13 replies to this topic

[gs.davies]

I've been to various places with my mk1 looking for prices and the reality is, I won't ever be able to fund a pro resto job.

I've spent many an hour looking at the amazing works people on here have done with their minis and I'm wondering, in the words of Clarkson, 'how hard can it be?'

My car needs everything doing, welding, painting, machanicals. I can do mechanicals and spraying paint doesn't phase me. It's the welding bit.

How hard is it??

[mini-luke]

With a good machine and an automatic dimming mask an amateur should be able to create presentable weeds after an afternoons practise, with the right prep and kit it isn't particularly difficult.

[charie t]

A full restoration can take months of hard work, but mario and burnie can do it in just 3 weeks

Edited by charie t, 16 November 2012 - 11:14 PM.

[Artful Dodger]

every time you see a real good restoration job, its been done by either a pro or someone who has done many, many restos before.

but you asked about welding, you can only get better with practice!

[Noah]

Read up, maybe take a couple of courses at your local college.

But its like a big mechano set really.

[Tamworthbay]

The big difference I found with welding was going from small disposable gas cylinders to a big one from Adams gas. The quality of welds was light years apart using the same machine. And they work out cheaper in the end. I taught myself to weld years ago my going to local scrappy and buying some metal off cuts. I cut them into bits and played with wire feeds, power settings, gas flow etc until it worked. Try to get a sound like bacon frying and a visible puddle of molten metal and you are getting there. Also get an auto darkening mask as they make a world of difference, one of them and the gas will add £100 but that is only the same as 2 1/2 hours at a garage so they will more than pay for themselves.

[sonikk4]

A decent resto is not a couple of months work especially when it comes to mini's. If you want to learn then get yourself a welder something like a Clarke 135TE Turbo or similar. Get a good sized bottle of gas either from Adams or BOC (Argo shield lite) then buy some 1.2mm and 0.9mm steel sheet (small sections at this point in time)

Now practise butt joints, lap joints, tack welds, pulse welds and then seam welds. It will look scrappy to start with so do not be dis heartened if you look like you have got a load of bird poo welds.

Have a look at this link
http://www.theminifo...se-for-welding/
It will give you the basics you will need tool wise and also some welding tips as well.

If you decide to start welding then post some pictures on here and we can then help you out as to what or where you are going wrong. We have all been there even the experienced welders. As long as you are patient you will be surprised what you can do.

I have got several restos on the go at the moment so have a look at the two links below Projects Paddy and Erm and you will get some ideas what you may need to do.

[tiger99]

I agree totally, and would only add that if you have a steady hand, a good eye, patience, and a modicum of common sense, you can learn to MIG weld to the standard required to restore a car. Maybe welding submarine hulls and similar exotica is far beyond the reach of most of us, but basic welding is a skill which can readily be acquired, and is incredibly useful. Many people find it very satisfying too. Nothing to be scared of, as long as you use the mask etc and avoid fire risks. You can't blow up yourself and half the street with MIG, as is possible with oxy-acetylene, which in any case is rather poor for car repairs. You can't even electrocute yourself, which is just about possible with old fashioned arc welding, as the torch runs at only 20 volts or thereabouts.

I recommend a good welding book (try your local library, but Haynes do one that is adequate), lots of time on the MIG welding forum (their video tutorials are excellent) and lots of practice with offcuts of 0.9mm steel.

[skoughi]

I would say that learning new skills is the good bit of mini restoration, its the time it takes thats the problem! If you've got no comitments (family)and
can devote most of your spare time then it should trundle along at a fine pace and you shouldn't suffer from dishearteneditus. If however you have kids
and spending money on your hobby is last on the list of priorities thus things that are required get put off until next month then things can seem like they
take forever. You'll need to be determined with tons of patience in other words. Learning to weld is a good thing to do whatever you do!

[antcole]

The major part of the restoration is time and patience..... plus plenty of space to gut the car in.

You will learn soooo much about how the mini is built, and theres no better satisfaction than doing work you enjoy.

If youre in a rush, you will be wasting your time unless you are an experienced car restorer.

Its not impossible to get in there and have a go but time and space are the key factors.
Tools and welding equipment are essential but as said, you will fast become a capable welder and as for tools, well you just get what you need as you go along.

Body panels are much easier to get your head round when youre dismantling the shell plus theres a wealth of info on here.
The costs of panels dont need to be massive as you can buy what you need as you go along - depending on how much of a rush youre in.... then buying all the panels and steel will be a big expense in one go.

A good MIG, welding clamps, angle grinder with thin slicing discs, a dremel, some basic hand tools and tons of patience should get you going.

Id highly recommend a roll-over jig rather than the method of pushing the shell on its side... i bought a roll-over jig and its the best money ive spent on it so far but you can make your own when youve sussed it out.

[Vulcan]

The short answer is that if you're a beginner then a Mini is an ideal choice. The panels are easy enough to get and there shouldn't be any bits you can't find.

[gs.davies]

Great replies, thanks everyone.

I bought a welder and a few basic metalworking tools several years ago and did make a small start on learning - as soon as the useless little bottle ran out, I stopped and life got in the way again.

Next year, I'd have owned my Mark One for 19 years, or perhaps a bit scarily, half my life.

What works out easier when working through the car - wholesale replacement of panels or smaller localised repairs? Example; the inner wings on my car are shot, the leading edge is gone where it meets the front panel and the rear edge, especially under the scuttle is a mess. Obviously it's cheaper to buy smaller repair panels and make up patches to let in here and there, but is it easier to chop the whole thing out and fit a new one?

[Ethel]

Be really thorough on chasing the rust, it's quite easy to find yourself patching on patches otherwise. Generally I'd opt for keeping the joins only where they were originally, but there are certainly areas where the cost of the new panel and the amount of seams you'd have to unpick aren't worth the trouble. The inner wing is a fair example of that, but go round the whole panel before you decide, it susceptible to rust in many places.

[se_juggles]

I'm 21 and i taught myself how to weld... as said before if you buy a good welder and mask it really is simple...

As you have a mk1 MAKE SURE! you practice and get good first. that is a car you don't want to ruin.

easiest way to weld mini's is to use new panels. Grind or wire brush back the paint on the edge of the panel you are replacing then drill out the spot welds, Make sure you don't drill all the way through... just so the panel your replacing is released. then clean up the panel it is being welded to and make holes in the new panel. Spot weld the new one on, grind it back and hey presto it looks good as new. lol really is that simple if your not making your own patch panels.

Oh and always use heritage. non gen are cheaper but there ALWAYS!!! (and i dont care what anyone else says) rubbish fits. panels look rubbish when you have to beat them out.