bmwe21.net forums

The videos on the welding site I posted the link for are very good. Watch them and have a go.

My Mrs caught me watching them. She thought it was ''weird''

Well I had a fun few hours at my local welding supplies store. It was like stepping back in time. It's a proper old school place with men in brown overalls. I told them what I was doing and that I needed a mask, some wire etc. Not only did they have all the stuff I needed, but they also spent an hour or so showing me the basics. I also got to have a go on a plasma cutter and it's got to be one of the best things I've ever tried. It cut through 4mm sheet steel like a hot knife through butter. Incredible piece of kit. They gave me some good tips, like always starting with the wire speed being too high so that I can back it off gradually. Starting too slow increases the chance of blocking the tip and have to strip the gun back to clean it etc. They also gave my welder a quick check-over and gave me the regulator I needed to use a proper size gas bottle instead of those tiny, disposable ones. They had a mask on offer which was normally over £100 but cost me only £49. I was able to get a few decent welds and it's given me the confidence to keep at it. I'll post some photos of my efforts.

http://www.weldersarcade.co.uk/product/ ... ELIMINATOR

that sounds really cool mark!
i like welding, its a fun mans thing. nothing like joining bits of metal to improve your masculinity! rahhhh!

That plasma cutter got the old testosterone pumping too!

Plasma cutter is my favourite toy, MIG welder is a very close second. When I have finished the Baur a mate of mine has a beetle with a LOT of rust to cut out and weld back up - plenty of fun to be had!

i used Jim's plasma cutter that time when i put the camber plates on, i thought it was pretty scary - its the noise it makes WHHAAHAHAHHAHAHHHHHH. i wouldnt mind getting to learn how to weld. Jacko taught me the basics and i did a few decent welds.

I need me a go at welding!
What kind/thickness of wire and steel would you guys use for welding a crack in the chassis tunnel ? Would i be far off with 0.8mm wire with 1.2mm steel plate? Does'nt need to look nice

That's what I'm using. Just make sure you get the metal as clean & shiny as you can and check the earth is good. It's taken me a little while but I'm starting to get some half decent runs going. I'm spending tomorrow @ my workshop as I got me some fresh scraps of steel today. Maybe I should take up metal sculpture?

Get some pics up mate!!
I just need to weld a 3x3'' plate or there abouts onto the chassis tunnel infront of the left engine mount. Guess an overlapping seam weld would be best?? Although i really dont know what im talking about like.
Looking to get some 1mm contact tips with 0.9mm wire to use on 1.2mm or there abouts thick steal. Does that make sense?
Where'd you get your steal from ? Might go on the rob around the industrial estate where i work

And should i use gas or just get gasless stuff?

This is the blind leading the blind but I would get a cylinder of Argon rather than gasless stuff. The tips and wire sound about right to me.

For a plate onto the chassis rail gasless wire will be OK. Bit of a pig to use apparently as it makes lots of smoke and it's difficult to see the weld pool.

For the patch on the chassis rail 1.2mm is OK, just make sure it has a full seam with good penetration all round, MOT chaps have apparently been known to pry them off with the officially approved MOT screwdriver. Grind all the grotty bits underneath out and give it some weld through primer inside (more heat resistant than weld through in this case), then stick a plate over that has a good overlap all around and clean around where the edges will be back to bare steel. Clamp it very tight then get at it with the welder. Chassis rail being more substantial you are less likely to blow holes etc, but if you haven't gone far enough from the grotty bit you end up trying to weld to thin rusty steel and it's not fun.

For bodywork 0.8mm sheet is a bit easier to work with, holes in floor go thicker.

Look at the videos on the welding forums and have a practice first. For chassis rail it doesn't need to be pretty, just strong.

Cool, cheers. Found a welding centre shop not far from me, gonna go in tomora and buy some supplies! How thick would you say the steel is on the chassis rail ?
Ill take a couple of pics in the morning of the problem and see what you guys think i should do

Chassis rail is about 1mm as I recall. When you chop the grot out you can see how thick it is.

my next door but 1 neighbour has a gasless mig welder. its next to fooking useless, its hard to start a weld then after about an inch of a line of weld, the flux on the wire has deposited so much crap around the area you have to break off it to clean it up again.