Welding

Screwfix are good for gasless wire If you do gasless you know different wire can give vastly different results the wire I get from screwfix Is very good. Nice even welds with little spatter and easy to grind back for a good finnish on thin metal.

Sounds like a few links to suppliers etc might be useful.

Machine Mart are sometimes good for pliers/wire etc and for magnetic clamps etc I use Frost.co.uk

Hi new electronic weldimg masks on E bay from about £25

Thanks for the post mate, nice to get a second opinion and some more tips.

I've just added a link to a website which has movies and stuff which should be of interest to beginners

Hi Folks,

Feel free to chip in with advice or other comments, and I'll consolidate things so It doesn't get too long.

First thing is that even if you haven't welded before its not that difficult so don't be put off.

Purchasing the correct equipment can be expensive but will save you money in the longer term, particularly if you've got an older bus like mine.

General Advice

Most people can't fit their van in their garage so are restricted to welding outdoors, this means that you may need to buy a gasless mig welder.
In many cases they are able to use gas as well but check before buying.

If you choose to use gas then there are several "mixes" available, and with experience you will probably obtain a better quality weld.

Clean the area you intend to weld thoroughly, this will highlight any weak/rusty spots and will save you time in the long run.

Best site I know for general advice and tips is:-

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

Safety

Never ever start welding without a mask, don't even pick up the tool. At best its painful (red weeping eyes etc), at worst its blindness.

If possible have someone on hand with a spray bottle, to put out any fires.
Paint, underseal etc are all flamable and care must be taken at all times.

If working with someone, get into the habit of shouting "eyes" before you strike a weld.
This way they know to look away.

If working on your own, stop regularly to check for fire/smoke, and make damn sure you can get out of the vehicle, or from underneath it double quick.

When working on vehicles it is recommended that you disconnect the battery, just make sure you have the codes for the radio etc before you do so.

The Welder

These are available  for about £150, mine is a SIP 130amp and has given good service for the last 6/7 years without any problems Modern welders probably give more control but I don't have any experience of them, so can't recommend anything.
Basic welders like mine can weld upto 6mm thick steel which is fine for vehicles.

The Mask

Very important in my view is to buy the electronic mask, which allows you to see what you are doing, and goes dark once you start welding.

Going to cost you about £70, but you only get one pair of eyes, using  the standard mask is safe if you know what you are doing, but be bloody careful if you don't.

Practicing

Once you have bought the equipment you are going to be itching to practice, so what do you need.

Any mild steel is suitable for tbis but be prepared to clean up about an inch or so either side of where you intend to weld, serves 2 purposes, you don't mix paint etc into the weld which reduces strength,  its easier to strike a weld, and there is less chance of starting a fire which you can't see through the mask easily.

Other Equipment

I use a 4" angle grinder £20ish for clean up work and a good quality wire brush for cleaning up the weld.
Angle grinders are versatile if noisy, you can buy grinding disks, cutting disks and wire brush attachments quite cheaply.
All of these last a long time so running costs are low.

I also use:-

A sheet metal bender from Screwfix for £50ish.
Different clamps from Machine Mart @ £12 for 4.
Niblex from Frost @£28 (like drawing on paper but you are cutting metal)

Actual Repairs

Firstly have a look at the Welding Projects topic, if you are new to welding LT's then you could get some useful tips about your particular problem.

For general bodywork I use 0.9mm sheet, and for chassis work 1.2mm or thicker.
The problem with thicker steel is that its harder to bend to shape, anything over 1.2mm is beyond my equipment, so I don't use it very often.

That's all for now, more to follow as others offer their advice.

Cheers


Andy



Edited by AndyT - 16 Oct 08 at 22:11