1146 replies to this topic

[deebo]

keep it up Hugh, your getting along nicely

[BusheyTrader]

"Unless I am comfortable my welding is a disaster."

I'm the same. I've been plug welding the outer sills from underneath in my small single garage. At 6'2" with little space around the car, it's not much fun when your auto darkening welding helmet decides to auto rotate around your head because all the weight is at the front of the mask. Unless I can clearly see the "puddle" when welding it all goes pear shaped.

[racingenglishcars]

Glad you found holes now rather than later.
I'm not sure I've seen "disaster" welds yet. Maybe a bit of skimping on the size of the repair sheet though.
Looking good.
I'm looking forward to doing this on my 64, so collecting all the idea-experience now.

[hughJ]

Well last Tuesday in the North here we had a record temperature for March getting to over 23ºC!! This is what I got up to this morning!





I knew it was cold last night in the garage - had to wear a fleece and body warmer under my boiler suit, also the two pairs of socks. It reached 4ºC today!

Andrew thank you. Graham as always thanks for keeping in touch - no I'm not doing all the plugs. I probably should have done when it was upsides down and before painting underneath. They are a nuisance. Chris the front is way from perfect but it is the worst part I've done on the Mini. Makes sills seem a real breeze now. minimuk, Dave, deebo, BusheyTrader and racingenglishcars thanks again all of you.

My update is very boring - I've been cleaning up the inside. Got rid of the last traces of the bitumen with white spirit. I've hoovered it out twice and still there's iron filings and dust appearing!







I got a couple of these tungsten carbide burrs but I'm struggling to get the welds ground in the corners of my wings.

Boring along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 03 April 2012 - 06:20 PM.

[BusheyTrader]

I bought a few of those carbide burrs to do the same. It's like comparing an impulse engine to warp factor 8.

A definite incentive for me to weld better and away from tight corners whenever possible.

Adam

[CLM]

Wow, that floor is looking very good in the photos Hugh! Very jealous here!

Chris

[Andrew O]

Floors looking good
All ready for some silent coat ;)

[Brams96]

Doing really well Hugh, what sound deadening are you going to put down on the floor?

[minifcd]

Has just been wet down here today in lincolnshire, no snow just rain. Whats the orange blobs in the second picture Hugh? I thought the trees were on fire at first look!

[grahama]

Hi Hugh,

what are you using the carbide burrs with, a drill or die grinder?? I got a couple also and used in a drill, don't work !! A dis grinder is on my list to sort some tricky bits out.

I too can't get rid of iron filings, they seem to stick to everything and rust !!

Looking nice and clean though, paint inside next ??

Graham

[deebo]

that is an unhappy weather god! maybe he owns a new mini? lol looking good though, that sound stuff is a nightmare! yours looks really tidy inside now, well done.

dom.

[hughJ]

Adam - that's a grand description. Took me light years to grind down my welds. And I've one or two at the back still to do!! Chris - I've seen your floor so I know you are jealous!! But you've done a great job on your floor. Silent Coat will come Andrew once I can afford it and once the painting is done. Brams96 I'm copying Andrew and going for his Silent Coat. Scott the orange blobs are my tip top photography!! They are the reflection of the kitchen lights in the double glazing!! Graham the burrs are in my drill. I have a small rechargeable die grinder my father-in-law gave to me before he passed on. But it is very weak. Maybe an air one would do. I got the welds ground eventually which you will see. Hoovered 5 times now - still iron filings. deebo thanks for your comment - the sound deadening is awful to remove.

It's still cleaning and tidying - I caught 4 or so welds that I had not noticed before eg.







I have cleaned with white spirit. Cleaned with detergent and then two rinses with fresh water. Then a light sanding and a clean with cellulose thinners. Then another hoovering or vacuuming if you prefer! It is now surgically sterile - probably less chance of MRSA than an NHS hospital! I etch primed where there was bare metal and where there was dodgy paint. Then seam sealed.







Then it was green time - more Rustoleum Hard Hat







But I ran out of paint!! It's going to cost a fortune. I've got 10 tins of Hard Hat on order so when I come back it will be more painting!! On the hospital analogy - the solvents in these cans are quite something - just about anaesthetised myself.

And the last thing I've done using infinite patience (which I don't have much of) and my burrs and some carborundum stones I got the welds at the bottom of the seams ground





That's my last update for a wee while - its off to the Dales with the family next week.

Holidaying along

Hugh

Edited by hughJ, 06 April 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[grahama]

Very nice hugh,

I am part way through getting my compressor up and running to try a die grinder to clean up those crappy welds like you have done, very nicely I might add.

Also the painting looks mighty fine !! You are creeping ahead again, still messing with doors and dressing welds, badly !!

Has the combi colour you used a while ago hardened off at all, or stopped flaking off easy??

Graham

Edited by grahama, 06 April 2012 - 04:37 PM.

[hughJ]

Hi Graham - thanks for getting in touch. You have a compressor!! I thought you were going to roll the paint on! If you have a compressor then spray it!! The Combi Color is fine where it is on etch primer on metal. It is flaking where it is on Stonechip Shield. I should maybe had etched between the Stonechip Shield and the Combi Color. Its great how you get wise after a disaster and not before.

All the best

Hugh

[minimuk]

nice one hugh, fetting used to that colour now,... hope yopu have a good time in the Dales and a refreshing start when back, yr getting there in the end,....we all do. Happy Easter