16 replies to this topic

[pete l]

OK, it's official, I cannot mig weld to save my life, it looks like eagle droppings.
So what do I do now ? I have to weld on my scuttle panel, wings, a panels, I know no one who can weld. Do I buy a spot welder for hundreds of pounds ?
Pete

Edited by pete l, 17 February 2016 - 12:15 PM.

[leadly]

Practice, practice, practice.

Are you gas or gasless?

[dyshipfakta]

Your settings aren't right. Get some similar gauge steel an auto darkening helmet and practice. Gas is easier but gasless if fine for practicing and small repairs. If you can get decent welds with gasless. Using gas is so so much easier. Also don't bother trying to be clever and continuously weld. Pulse welding is much easier and gives just as good results in my opinion.

[Minilegs]

What he said^^^.

Play with every setting on your welder while practising on some thin scrap and you will find the settings you need ie feed rate and amps. .

And remember it's still important even when using scrap to practise that everything is prepped correctly, such as clean bare steel, correct gaps for butt welding and clamped properly too. Writing your name in weld on a flat sheet will only prove you can spell. !

Then practise more, until your confident to go in anger.

As above, you using gas or gasless mig ?

[slidehammer]

None of us could weld to start with. It takes hours of practice to get as neat as some of the welding you see on here. Buy some scrap steel sheet or use old body panels make sure it is clean and practice. The Mig Welding Guide is online an excellent source of info.  Buying a spot welder won't solve your problems as some of the areas are too inaccessible to spot weld.

[newenglandmini]

There are innumerable instructional  videos available on YouTube.  I spent hours viewing them to learn how to weld.  That plus proper preparation and practice will enable you to gain the requisite skills.  I started from a base of zero knowledge, purchased inexpensive MIG and spot welders, and proceeded to completely rebuild my badly rusted mini. 

[pete l]

OK, thanks for that. I am using gas.

 

I have all the old panels so i guess i better get out there and practice.

 

Pete.

[GT Jimmy]

Neither can I, but that is all set to change. Got some old panels and sheet steel to practise on

[pete l]

Should I be precticing seam welding ? or spot welding ? or plug welding ?

What would be best to use for the panels ? spot ?

[rally1380]

Post up some photo's of your bad welds and someone will be able to advise what is going wrong.......there are only a few!!!! things that could be wrong....ha ha.

 

In all seriousness, keep at it.  No one was born a welder (although 'experts' will argue that) so practice and it will become much more natural.

[greenwheels]

Study this  http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/mig.htm

[dyshipfakta]

Should I be precticing seam welding ? or spot welding ? or plug welding ?
What would be best to use for the panels ? spot ?

You will most likely need to plug and seam weld. But for seam welding look up pulse welding and try that my pulse welding attempts end up cleaning up better then continuous.

[sonikk4]

What welder have you got??? as said post up some pictures of your welds and we can go from there

[Dr s]

Welding metal is easy. Welding rust is hard. It's all in the prep - it needs to be shiney bright and thick enough to weld to. If its not then it needs more prep!

[sonikk4]

Welding metal is easy. Welding rust is hard. It's all in the prep - it needs to be shiney bright and thick enough to weld to. If its not then it needs more prep!

Plus you need the right power settings, gas flow, wire flow and of course the biggest thing a decent earth.