I did a search, and while I didn't spend hours looking I didn't see anything that covered this topic.

My floor boards, quarter panels, and door are all rotted. I was going to invest in an Oxy/Acetylene torch since it's cheap and I can use it for my other sheet metal work (which is almost all aluminum).

The thing is, I've never done any on-vehical welding. Cars and trucks by nature have a lot of flammable and explosive liquids in them, and so I was wondering what the best way to safely weld on the jeep would be.

I'm sure some of you salty mechs have done it. Do you remove the fuel tank and lines before you start welding? What do you use to keep the flame from damaging anything behind where you are welding/cutting?

Thanks

 

Just think about things before you do it, don't over think it but just look around at what could happen. I've done floorboards and other things on many vehicles. You're not hitting a bomb with a hammer just don't be stupid lol

 

"You're not hitting a bomb with a hammer just don't be stupid lol"


HAHAHA, CLASSIC!!!

 

Disconnect the battery BEFORE ant welding.

With that said,my dad tacked some bolts to my TJ's bumper for a Hi-Lift jack & we didn't disconnect the battery.Luckily,no damage was done.

I learned, after the fact, that you need to unhook the battery.

 

Disconnect the battery for an oxy-acetylene torch? Man, learn something new every day...

 

I never disconnect the battery and have never had a problem and ive done hours of welding on mine

 

I've never disconnected a battery to weld on a vehicle. And I've done a lot of cutting and welding and grinding on my truck. Never took the gas tank out either, but I've never had to weld anything close enough to the tank to worry about it. Just use common sense. If you're welding or cutting within inches of the gas tank, it might not be a bad idea to drop it out, but for floorboards, there shouldnt be much of anything to worry about. Using a torch, you just have to be careful not to catch it on fire. I've never welded anything but exhaust with a torch though, I dont trust it for anything important, thats what my Lincoln is for.

 

Welded the floor of mine, did not disconnect anything just cleared the area, did ventilate the area and wear a good mask because those gasses are like extra-toxic and obviously wore a good helmet

 

It's just safe to disconnect the battery, if you have a bad ground it can fry the ECM. And a torch isn't the best thing for sheet metal. I'd invest in a plasma cutter I use the plasma 95% of the time over the torch

 

The title says welding saftey.I also said "BEFORE any welding",not while using a oxy-acetylene torch.

Today maybe you can learn to read....

People need to stop being smartazzes & be more helpful.

You can leave the battery connected if you want to.Personally,I will NOT take the risk of frying any electrical parts of my XJ.

Could it happen?Don't care.Don't wanna find out.

 

you can weld with an oxy/acetylene torch. it's old school, but it works.

just be careful around the fuel and brake lines that run along the frame rail.

no need to disconnect the battery or fuel tank when welding with oxy/acetylene.
as long as there isn't a gas leak.