heres a good way to tell if your welds are good, after welding, grab the drain plug hole and yank up, not too hard to bend the metal but hard enough to lift the whole car up a little, then if nothing breaks, your good

 

Boy is that the truth. I have been doing a bit of rusty panel repair lately. The trick that I have discovered is to do short 1/4 to 1/2 inch stitch welds and then skip to another section and repeat. Don't let the panel get too hot. When the panel starts to get uncomfortably hot take a break and let things cool down.

Have fun.

 

more beer.........oh, and a fire extinguisher (sp?)

 

hey has anyone else seen the CRAZY new aluminum rods from welders supply, if not here's what happens there on dc -polarity and 70-180 amps and MAN those things look like the REALLY big sparklers lit when there cranked up around 170 amps and they burn red not blue like most other rods weird hu? o and stevetra i only have this to say,practice, patience and something to take the anger out on (NOT the dog or cat or other pets)because unless you are somekind of mirical worker you'll get mad and frusterated and boy do the dogs look like punching bags right about then hahahahaha.

 

must be an alabama thing[>:][:-]

 

I also tap the welds with a hammer and dolly to avoid warpage. I agree with either small stitch welds or alot of tack welds to keep the matal cool.

 

You have a series of tack welds instead of a bead. Tack the corners, then the centers, then go from one side to the other after each tack.

 

thats how i did it, and it may seem a little pricey but i also layed some JB weld all around it for good measure, and then seam sealer

 

Never heard of using JB weld, but it certainly can't hurt anything. A good seam seal will ensure a safe seal.

 

well...the dance has begun my friends,,,,
The passengers side toe board is installed...
only one burn through, but I was able to fill it.
I worked very slowly, started with tacks 4-6" apart..then half that, then half that then..well you get the idea.
It may not be pretty...but it is solid as a rock.

I guess I will have to wait and see what the damage is from my one welding mishap....
I was in position, and just how I did the 100 spots before, I knodded my head and pulled the trigger...but instead of the mask falling over my eyes like it had every other time...it hit the dash and stopped.
I recieved about a good 1/2 second flash before I released the trigger....
It is amazing how many thoughts you can have in such a short time...
I remember thinking...what a pretty blue light....