Welding question

planenut · 14th September 2020, 08:28

Trying to get my head round welding, very quickly, I see in videos of what I think is mig welding, power is earthed through the area to induce the weld. Can the vehicle electrics be affected by that?

roverbarmy · 14th September 2020, 08:36

Yes. Battery leads should be disconnected before welding to avoid damage to vehicle electrics. Also you need to know that the area behind the welds are free of wiring, pipework etc to avoid fires or damage to vehicle systems.

planenut · 14th September 2020, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

Yes. Battery leads should be disconnected before welding to avoid damage to vehicle electrics. Also you need to know that the area behind the welds are free of wiring, pipework etc to avoid fires or damage to vehicle systems.

That's great, many thanks.

rrobson · 14th September 2020, 10:01

Mig welding, point and squirt. Reel of wire fed through a torch which deposits material onto the job. Available in many different types of wire including gas less that doesn’t require shielding gas.
Ideal for car body work but not great outside as it upsets the shielding gas. The easiest to learn, but with all welding, difficult to obtain a good standard. Anyone can pick up a mig welder and lay a bead.

Stick welding (or MMA), electrode in a holder. The electrode needs to be traveled along the job and inwards simultaneously as the material from the electrode is deposited on to the job. Ideal for outdoor welding and anything over 2mm thick. Difficult to learn. Called stick because that’s what usually happens to the electrode on the work piece.

Tig welding, torch in one hand filler in the other. The most difficult form of welding to master, but produced the most aesthetically pleasing bead of all. This requires an arc initiating with a shielded tungsten and filler metal needs to be fed into the molten pool of metal. Weld virtually any metal with this process.
Not suitable for car bodies due to the distortion caused by the amount of heat created by the process. Totally unsuitable for drafty or outdoor conditions as it blows the shielding gas away

planenut · 14th September 2020, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrobson

Mig welding, point and squirt. Reel of wire fed through a torch which deposits material onto the job. Available in many different types of wire including gas less that doesn’t require shielding gas.
Ideal for car body work but not great outside as it upsets the shielding gas. The easiest to learn, but with all welding, difficult to obtain a good standard. Anyone can pick up a mig welder and lay a bead.

Stick welding (or MMA), electrode in a holder. The electrode needs to be traveled along the job and inwards simultaneously as the material from the electrode is deposited on to the job. Ideal for outdoor welding and anything over 2mm thick. Difficult to learn. Called stick because that’s what usually happens to the electrode on the work piece.

Tig welding, torch in one hand filler in the other. The most difficult form of welding to master, but produced the most aesthetically pleasing bead of all. This requires an arc initiating with a shielded tungsten and filler metal needs to be fed into the molten pool of metal. Weld virtually any metal with this process.
Not suitable for car bodies due to the distortion caused by the amount of heat created by the process. Totally unsuitable for drafty or outdoor conditions as it blows the shielding gas away

That's very helpful, thanks.

rrobson · 14th September 2020, 14:02

If your looking at welding, presuming the mig process, what ever you do don’t start welding body panel thickness material (0.8mm ish) with gas less wire because all it will do is break your heart. It burns too hot and isn’t suitable for the stitching nature of body welding. Get a branded machine and get a bottle of 5 or 10% co2 argon mix, it will go a hell of a lot better. Once you get your hand in then you can progress to gas less if need be. And on that note, make sure the machine polarity is correct for whatever wire is being used. The wrong polarity will also break your heart.

Fences, gate posts etc, a stick welder will be perfect.

KWIL · 14th September 2020, 14:15

Practice, practice, practice......

Weldiing skills take time to acquire, yes MMA does stick from time to time, again practice makes perfect as in many other fields

Got the Certificates, but regular use is needed to keeps the skills acquired.

14th September 2020, 08:28	#1
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Welding question Trying to get my head round welding, very quickly, I see in videos of what I think is mig welding, power is earthed through the area to induce the weld. Can the vehicle electrics be affected by that?

14th September 2020, 08:36	#2
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	Yes. Battery leads should be disconnected before welding to avoid damage to vehicle electrics. Also you need to know that the area behind the welds are free of wiring, pipework etc to avoid fires or damage to vehicle systems. __________________ Oil in my veins!

14th September 2020, 10:01	#4
rrobson I really should get out more....... 75 tourer cdti, MG ZS 180, nissan terrano & 1.8t rover 25 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pontefract Posts: 2,643 Thanks: 17 Thanked 295 Times in 218 Posts	Mig welding, point and squirt. Reel of wire fed through a torch which deposits material onto the job. Available in many different types of wire including gas less that doesn’t require shielding gas. Ideal for car body work but not great outside as it upsets the shielding gas. The easiest to learn, but with all welding, difficult to obtain a good standard. Anyone can pick up a mig welder and lay a bead. Stick welding (or MMA), electrode in a holder. The electrode needs to be traveled along the job and inwards simultaneously as the material from the electrode is deposited on to the job. Ideal for outdoor welding and anything over 2mm thick. Difficult to learn. Called stick because that’s what usually happens to the electrode on the work piece. Tig welding, torch in one hand filler in the other. The most difficult form of welding to master, but produced the most aesthetically pleasing bead of all. This requires an arc initiating with a shielded tungsten and filler metal needs to be fed into the molten pool of metal. Weld virtually any metal with this process. Not suitable for car bodies due to the distortion caused by the amount of heat created by the process. Totally unsuitable for drafty or outdoor conditions as it blows the shielding gas away __________________ How to view a car - everything you need to help you inspect a used car VIS motor tester avalible to local members Injector removal tool and auto gearbox pressure tester now available

14th September 2020, 14:02	#6
rrobson I really should get out more....... 75 tourer cdti, MG ZS 180, nissan terrano & 1.8t rover 25 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pontefract Posts: 2,643 Thanks: 17 Thanked 295 Times in 218 Posts	If your looking at welding, presuming the mig process, what ever you do don’t start welding body panel thickness material (0.8mm ish) with gas less wire because all it will do is break your heart. It burns too hot and isn’t suitable for the stitching nature of body welding. Get a branded machine and get a bottle of 5 or 10% co2 argon mix, it will go a hell of a lot better. Once you get your hand in then you can progress to gas less if need be. And on that note, make sure the machine polarity is correct for whatever wire is being used. The wrong polarity will also break your heart. Fences, gate posts etc, a stick welder will be perfect. __________________ How to view a car - everything you need to help you inspect a used car VIS motor tester avalible to local members Injector removal tool and auto gearbox pressure tester now available

14th September 2020, 14:15	#7
KWIL Precise Rover 75 Tourer 2.5KV6 Connoisseur SE Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Fleet Posts: 2,952 Thanks: 630 Thanked 617 Times in 480 Posts	Practice, practice, practice...... Weldiing skills take time to acquire, yes MMA does stick from time to time, again practice makes perfect as in many other fields Got the Certificates, but regular use is needed to keeps the skills acquired.