HELP please!!

Hi all, I am in desperate need of some help. I've been trying to attach a new deformation panel, I've preped the two mating surfaces given them a coat of weld through primer, drilled the new panel every two inches.

But I cannot get the wells to stick (if that's the right term) to the inner valance, I have had to grind off the welds and re drill as the blumming things keep breaking free, is it the welder (me) or the welder (95 amp Clarke) or is it the primer or something else.

Please help,

Desperate of Hull. :'(

 

Have a go at welding on your old panel
Without primer?🇬🇧

 

your welder isnt really powerful enough for that panel, each one is 1.2mm thick i think 150amp plus

 

^ whs
need a better welder for that mate, and lose the paint on the actual weld areas!

 

Stick your welder on full and try it on some clean scrap to see if you can get any penetration on one skin of 1.2mm. You need to see the weld clearly on the reverse side.

 

Thanks guys, I'll try what silver said then I suppose it will be hire shop time, can't afford to upgrade just yet, all the money is going on the van (parts etc) :-[

 

you could phone a mobile welder to just weld this bit on, probably wouldnt be much different to renting a welder price wise.

 

Full power, aim for the cantre (the back piece), but as they say above, your welder isn't really up to the job.

 

I agree your welder is not powerfull enough.

Did you have a decent earth connection & was it clamped to the bus or the deformation panel. My welder produces better results since I fitted a stronger earth clamp. I also find I need less power with Argon/Co2 mix as it seems to penetrate easier than when I use Co2 alone.

Good luck with it.

 

Thanks everyone, its so frustrating wen you think you are getting some where and then this happens. Blurb on welder says upto 4mm mild steel.
Gonna give it another go tomorrow, I've been reading on the mig-welding forum and I think I need bigger holes I've drilled about 5mm but recomend 7.5mm for plug welding, so I think I may have been arking on the hole edge rather than the rear metal, plus maybe the paint wasn't helping or I maybe just setting myself up for another epic fail tomorrow.
Will let you all know tomorrow, unless anyone knows anyone in my area who could help, looked for a mobile welder local and only comming up with a hire shop!

 

Best of luck Syd

 

Thanks for all the words of encouragement, but once again its a fail, as was said previously my welder just isn't upto the job.
I'm currently in the process of borrowing an arc welder, so will report back once I have tried it.

 

what thickness wire are you using? are you using co2 or argosheild?

 

gasless mig is a bag o Marmitee
you will struggle with an arc welder in 7mm holes
buy a decent 2nd hand welder, use it then sell it on again when finished. you will get most of your money back

 

Do you have a kit, or do they do a kit for your welder to convert it to gas as well? did you pop any pics of your welds up on the mig welding forum, they will all prob say gasless is the problem but there maybe someone over there who could give you some pointers about using a gasless welder and getting good results?

 

Having had a go at welding something a bit thicker I have come to the conclusion that gasless is pants, I've managed so far on small patches and thinner panels stitching, but its just not man enough. It can be upgraded to gas with a regulator and a bottle is all, but not sure its worth it now if I'm gonna have to upgrade, I've only had it a year so makes me feel sick I've spent £200+ and won't see half that for it second hand. *****!!!

 

Chalk it up to experience dude

 

It may be worth getting the gas part of it set up and giving it a go, as if you upgrade your welder your still going to need a gas bottle and regulator etc to run a more powerful welder with gas, so if your current welders trigger is already setup to take gas, give it a go?