off there.

[DaveJH]

The gazebo you had at the beginning of the thread, you could use that for cover ndeither get sides for it or knock something up with plastic sheeting. Not the best in the world and you would have to be careful when grinding but people have used worse and less for doing there welding.

Grab yourself some gash steel sheet or an old bonnet and use it for practising your welding skills. Post up your attempts and we can point you in the right direction as to whether you are going the right way. Or you could use the Mig welding forum for more info.

That gazebo fell down. I spend £160 on a 'heavy duty' gazebo that fell down within a week. I'm not having a lot of luck at the moment.

[sonikk4]

Here's a wild stab in the dark but have a look at an Army surplus store or website to see if they have got any 12' x 12' tents. They are strong plus they are canvas so take quite a bit of hammering. Worth a punt maybe.

[MR J]

Again, just read from start to finish and was horrified to hear of your troubles with the "welder" then was horrified again at the lame attempt of his repair work.

If you were anywhere near yorkshire i'd come and do your sills for you and show you how to get started with your own welding. I'm no proffesional welder and have only learned through trial and error myself but i've never stuck two bits of metal together as bad as that!!

You really need the inner and outer sills and possibly door steps replacing as well as some floor pan repairs by the look of things.

What is the windscreen scuttle panel like?

[DaveJH]

Here's a wild stab in the dark but have a look at an Army surplus store or website to see if they have got any 12' x 12' tents. They are strong plus they are canvas so take quite a bit of hammering. Worth a punt maybe.

Good idea, I'll have to look into that.

Again, just read from start to finish and was horrified to hear of your troubles with the "welder" then was horrified again at the lame attempt of his repair work.

If you were anywhere near yorkshire i'd come and do your sills for you and show you how to get started with your own welding. I'm no proffesional welder and have only learned through trial and error myself but i've never stuck two bits of metal together as bad as that!!

You really need the inner and outer sills and possibly door steps replacing as well as some floor pan repairs by the look of things.

What is the windscreen scuttle panel like?

Pretty bad. Shame there aren't any people like you in or around South Wales. That would be ideal! Fancy a short holiday to South Wales some time?

[MR J]

If you could send your mini for a couple of weeks holiday of yorkshire sunshine then we could get them sills done.