Hello. Complete newbie needs advice.

Hi,

Here's the thing:

I really love my car as it's my first car and I want to keep it for as long as possible. It's overall condition is decent I would say except couple of bits when it needs patching up. Rear arches mostly.

Because I like getting new skills and it brakes my heart (and wallet) every time I have to give my car to someone to fix it up I figured I could have a go at welding. Especially that I love my spannering around the car and every time it comes the time that something has to be welded together, all the works have to stop...

Other thing about welding I really like it's the fact that whatever you make out of it it's solid and it will last.

Anyway.

I had a brief read on this forum already and I sort of get the idea what I'm up for but I would need your help and a word of advice and encouragement (or discouragement )

Main problem is that whatever I do with my car has to be good enough to go through the MOT (as that's the main reason I would do it anyway). Another big problem is that I have to work with no budget what so ever. I mean all I can barely afford is a £50 range stick welder and cheapo mask. Will I be able to make anything work with it. I have read millions of times on this forum already that welding thin metal (like car bodywork) with stick welder is very DIFFICULT and I need to go with thinnest rod and lowest amps I can. So it's not impossible is it? And what's the difficulty of it anyway? What welding techniques should I learn to make it right? I know that good way of practice is to get some smashed up body panels like bonnet or a wing off scrapyard, cut it up and try to weld it together, am I right?

The car repair really doesn't have to look. I believe that form is completely in the function so I don't mind it looking like a scrapyard salvage

Sorry for all those newbie questions but I'm really up for it and I just want to find out if there's any point before I will fork my last pennies out.

Thanks guys, I hope you will understand.

Regards,

Tom

EDIT:

I just have found this:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/010110942

will this be any good?

Welcome to our place !
Remarkable results can be achieved with even the most basic welding equipment but great skill is needed. The very best equipment allows even the welding novice to get good results with little practice.
So, on a limited budget with basic equipment you need to practice to develop the required skill, before you even think about touching that car !
Even then it will take much longer to do the work.
You have come to the right place for advice though !

Thanks, I'm glad I did finally

I have quite a lot of time on my hands and my MOT is due September so I think I should be able to get my head around it until then. I just don't have any funds at all.

So, is Clarke Easi Arc 110 ok for what I'm planning to do with it? It goes from 40 to 110 amps. Also, will I be able to use it off normal socket?

Are there any particular techniques I would have to use to weld car body/chassis?

Thanks,

Tom

a 110 amp welder should be fine off a 13A socket, i use my 100amp mig off one and it fine. you shouldnt need the full amps for thin bodywork anyway.

as said above though, alot of practice is needed before you even attempt to try the car. ive been welding 4 months and im starting to get confident enough to do sills, but it is still daunting when you think about how it will affect the car if it goes wrong.

and also, if you can afford one, try and get an autodark mask. you can pick them up from about 28 quid in some places, and it makes learning to weld a hell of alot easier if you can see what your doing before you start an arc.

the guys on here know what they are doing so ask as many questions as you need to get your techniques right and your confidence will follow

I did stick welding with a cheap arc set on and off for 40 years, some of it on cars but the metal was usually thicker than it is now and even then it was hard work not to blow through.

Yes it is possible to weld a patch with a stick welder but it will never be easy, even after a lot of practice and I mean a lot...not a weekend or couple of nights.

The machine you mention will work off a normal 13amp supply.