Could you weld your car to this high standard

[philsmin]

I just want the repairs to last.

Do it properly, do it once!

 

[Chickenjohn]

It might seem a bit ott, but its the way I thought was best. Wire brush to remove most of the heavy/flaky rust. Blasting to clean the rest, and then a bit of treatment just for a belt and braces approach. If that seems ott then I hold my hands up, I just want the repairs to last.

Sounds reasonable to me!

 

[swordfish210]

Have you seen the new BMWs? The "chassis" isn't welded at all, but bonded. Accident repairs are carried out with the advanced form of a tube of Sikkaflex.

Not uncommon at all with modern cars. Lotus Elises have had a bonded chassis since they came out and i believe Mercedes Benz are quite fond of bonding their cars together.

 

[dannyp]

that means gripfill is now up to MOT standard for welding, probaly do a better job than some of the MOT repairs i've seen

 

[Iain Westland]

I think you would need to be registered to get away with it Danny,

 

[200T]

I've read this thread with interest and was wondering how many people offering car welding services would recognise Boron Steel.

And how would they repair it?

It can be MIG welded and covered in underseal for £25/hour.

How many MOT testers would tell if Boron Steel had been MIG welded or MIG brazed?

That worries me (a bit)

Easy. Go ask the manufacturer for repair instructions.

But that means you need to be able to perform them. I had the pleasure of repairing (well, helping to repair) a 2010 Scoda Octavia (rear quarter panel replacement).

- MAG welding
- 2 sorts of glues + special prep for glue
- brazing
- electric spot welding
- 2 sorts of steels

And as a extra, some lead loading to hide the panel joints (no filler).

Bodywork on modern cars got very complicated. I'm happy that at work the most modern cars are from 1996 and made entirely from simple steel and MAG welding is perfectely fine.

That said; I have to work economically. I can't fix the cars like I would fix my own; noone would pay the bills... I try to fix customer cars as good as I can - but it's impossible to do it 100%. After all, we're not doing restoration work, just simple fixing.

But if I would weld a patch on rusty metal ontop a rot hole, like in the first post, I'd get a big slap from my boss

It's a constant balance between 'doing it right' and 'keeping it economical'. And depending on the repair, the balance drifts to one or the other side. Dissapointing, but it's the truth.

 

[Kafer_meister]

It's all very idealistic expecting all welding repairs on cars to be done to restoration or as new standards. At the end of the day, no-one was going to pay me £500 for seamless sill and floor repairs on a 1996 caddy van. It was really quite rusty! The van is worth about £500 max. The rust got cut out and patches got welded over the top of good metal. it's not the prettiest solution in the world, but the van will survive another couple of years and is solid. I did it for a good mate for £150.

I've done restoration work on classic vehicles, and the time it eats results in bills that people simply aren't prepared to pay.

 

[Iain Westland]

they pays their money and takes their choice, wanna pay big you get big, wanna pay little and you get little.

 

[Tino]

Most qualified/certified welders that i know, won't weld cars,they usually say they don't want the hassle.
Why should they when they are getting well paid for welding ready prepared thicker stuff ?

It's a long long time ago I did any welding on a car. I quickly learned that it wasn't worth my time. Rust = old = no money

 

[jim painter]

It's a long long time ago I did any welding on a car. I quickly learned that it wasn't worth my time. Rust = old = no money

But classic cars seem to be on the up. There are plenty of sites and clubs for them. I have also noticed a few more on the roads. Could just be coincidence that I havent seen them though. As has been said you get what you pay for.

 

[Tino]

Fair point. I wasn't thinking about the classic market, more Joe Blogs down the road with his rust heap!

 

[jim painter]

Ah I get you. My mistake

 

[muddydisco]

I hope this isnt true, as i'm totally self taught. Would put an end to my new venture before it got off the ground properly.

Well i,m a MOT Tester and i've not heard that

 

[The Buddah]

Hi
Was just been having a look around the net for a used welding torch and came across this.
How does work like this ever pass a MOT, sorry if this is a member of this forum but people should not have to pay for that sort of work and if they are the best pics for an advert give up now.
advert reads
Mobile Welder.
All areas, all welding.
Cars,vans,classics,campers,hgv,bikes & scooters.
Save £££££ on garage prices.
Work carried out at your place/work or in our workshop.
Free call out quotation & advice.
Fast friendly service.
Family business.

Any chance you could re-post pic's please?

 

[rtbcomp]

The pictures were submitted via Photobucket - we have no control over them

The best way to post pictures on this forum is shown here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=12020

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5340