Welding costs?

[cdavie2002]

The more i search for a local welder, the more i think ishould be having a go at this myself. Dont own a welder, yet.

If i were to do this where would i start, when cutting old sill off, where do i cut? For repair in footwell/previous jacking point, do i just cut away rot and makeshift up a panel to fit in its place.

Advice wanted.

[murran]

you can buy new jacking points off w+n cant you?
offer the new sill up and scribe a line roughly to where it meets. cut just below this line. on the lower edge you need to find the spot welds and drill them out.

tbh you could walk into machine mart and buy all youd ever need for £400.
clarke 150 mig welder with starter kit. £250
auto dimming mask. £60
gas bottle co2/argon. £13
angle grinder. £40
cutting and grinding discs x6. £12
set of 3 tin snips. £12
welding mole grips set of 3. £10
sexy red leather gloves. £3
spot weld drill. £2

find out when the next VAT free sunday is at your local machine mart?

[murran]

id clean up and wax those fuel lines too!

[murran]

you can buy new jacking points off w+n cant you?
offer the new sill up and scribe a line roughly to where it meets. cut just below this line. on the lower edge you need to find the spot welds and drill them out.

tbh you could walk into machine mart and buy all youd ever need for £400.
clarke 150 mig welder with starter kit. £250
auto dimming mask. £60
gas bottle co2/argon. £13 each
angle grinder. £40
cutting and grinding discs x6. £10
set of 3 tin snips. £12
welding mole grips set of 3. £10
sexy red leather gloves. £3
spot weld drill. £2

find out when the next VAT free sunday is at your local machine mart?

[cdavie2002]

Severly tempted!

The jacking points from w&n wont fill that entire gap, need to buy some metal, but what kind, ie gauge and type of metal?

I want to replace fuel lines for something flexible, they were an MOT advisory.

[murran]

youd need to repair the floor around it cutting the rust out to full thickness metal. most cars are 0.6mm/0.8mm steel.
ive been repairing my sill with 0.8mm stuff and the back panel with 0.6mm stuff.
before.....

after.....


had to rebuild the light surround at the top and right corner. and weld a piece in where that hole was at the bottom.
still got these crappy excuses for holes to tend to....


the filler work needs finishing, as i had to pick the kids up from school that afternoon so i just tidyed up and chucked some satin black on it. tho when ive finished it i might paint it black again i kinda like it!

[cdavie2002]

Yep, iv decided. Im definately going to try this myself. Thinking about renting a welder for a weekend first, and see how i get on.

Will this be adaquate? http://www.hss.com/g/55113/140amp.html

Also, when buying sheet steel to make repair panels, is all steel the same, or do i need to ask for something specific?

[cdavie2002]

Been offered a clarke151 te, used but fairly new, co2 bottles, auto darkening mask, gauntlets and a clarke welder trolley for £285. Its out of warranty, seller claims its hardly been used but looks as if it just come out of box. Who repairs these things if/when they go wrong?

Also is it mild steel at 0.8mm or 1mm thick i need for patch repair panels?

Any thoughts?

[murran]

wow, same as mine dude!


get that bought at that price! not bad at all.

[drjim]

Agree with Murran.

[murran]

the welder with starter kit included at machine mart is £300 on its own,
welding cart is £40 i think.
then youve got two little bottles there £13 each.
big bottle £who knows? how much gas is in it? (the main cost of a big bottle is the deposite on it when you first get it, its cheaper (than buying disposable ones) from then on having it refilled).
regulator for big bottle £45ish+.
auto mask from machine mart is £60.

£400 worth of stuff there. easy.

[cdavie2002]

Yeah i figured about £400 aswell. Only thing thats niggling me is the thought of a warranty, i know im saving about £100, but if i buy new il get a warranty.

Am i worrying over nothing, should this clarke welder be reliable?

[murran]

we've got a clarke 155 turbo at work, weve done nothing to it apart from put wire in it and tips etc in it for about the past 8 years ive been there. that gets used almost daily for one job or another. i wouldnt worry too much.

all these clarke welders have a v healthy after sales and parts back up too. even if youve not had it from new.

[murran]

so how did you buy the welder? made a start on it dude?

[cdavie2002]

Not bought it yet, still offshore with work. I made a start cutting out rot in floor pan and sill before i left.