Welding near paint

[gurnard]

Hello, I'm after some advice. Last year I had my car painted on the outside and brand new glass all around. Well now i've decided the interior needs some work and requires a small amount of welding.

My question is, do you think a professional will be able to weld inside the car without damaging the paintwork on the outside. The work required is quite close to the inner sills.

Thank you. A great forum btw.
Luke.

 

[the snooper]

that all depends on just how close, as the heat can travel fast on thin steel and does destroy it, a picture would be better

 

[gurnard]

Thank you for the quick reply. I have this picture if it helps.

If you notice the white outline on the floor pan. Well, the previous owner removed a seat mount and installed them awful black bars, I want to remove them and add the original mount back in.

Thank you.

 

[Shox Dr]

If you mean welding on the backside of a painted surface then, no.

If you mean close to a painted surface then it's possible.


I had a bloke bring me a tank that was supposed to fit a 500cc Bighead: it didn't: The underneath fouled the cam covers. Only problem was it had been chromed and then painted to a very high standard, and it had been sat on a shelf in his garage for the last umpteen yrs, so couldn't/wouldn't take it back.

I managed to inset tray to allow it to sit correctly, and TIG Brazed (Sif No8) it in welding within 4mm of the side of the tank and the visible paint if it had been any more you would have seen it.

Total ball ache, but he was over the moon with it.

 

[the snooper]

I doubt it will affect it if its only welding on the floor or even inner sill

 

[gurnard]

At a guess i'd say it would be about 2-4 inches from the painted surface, which would be the door shut. The plate actually welds to the floor and from the factory they're just spot welds.

Would a few tacks be strong enough?

Thank you.

 

[the snooper]

plug welds are a mig's equivalent of spot welds , you would drill a hole in the plate then weld the floor filling the hole in the plate to be attached so drill holes and fill them in the same places as the factory did and you will be fine

 

[gurnard]

Thank you both for your help. I'm now quite confident about getting it done, I would attempt it myself, but being a seat support I think getting a professional in would be the safest.

I just need to find a mobile welder now.

Thank you again.

 

[the snooper]

practise some plug welds on scrap they are easy just make sure everything is nice and shiny clean, both parts are a tight fit and off you go drill using 5/6 mm drill bit

 

[gurnard]

I think i'd blow right through the floor pan, Subaru use some pretty thin metal.

 

[the snooper]

I think i'd blow right through the floor pan, Subaru use some pretty thin metal.

its not guaranteed that someone else wouldn't blow through either just have to fill them back in

 

[gurnard]

haha you're making me very tempted to do it myself. Is it easy to fill in a hole.

 

[the snooper]

its not too hard, have a go on some scrap then decide if you have the confidence

 

[piman]

Hello Gurnard,

why don't you bolt it down, with good sized washers or a reinforcing plate below?

Alec