newbie - want to weld seat frames

[atlas2l8v]

hi all

im a complete novice at welding but have bought a clarke gas/gasless welder so i can adapt my cars std seat frames to accept my bucket type seats. Obviously im goin to spend a lot of time practising first but

Quick question on what would be the best material and would wire size of .6 be ok for this type of job

Its just welding a flat bar of some type at the front and back of each seatframe no more than 2" width etc

thanks for any help

 

[oddball90]

Make sure you get it right as it's diffcult to drive from the backseat. Was a codriver in a group N rally car when the seat mount broke, its not a nice expierence!

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

speaking of driving from the back seat...

in Cornwall some years ago I saw a Fiat, the tiny, old 'rounded' one...

the owner had removed the roof leaving the screen in, then removed the doors and front seats...

and about three feet of floor/sills/chassis, and welded it back together.

Obviously using addional support struts under the floor and a roll-cage, etc.

So it was now a 2-seater, the driver sitting in what was the original rear seat.

I always fancied doing one and painting it like Noddy's car...

for some reason my wife said she'd not ride in it with me.

I can't understand it, her ears ain't /that/ big!

Regards
Peter

 

[atlas2l8v]

cheers for the replies :-)

Will get it right, im using the existing seatframes the sports seats are flat runners under the seat so will just bolt to the welded on bars

any help with the material thow

 

[peterd51]

Hi Atlas,

sorry got carried away with my story...

what model of mig is it? Do you know the maximum thickness it'll weld to?

You'd probably be using 5 or 6 mm plate so it'll need to be capable of doing that thickess.

Although, if it's just short lengths you may get away with welding from both sides (small taper both sides from the middle) but bear in mind it would probably need to withstand a couple of tons of force if you should be unlucky and hit something.

It'd be bad enugh that you hit something without having to worry about the seat breaking free and rattling you arround!

I'm sure plenty of people will jump in and some will say you can while others will say you can't...

have you any metalwork designs in mind that you could post?

Regards
Peter

 

[atlas2l8v]

its a clarke 90en gas/gasless

imafter doing something as done in this pic...

 

[irondarren]

looks 2.5mm to 3mm thick? would need around 140 amps to make sure they stay where they are put. Or a root run and lots of fill in runs on a 90amp

 

[atlas2l8v]

cheers for the replys.

Im getting some steel 3mm thick so will have to give it a go with plenty of runs like u say.