time for body work

Well I have a bus and a friends bus that needs welding too so I will do it. Seems like the hardest part is getting the heat and feed rate matched and welding thin metal to thick was a disaster first time I tried. Got some tips from a welder and I'll give it another go. I did use the MIG very successfully to weld nuts to stuck exhaust studs and get the stubborn things out.

I moved to the hottest, driest part of Canada and so far have only borrowed my wife's air conditioned car for short periods when it gets to 40'C.(104'F) The vehicles all love the fact that it really never rains or snows here. I've used my wipers only a few times in 10 years and never on high speed. I get the windshield washer all working and by the time I need it the air pressure has gone. So I fix it for next time and so on....

I'll be asking questions about body work soon. I expect problems like last summer when I removed the rear bumper. Broke off 4 of the 6 bolts! I will be very careful removing the fenders.

jim

Oh yes, I should mention that I also have avoided body work. For some reason, everything else seems easier! That's why I'd rather pull an engine than fix a door ding, lol.

Gee, I avoid body work, too. But any major engine work as well.
Bought a little mig about 5 years ago now, only used it to *try* to repair a window regulator in the Grand Am, with some not-so-great results. It did work for about 3-4 months before the weld broke, but I think it wasn't the right metal, nor large enough, to weld to.

The original plan was to weld some sheet metal to replace what was eaten away behind the rear seat, but I never got the time. Now I'm out of practice.

I took a welding class at the local tech school, and got a job welding that only lasted a week before the guy said I was welding backwards. Truth be told, he really wasn't any better than I was at the time.

The thing is I prefer a mig rig with gas, the little one I got can't use gas (at least not directly, if you know what I mean) and getting the wire feed rate just right is a pita, and just when you get it, there is a damn misfeed or you wind up welding the tip on, etc... just so much easier on the bigger rigs...

Ahh body-work and Dry-wall. Things most people try to stay clear of.  Rebuliding an engine is very linear, step by step,  full the truths.  The parts are in tolerences or they are not.  The parts are clean or they are not.  Set your torque wrench and go to the "click".  Follow the steps and usually everthing works out.  Body-work is very artsy to me. like a sculpter or carver.  and this is scary to most people who like the structure of an engine rebuild.

As for welding i would stay away from the flux core Mig welders.  Gas shielded Migs are usually easier to set up for welding thinner sheet steel.  Prepping the area is very important.  Stripped of paint and any clear finnishes.  Clean clean clean. crimping the patch piece to get some backing helps.  And like everything else practice.  I like the Tig welder it is easier to control the heat.

I would like to learn how to fix warps in doors and panels.  I have seen old timers use a little heat here and a little heat there and pop goes the dent. I understand the concept of heat shrinking and heat expansion but how do you know where to start.  i would love to take a course in this skill.  I have purchased doors from junkyards to practice but i always make it worse.  But i will keep trying.  Like most of us i like to do things myself even if its crappy.

Good luck jim.
Looks like you live in Kamloops. maybe westsyde or valleyview??

Trev

I have a gas Mig.

Trev> What exactly do you mean by crimping? Valleyview. How can you tell? It could be Afghanistan if your judging by the hills. They train troops here.

VW'71. Can you cover all around the weld area? Like a thick canvas piece with a small hole to weld through. The splatter and sparks are very hot. I found out quickly that my normal mechanics gloves were not good enough.

jim