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Mar 14, 2013 23:25:43 GMT
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Hello all! Anybody had much sucess welding bodypanels up with just C02 gas over on the welding site, its said you cant weld with C02 on the lower settings.
Thanks in advance, Charlie.
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I used to weld body panels with CO2 pub gas. Then I ran out one day so had to buy a disposable container of argon mix. What a difference so I now have a BOC contract for a large bottle and wouldn't use CO2 again. There is a lot less splatter with Argon mix and nicer welds but if CO2 is all you have then no reason why not use it. I recommend you get a can of antisplatter spray as it helps stop it sticking to the surrounding area and makes post welding clean up easier.
paul h
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,855
Club RR Member Number: 174
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C02 welding body panels. pics!stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
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I do all my welding with CO2. Never had a problem, though I use fairly high power and use lots of tack welds joined together on outer body panels to prevent distortion. The only thing you've got to watch for is distortion when you're grinding the weld down as the weld itself is harder than with CO2/Argon, so if you rush you can put a lot of grinding heat into the panel which can distort it.
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yeah I use co2 too and don't have problems. as Stealthstylz says, I also use higher power settings and plenty of tacks to avoid distortion. about 10 years ago I decided I needed to shorten a radiator in my house, so I cut it and mig welded it back together using co2. think thats not such a bad test of the welding and its never leaked
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I only use CO2 as well. Sure, an argon mix is nicer to use, but here in France it costs an absolute fortune...there is no way I can justify the price when I can go to Makro and get a CO2 bottle very cheaply. (they sell them here for beer pumps)
I do everything with it from welding up broken bits of farm equipment to delicate bodywork. The last restoration I did was a mini, which needed a LOT of welding.
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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lots of places doing non rental argoshield now, i get mine from a caravan gas bottle place and its a one off £40 fee for the bottle then £40 for the first fill .the bottle is very slightly smaller than the y size boc one i used to have
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Mar 15, 2013 20:37:16 GMT
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Thanks for the reasurance guys, on a tight budget and argon mix isnt cheap, suppose ive got nothing to loose in using C02, was worried it wouldnt be possible on thin stuff. Great tips and advice, will look out for splatter spray now.
Cheers Charlie.
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Mar 15, 2013 20:40:57 GMT
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TBH I've always welded with c02, I know no better. Never had a problem with spatter on bodywork really.
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Mar 15, 2013 20:47:39 GMT
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I think this is the key thing. If you've learnt and adapted to CO2, then it'll be fine. If you've been afforded the luxury of the 'proper' stuff, then going to CO2 will mean adapting your technique a bit. I'm on a BOC account with an annual rental of £35-40 and size Y bottles at a reasonable price through what was 'The Volkszone Deal', but I don't know if they still offer anything like that. |
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...proper medallion man chest wig motoring. |
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Mar 15, 2013 20:53:51 GMT
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Anybody any pics of there pic of there work! These prices seem better than i thought. But i brought a bottle and cage of someone for a tenner and bottles can be brought for about 20quid.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,715
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Mar 15, 2013 21:01:49 GMT
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I think this is the key thing. If you've learnt and adapted to CO2, then it'll be fine. If you've been afforded the luxury of the 'proper' stuff, then going to CO2 will mean adapting your technique a bit. I'm on a BOC account with an annual rental of £35-40 and size Y bottles at a reasonable price through what was 'The Volkszone Deal', but I don't know if they still offer anything like that. this. i learnt on CO2 and used it for years. its ok for bodywork, the welds are harder and more brittle, but it don't really matter just for body panels. i changed over to proper mix when i started welding heavier stuff and chassis/wheels/suspension. it gives a better, stronger weld with less impurities. try welding anything over 1.5mm with CO2 and the difference is noticable to mix. thinner gauge you notice less cos youre dealing with so many other factors that influence the quality of the weld more. i found exchange pub gas bottle harder and harder and harder to get, so when the 'volkszone deal' came up i went on that years ago. I'm still on it now about 8 years later, with 3 bottles on the contract. |
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Mar 17, 2013 12:31:04 GMT
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When you say brittle, are the welds more likely to crack/split on a butt weld grinded flush.
Many thanks for the advice.
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Mar 20, 2013 10:31:23 GMT
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Mar 20, 2013 12:28:29 GMT
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Looking good. Try cutting a slit down the middle of it and rejoining it using tacks, then tacks between the tacks etc. until it all joins up. Doing that slow enough should reduce the amount of heat put into the metal and therefore the amount of distortion
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...proper medallion man chest wig motoring. |
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Mar 20, 2013 13:48:40 GMT
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To the right was a slit made up of tacks, very quickly done.
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Mar 21, 2013 22:48:08 GMT
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The one made of tacks looks well done!
but as above - do tacks quite far apartto help the panel keep its shape, then gradually fill in the gaps between tacks, until you've got a full seam-weld. This will keep panel distortion to a minimum, and doesn't take too long tbh
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You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
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^^^^ as he says like with this panel I started off with a tack at each end of the panel, the a tack in the middle of the tacks, and carry on like that till you get to this stage  |
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Mar 23, 2013 22:03:25 GMT
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The one made of tacks looks well done! but as above - do tacks quite far apartto help the panel keep its shape, then gradually fill in the gaps between tacks, until you've got a full seam-weld. This will keep panel distortion to a minimum, and doesn't take too long tbh Thanks for the advise, i tend to do quick continues tacks in inch or so bursts on thin panel work anyway, continues welds always warp. |
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Mar 23, 2013 22:04:07 GMT
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Nice work optima21!..
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