The dreaded floor pans ugh... the story goes, the only keeping me and passengers from the ground is almost only carpet. My question is with novice welding experience. Should I purchase a welder and new floor pans, (or just sheet metal.) Or have a friend that offered to do the front for $300-$400, or any other budget friendly options. I have children would want it to be safe but also don't have have a large budget. Any advice is much appreciated!

 

Buy the welder and floor pans and do it yourself. Asked your friend for some welding tips,

 

You will spend more than 400 for a mig welder, wiring to run the mig, and gas. Or you can do as I did. My driver side is an Integra hood, passenger side is an explorer hood. Self tap screws and caulk. Spray rubber the **** out of the bottom and done. If you care about this jeep don't do this. Still safer than just carpet.

 

May do something like this. I kind of like the Jeep but it's my 4th jeep I have no sentimental attachment to it. Thanks!

 

What's your opinion on El cheapo hf welder

 

Only welder I had from HF was a stick welder that was given to me. I would save your money. Once I had my own shop I ended up getting an Eastwood 175. I have only had it a year but it hasn't given any trouble.

 

A cheap flux core welder would work. It's not going to lay down nice beads like a mig will, but you get the opportunity to learn how to do some rough fabrication. Buy some sheet metal of the proper gauge, a 4" angle grinder with some cutting and grinding disks and start learning. Before you know it, you'll be welding all sorts of stuff like rusted mower decks and other busted equipment.

 

Yeah I mean it will help me learn then I could always get another one I'm not worried about it being pretty, it's a jeep haha and I can seal it up with some bondo hair or whatever anyways

 

Don't use Bondo. Ever. For anything. It absorbs water and creates rust behind it.

If you are a crook, you use it for patching something up to sell it to some unsuspecting victim. Or for doing body "repairs" that will last just past the warranty.

As for it being pretty.... an ugly weld us usually a weak weld. Doing sheet metal is harder than you think. Yes, you can learn to do it, but you have to burn a lot of metal to get the hang of it. You aren't going to pick it up over a weekend.

 

I have a little hf flux core welder and I honestly would trust it with floor pans. I've done a lot of welding with it though on mowers and other projects. I would practice first then when you feel ready use it on the floors then make sure you seal all welds and seams with something and make sure to paint or bedline or something on all the work you just did.

 

Did anyone ever try panel adhesive? Many body shops claim its stronger than welds.

 

As someone who does a lot of welding (bridges, blast furnaces, skyscrapers) I can assure you nothing is stronger than welds absolutely nothing

 

I'm talking about sheet metal. What you're talking about is solid structural steel. Two totally different examples.

 

no the floors of a Cherokee are structural and they're still metal. No difference. Welding is the only right way to do it.

 

You can get a decent mig from Home Depot or lowes. I believe they still carry Lincoln. I wouldn't waste money on a hf welder. And do the floors right. Fix it once so you and your kids don't fall through.