12 replies to this topic

[mk=john]

Hello
I have noticed that 5 spotwelds have come undone on my mini. They are the oned which holf the grill panel, to the bonnet lock panel. I have no space to fit a spot welder in this area, and so am considering MIG welding.
I have been informed that plug welding is a good alternative to Spot welding.

Firstly, I have never done any welding. Can anyone please let me know on the size, power rating etc etc that I need to get and where I can get it from.

Thanks

[Guess-Works.com]

If you're getting a mig, then you may aswell get one which will do most things on a mini, 110 amp will just do but would recommend something nearer 150 ( sepecially for sills ). Also don't bother with gasless..

[mk=john]

Does anyone recommend a Make/Model of MIG welder, and all he equipment I will need? At the moment, all I want to do is the plug welds as stated, but of course the welder will probably be used in the near future for other areas of my mini.

Thanks

[sqweaka]

Does anyone recommend a Make/Model of MIG welder, and all he equipment I will need? At the moment, all I want to do is the plug welds as stated, but of course the welder will probably be used in the near future for other areas of my mini.

Thanks

machine mart is as good as any and the cost of the welder will pay for its self very quickly on a mini lol

[dklawson]

Being "over here" I am not in a position to recommend makes and models of welders. However, I can add to the general comments. Typically if you double the Amp rating of the welder that will be an indication of the maximum thickness (in inches) the welder is capable of working with. For example, 90 Amps x 2 is 180 so you can expect the welder to be suitable for welding material up to about 0.180" (3/16" or 5mm) thick.

As stated above, choose a true MIG welder with cover gas, not a "flux core" wire model.

With plug welding you need to drill through the top panel but (ideally) not the bottom one. This allows you to start filling the hole with weld and form a button joining the two panels. You can do this if the hole goes all the way through but it's more difficult and messy. You may want to look for a "spot weld cutter" to make your holes through the top. These look like little hole cutting saws that mount on an electric drill. They will allow you to remove the broken spot welds AND create the hole only through the top panel.

Most importantly, get some scrap sheet metal and practice, practice, practice. You want to know what you're doing before you try this on your car.

EDIT: I meant to add a couple of things for you to consider purchasing with the welder. Find a discount brand auto-darkening helmet. These are great compared to a fixed darkness welding helmet/lens. Also plan on investing in some Vise (Mole) grip welding pliers/clamps, and a decent pair of long cuff welding gloves.

Edited by dklawson, 06 November 2006 - 05:37 PM.

[Woody]

Cebora is a good make , snap on sell cebora migs with snap on stickers
I had a cebora 130turbo mig and it did me well for a good few years
I would say buy VICEGRIPS as molegrips are rubbish and those ones off the market at £1 a pair are a waste of a quid
you can get a special "plug welding" set of grips that work well , they have a copper pad on the back to stop you burning through , i use mine all the time .

Edited by Woody, 06 November 2006 - 06:14 PM.

[1984mini25]

I picked up my 90amp gasless (I’m working outside so might be windy at times) mig welder and a few others bits and bobs including a reel of spare wire, welding helmet (the one supplied with the welders are C**p) and that oh so handy spot weld drill cutter for around £150

One tip for using the spot weld cutter though is to drill a small pilot hole between 2 to 3 mm first then stick the point of the spot weld cutter trough, as if you don’t drill a small hole first the cutter will slip and snap all the teeth off and then will be useless.

[Total Richie]

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

very good site, all you need to know!

[Mini-Dave]

i bought a sealey supermig 150, it came with wire and a regulator, had to get a bottle of gas. it also had a welding hand held mask with it, but its SERIOUSLY cheap, not even worth tryin to hold and weld to be honest, thats if your learning.

only thing i would say it, with cheaper and lower amp migs, you dont get as many settings, on my uncles sealey supermig 185, it has dials which you turn to change the speed of wire and ampage, so theres lots of vareation, whereas with my 150, theres only 2 settings for speed and ampage, so it can be a pain sometimes, when your tryin to weld thin coroded metal. definetly worth practising tho!

Dave

[Dog]

Also don't bother with gasless..

Theres is nothing wrong with gasless....
It makes a more peaky weld, but still does the same job!

[mk=john]

Hi All

Thanks for that, I guess I will go to machine Mart this weekend, and get a few scrap pieces of sheet steel in order to practice the spotweld drill out tool, and of course welding equipment.
I guess my biggest fear is two things:
1) Burning through the second sheet during the welding process
2) Sparks flying all over the place and damaging my mini's paint.

What is the best or most common way to solve both of these problems?

Thanks

[1984mini25]

Thanks for that, I guess I will go to machine Mart this weekend, and get a few scrap pieces of sheet steel in order to practice the spotweld drill out tool, and of course welding equipment.
I guess my biggest fear is two things:
1) Burning through the second sheet during the welding process
2) Sparks flying all over the place and damaging my mini's paint.

What is the best or most common way to solve both of these problems?

Unfortunately the nearest store is in Leicester and there’s no parking out side the store (have to park down a side street) although I’ve found them to be extremely friendly, just wish they would build one a little closer to home.

1) Try to get hold of some scrap mini panels, I’ve been practicing and using an old bonnet, both my rotten doors and half a battery box for some of the smaller patches, and get used to welding with that first, as in theory it's the same kind of steal.

There’s a mini breakers in Mk over just off the A421 – around Great Horwood area near Buckingham, sure he has a few bonnets, old door skins or even rear quarters that can be used.

2) The way I’ve got round it is to cover everything in the surrounding area on the car with tarpaulin sheets that are doubled over (folded in half), pick mine up from the tool stool up the market for £2 each.

[dklawson]

If you don't want to use tarps, you can use old towels once you get them damp with water.