Which plates for car sills...?

[shabz]

How do I determine what thickness and material of plate I need for repairing the rust on car skills?

...and where's the best place to buy it by the sheet?

Also...would these welding clamps be the right type to use for this job...

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...elding-clamps-c-type/path/welding-accessories

Thanks

 

[Benny]

i used 0.8 sheet for repairing sills and it seemed to work ok

 

[the snooper]

regarding your sills if they are quite bad why not just buy new ones will be a neater job and can sometimes be quicker then patching up rotten bits

 

[shabz]

how would you fit an entire new sill? and is it something you can buy off the shelf?

the rust isnt toooo bad tbh...probs 3 medium sized plates...although i won't know for sure until i start grinding i guess

 

[the snooper]

yes you can buy the sill off the shelf and you simply cut the old one off and weld new one on the one below is from a mk 3 escort 2 door

 

[Bsmith]

You get a good quality repair patch from the panel of an old wahing machine/fridge etc. (",).

 

[grandads_shed]

yes you can buy the sill off the shelf and you simply cut the old one off and weld new one on the one below is from a mk 3 escort 2 door

not that easy.
the car has to be suported if you are going to remove the old sill.

read this page on this site http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/sills.htm

 

[piman]

Hello Shabz,

I would say that 18 gauge for sills (about 1.2mm I think) so .8 is too thin as are old washing machine cases etc. (The Mk 2 jaguar used 16 gauge (1.5mm approx)).

Those sort of clamps can be used, however patch repairs are best done as a butt weld so you need another way to hold them while the patch is tacked. If there is no access from the back (as when patching a sill) I would tack a 'handle' to hold it in place while I tack the patch.
Motor factors (Trade, not Halfords) often sell the correct steel for car repair, both in flat and angles and sections etc.

Good luck.

Alec

 

[londonsean69]

Cut back to good metal and measure what is there

TBH though, I just used some 1.2mm mild I had knocking around when patching up the Fiesta (My Mums car)

As it is just a runabout, I did a lap joint. Good coat of underseal after the MOT should help prevent any more.

It doesn't do many miles, looking through her old MOTs she once did about 500 miles in 2 years, but is hardly in 'mint' condition, so appearance was not a crucial factor

Sean

 

[eil]

At one time I used to collect the outer skins of the old top loader washing machines they were a thicker gauge then and perfect for patches as they were flat all round no pressings in them as they are nowadays, I would use 1.2mm myself

 

[the snooper]

not that easy.
the car has to be suported if you are going to remove the old sill.

only if you remove the inner sill aswell they arnt that flimsy you know if they were your car would buckle when the sills rotted through.