ShivJG
New Member
- Messages
- 8
- Location
- Darlington, UK
Thank you. Yeah, I'll take a look at those videos. Any help is better than none, and I'm new to all of this including shaping bodywork. The nearest I've come to anything like that was trying to make tail cowl for my bike out of 2mm aluminium. Isn't the best job, but it's better than I imagined I could do with no training and just going at it.Welcome!
Building motorcycles with a Tig is certainly jumping in both feet at the deep end
I think you will find Mig a lot easier to pick up by comparison.
Sounds like you have got it all sussed, but all I would add is that welding bodywork is a different beast to welding on thicker stock.
It is more like a series of short spot/tack welds with the primary concern being heat and distortion.
The welding itself is pretty easy, with most of the time and effort going into forming and fitting the panels.
A couple of excellent youtube channels for bodywork (whether you are starting off or a seasoned veteran), are Fitzee's Fabrication (especially his Cut-n-Butt technique) and Trevs blog.
Both have extensive back catalogues, and several videos aimed at beginners starting off, tools, tips, technique etc. I'd really recommend them.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6JPmJ_aicru8XPWr3EvJnw
https://www.youtube.com/@trevsblog
My own tip, is to get some fibre discs and backing pad for your grinder - I find I use these a lot more than flap discs and they are a lot cheaper, last longer and more aggressive/faster too.
More useful for general fabrication than on bodywork but still come in handy.
If you have access to air, a small right-angle die grinder with roloc sanding discs is a very handy thing for bodywork and grinding down welds.
Oher than that, see if you can source some scrap to practice on, and just crack on and get some hood time in.
It isn't a substitute for tuition, but if you put up pictures of the results on here, there is usually a few who are pretty good at giving some constructive feedback.
Also check out the tutorials on the website as a starting point.
Just used a rubber mallet and a basic Clarke panel beating kit and a large piece of wood to shape it on.