New to this game

[ms08]

Have a small job to do on car for MOT - 1995 Saab 9000 rear arches. Looking to use 0.6wire and going to buy a GYS Mig 162 and was looking to use as gasless initially to save overall costs for mask, gloves etc.
Can I buy 0.6 flux core wire or is this not an option as looking around 0.8mm seems to be the smallest I can find.
Also, thinking of safety, is a Co2 fire extinguisher the best to use rather than something like dry powder should flames be forthcoming?

 

[Kent]

honestly I have only tried flux core once and hated it by all accounts its better when you go to a real quality wire on thicker stuff. Get some gas you will only face more problems than the initial cost saving is worth. BOC do a new small bottle in argoshield light, I think it equates to something like 5 disposable type ones

 

[ms08]

Thanks Kent. I have heard mention of Hobbygas also.
Are they an acceptable source for bottle gas? Presume for what I am doing need argon/co2?

 

[ms08]

Ok, so this is the largest hole I have to contend with in the rear wheel arch - should I be looking to cut out the area I have marked out and how easy is it to form a new piece to fit in and should I make from more that one piece given the curves?

 

[ms08]

Couple of more patches need tidying up..............

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Thanks Kent. I have heard mention of Hobbygas also.
Are they an acceptable source for bottle gas? Presume for what I am doing need argon/co2?

Hobbygas always seems expensive to me, there are cheaper options.
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/forum-shielding-gas-offers.40809/

 

[norlander]

You can find fluxcore in 0.8, I got a 5kg spool of Esab, did some patches on a van yesterday as it happens, went ok, make sure you get a good earth and clean the patch material up-even if its nice new steel.
Deffo go for the CO2. I just fired a powder one off (it was out of date, so I fired it off in the garden so I could use the cylinder for something, what bloomin mess!-and the service bloke told me that the powder is corrosive,he showed me his spanners etc and they were all rusty-might be a con trick to flog C02s, but I have a CO2 anyway) the CO2s should not need to be inspected for a long time, think mine is 10 years.
On the gas, if you go for it, see here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/argon-95-co2-5.54070/

 

[Bsmith]

Make the patches first, draw round the edges then cut the old pieces out.

 

[marlinspike]

It will be tricky as there are various curves. I would cut as little as possible out. A good way to get the right size patch is to cover the area in strips of masking tape then draw the shape of the hole and cut. When you pull up the masking tape and flatten it out, it gives you the correct area of metal patch needed, before you put the curves in.

 

[ms08]

Hobbygas always seems expensive to me, there are cheaper options.
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/forum-shielding-gas-offers.40809/

Thanks - found a local supplier - rent free which is good - what mix do I need 5% or 20% CO2?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

5% for car bodywork.

 

[ms08]

Thank you.
Regards
Mike

 

[ms08]

Ordered my welder today....GYS Smartmig 162....Can't wait to get started....

 

[Bigjoe]

Ooooh new toy alert! Be interesting to see another opinion/review of this little cracker!

 

[ms08]

Have my gas, wire, mask gloves and extinguisher now so will find some scrap and start practicing.
Did some arc welding about 30 years + ago and managed to put a new floor pan and sills in a Mini but guess this is a whole new ball game....
Can someone remind me of flow rate of gas please - have my peashooter at the ready.

 

[marlinspike]

Usual advice seems to be to start with 10l per minute and see how you go.

 

[ms08]

Thank you.

 

[ms08]

First attempts - be as destructive or constructive...
0.6mm wire GYS 162 Smartmig onto 1/4 thick angle iron....

This is one of the small holes I have to patch....

 

[roofman]

looks to me like you need to back off on the wire feed a tad and go up a tad on the amps for a bit more penetration on the thick stuff

 

[ms08]

Been out to Canterbury Steel on recommendation of the forum and got some off cuts to play with - very helpful chaps and from there to Merlin Welding at Hersden on advice of chaps at Canterbury Steel and introduced myself there - again very helpful - bought a couple of spare tips as the gave me some free samples of welders chalk.....have some steel to make a top plate for my Workmate and some thin sheet to practice on.....