Seeking your wisdom

[Pete127]

Hi to everyone,just joined the forum and hope to be picking your brains on lots of things,will start with these few though.

I'm currently doing up a 1979 Fiat 127,all is going well and I'm on to the body work.All the interior is stripped,seats,carpet,etc and the dash and windscreen are out to.I've been going to college doing a level 1+2 in mig and I feel quite confident in laying down a weld.The cars not a basket case but there are a few problem areasThe area I've started on is the rear passenger wheel arch,the bit inside the car.I've cut out the bad metal so there's now about a 40mm gap,should I do a lap weld or a butt weld and should I do it from inside the car or from inside the wheel arch?

A few more things while I'm here,I'm using the small disposable gas bottles at the moment but I can see this being expensive in the long run and I've got no idea where to go for bigger bottles so any advice welcome.And lastly(? is that a word,sounds right)I've bought a secondhand SIP 130 Turbo and I'm having a little trouble on the set up.I've put on a new tip and shroud and have got some 6mm wire in but when I try to put a bead down its a bit spluttery,the earth clamp looks past its best,could it be that.

I know its a long one so thanks for looking.

Pete

 

[irondarren]

As far as the repair holes go it really is up to you. Butt welding means cutting a perfect replacement piece to weld in. It will be more difficult to postion when welding. Would make an excellent quality repair
Slapping a plate over the top is far far easier, it doesnt have to be perfect in size or shape to the hole. As to where to put it, if i was repairing a hole in say a door skin, i would put the patch on the inside, meaning it could then be ground down and skimmed with filler. So put the patch on the parts that dont show (if that makes sense). But its not as good a quality repair. Now i dont mean to sound horrible but we are talking a fiat here and not some super rare car worth a fortune, so go for a patch over or under plate. Unless you really have the time and cut a perfect fit patch.

Gas is always one thats often spoke about here, disposables are expensive if your doing any quantity of work, but if you hire industrial cylinders you have the rental cost. You can hire the bottles on short term rental. so it basically comes down to BOC or Air products, this also depends on how far away your nearest agent is.

 

[Mikey D]

hi pete , you could make a trip up to wrexham to keygas , for your gas .
im be picking up a couple of bottles soon .
have a look in the shielding gas section of the forum ....

cheers mike

 

[Jackle]

I've been looking at the options for gas too.

I've only just got my welder (Clarke 135TE), and laid a couple of practice welds, I don't really know at the moment how much I'll be using it.

Anyway I've come across these http://www.sealey.co.uk/PLPageBuilder.asp?pageindex=1&gotonode=DoProductSearch&method=mProductSearch&IndividualTypeID=&productdescription=co2&fulltextsearch=&category=0&cmdGo=Go!

Looks like you buy the cylinder for about £60, and then refills (on a cylinder exchange basis) are about £10 for 1kg (~500l) of CO2.

Anybody else using these?

 

[ben8vgte]

I've only used the disposable when doing my cars and it's worked out alright for how much mig welding i did in the long run (with no rent to pay) just go for the ones with 120 ltrs not just 60 ltrs in. I believe you need a new regulator with those sealy bottles

 

[Jackle]

Well, I've got a regulator that came with the welder - I believe it is for a pub gas bottle, whether it would fit a sealey bottle or not I don't know...

 

[gaz_moose]

if you already have a pub gas regulator id be tempted to go on the lookout for a pub bottle.
i personnally hate welding plates over holes,you put hard work into doing the job and are left with a second rate repair.you could look into getting some edge jogglers.

if you dont plan on doing much welding then the disposables should do you ok although ive heard of the regulators leaking so always keep the bottle unscrewed.