My first patch....

[stealthbob]

Ok, so first off I want to thank all you guys for the great advice that I read here on this site. The videos sound was the best help of all!

I am working on a 1954 Buick Roadmaster 2dr Hardtop...pretty solid, no rocker issues but some patch work is required. My plans are a full and correct restoration, no hurry though...the journey is the fun. I am one who likes to learn new things and welding was very high on this young mans bucket list...what a blast!

I have burned through a full spool of wire and half a tank of gas (argon/co2 75/25) just on practice, mainly on sheet metal. I started with 16 gauge and laying down beads to cutting and welding in but patches...then moved onto the same attempts but with 18 gauge which is the base metal for my project. The one thing I have to say is technique (gun angle, distance) means everything...more than the settings IMHO. The more I played I found that with modifying technique you could compensate for slightly off settings. Also who ever said tear off the door sticker with the the pre-determined settings was absolutely bang on!

I am using a Lincoln WeldPak 180 with gas and .6mm wire. Setting B for power and ~3.8 wire speed.

I neglected to take pics of all my practice but I did take some of my first patch attempt:

The underside one was taken prior to some addition welds I had made, just wanted to show/see if my penetration was ok.

I am still lacking confidence and maybe laying down some tacks that are not as deep as they should be but once I get them filled in it should be there.

Any comments as to how to improve what I started with?

Thanks again for all you guys do here for us Newbs!

Oh...here is a Vid I made about the Rusty American Dream. All but one are 54 Buick's, the first and final shots are of my Roadmaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_OF5dB4zns

 

[gordon stephenson]

Welcome Bob, Really nice fit-up on the patch.I,m sure with time and your steady attitude the Buick will end up a very nice car that you can be proud of,

 

[stealthbob]

Thanks, I was surprised how the trace on cardboard trick worked. It took some minor trimming but it came together nicely. What helped of course is the whole end was left long past the back lip of the car, I will trim and weld this once done. One thing I did notice is the gaps shrunk a bit as I tacked...this helped allot.

I have most of the welds in now...I'm going to start cleaning them up to see where I'm at.

 

[stealthbob]

Well just when you think you are getting good you get bit in the @sss!

I have learned a couple of things from my most recent mistakes...

#1 Don't "clean up" the bubble gum welds until you are done, I ended up thinning the metal in the areas that were not hit yet and allowed for easy blowout! Man the holes I was making was as if I was using a large plasma torch.

#2 Ensure you are using the correct gas! I was reading over this board and came across a thread that discussed the differences and the outcomes of using different shielding gas, when suddenly I recognized the pure argon beads with the tell tale spidery marks at the edge of the bead. I thought I was using 75/25 but to my dismay the bottle only said Argon. All the symptoms of using pure argon were present in my welds!

Yeash


I now have the proper gas and what a difference it makes for me...the puddle is far flatter, I get nice penetration and best of all NO MORE BLOW THROUGH!

I didn't take any pics of my disaster...I cut out the piece and fitted a new one, this time its going in much better. I don't have my camera right now but will post a progress pic when I get it back.

I keep reading through the threads here...I learn a little more every time.

Thanks!

 

[ww715519816]

success comes form first patch attempt

I keep reading through the threads here...I learn a little more every time.

Thanks!

 

[Chickenjohn]

Really good job for a first go! To make neater swage lines in the future you might want to get hold of a large, blunted chisel and tap the swage in using the edge of an anvil or even the open jaws of a vice. mark the line with a pencil or scriber.

As for blowing holes- look up Malcolms "thin metal technique". Really, running a bead is very difficult on 1mm steel and most restorers weld the repair piece to the car with a series of overlapping pulse welds to join the tacks together in a continuous seam. Allow the metal to cool slightly between each pulse and you will get a good seam with minimal hole blowing.

Nice to see you butt welding from your first patch!

 

[stealthbob]

I was attempting the stich approach but after a couple of hits it would blow trough. If I stitched a bit slower and into the puddle more the weld bubble would just grow huge...until I switched to the proper gas mix. Now I can stitch with a bit more separation with no blow through and no giant bubble welds growing higher and higher.

As for the but weld, this will be a full on #1 restoration.....no compromises! The Body will be done by a pro but not quite yet. Right now I just want to repair the back end so I can properly mount on a Rotisserie (My next welding attempt) and store in another garage while I work from the (Powder-coated) frame up!

Here is close to what it will look like when done: