188 replies to this topic

[poolmike]

Thank you. That answered a lot as I am considering the re-dip process also.

Your project is great! An inspiration for me to go out and buy more tools and restore mine myself. Keep up the great work!

[edi57]

Last Tuesday I got one side fully welded and started a little bit of the grinding.




I didn't get any work done on the Mini over the weekend so it's been a whole week since I've done anything. This evening I finished the grinding as shown below. The quality of finish is ok but you can see and feel the repair slightly, which means its slightly off the standard I'm looking for as a skim of filler will be required in this area.




I also managed to start on the other side. On this side I'm going back to my method of weld a bit... grind a bit.... weld a bit... grind a bit. Instead of weld the whole lot... then grind the whole lot. Its a method that takes longer but I always end up with a high quality finish as my grinding can be more accurate. I think I've got to work using this method for the whole of my project now.

Edited by edi57, 24 February 2009 - 09:17 PM.

[Junior Mini]

Excellent quality job, love your welding.

[VulcanBomber]

I think it's been almost one year exactly since the shell was stripped. It's been kept in our dry (but not heated) garage the whole time but still it has got surface rust where moisture can collect.

It doesn't really bother me if rust does form because the shell will be dipped again (then e-coated) when I have finished my work.

Where did you get it stripped, also how much did it cost? I have just got a shell and I need it stripped.

Cheers

[edi57]

I think it's been almost one year exactly since the shell was stripped. It's been kept in our dry (but not heated) garage the whole time but still it has got surface rust where moisture can collect.

It doesn't really bother me if rust does form because the shell will be dipped again (then e-coated) when I have finished my work.

Where did you get it stripped, also how much did it cost? I have just got a shell and I need it stripped.

Cheers

The shell was acid dipped by Surface Processing in Dudley. More details about the acid dip are here. It's not cheap, but if you're looking to do a restoration to the highest standard then I would highly recommend it.

[AuDix]

Hi ed

You have a cracking project going there !! Im learning lots just watching your pictures. Cant wait to see whats next.

AWESOME WELDING

Will

[VulcanBomber]

I think it's been almost one year exactly since the shell was stripped. It's been kept in our dry (but not heated) garage the whole time but still it has got surface rust where moisture can collect.

It doesn't really bother me if rust does form because the shell will be dipped again (then e-coated) when I have finished my work.

Where did you get it stripped, also how much did it cost? I have just got a shell and I need it stripped.

Cheers

The shell was acid dipped by Surface Processing in Dudley. More details about the acid dip are here. It's not cheap, but if you're looking to do a restoration to the highest standard then I would highly recommend it.

Thanks for that, I thought it had to be SPL.

Cheers, and great project!

[daveeeeee]

Awesome project, I love the attention to detail. I aspire to do the same, just not as good at the welding yet!

That copper seems to work great as a heatsink, great idea.

[liam_italian]

Im loving this thread, your work and attention to detail is truely inspirational!

Anyway enough with the nice comments, POST MORE UPDATED DAMMIT!

[AuDix]

POST MORE UPDATED DAMMIT!

I SECOND THAT !! !! !!

Edited by AuDix, 25 February 2009 - 05:37 PM.

[Bean]

Absolutely superb!

[wolfie]

nice to see someone doing a resto properly, to many mini bodgers out there

[tedmcedd]

amazed as always! top work!

[beaubrad]

have you manage to get any more done?

[edi57]

Hi All,

Sorry for depriving you all of updates.

I have been working on the Mini regularly, but not spending enough time on it just due to so many other things going on around me.. as always seems to be the case!

Also buying this didn't help either....




After borrowing Petes' unicycle over Christmas and finding out how fun it is I decided to get one of my own.

Anyway, I got the other side all welded up and ground back as you can see here...



So, all I had left to do after that was fully spot weld all of the seams. I thought this was going to be the easy bit as I have a proper spot weld. BUT, as the vertical seams require so many spot welds it's been taking absolutely ages and really boring me loads. The spot welder can do about 3 spot welds before it heats up too much. I then have to let it cool because otherwise the soft copper electrodes go even softer and they wear away too quickly.

Anyway, I finished all of the spots on the left hand seam on Sunday and I have been doing a few spots per day on the right hand seam this week. The right hand seam only requires about 6 more spots now. So basically consider the rear panel done!



If I'm lucky I'll have some free time on Sunday to spend working on the Mini. So work will start on a new panel!