What you need is a small neutral flame and a steady hand. Once you get the knack it it's surprising how fast you can move.

I restored British sports cars for about 25 years and used hammer welding to piece together a lot of exterior sheet metal, fenders mostly. If you can take the fender off and get at both sides it is a big help.

With hammer welding you use no filler rod. You basically fuse the panels together. This is especially important if you have to run the panels through an English wheel. If you have ANY filler rod it will destroy the anvils. You simply DON'T do it.

Here are a few pics of a hammer weld. The seam is along the crown and no filler rod was used, just my torch with a #1 tip and a small neutral flame. I body filed the top side but you can see the seam on the bottom side.

 

My hat it off to you brother! I have watched and watched and Watched some Old Masters do this but I never had any good luck with it.

PHM
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First time posting in this thread and I did read the sticky so hopfully this wont get deleted.

I have a Handy Mig 101 and I am trying to weld 1/8" steel for my bumper kit. I do not think this welder has enough amps to weld this thick of metal.



What are some decent Mig welders that I can keep for awhile that wont break my budget? I think $500 is probably my limit. 220v is optional as I dont have it currently at my house.

 

Thanks. An "old master" panel beater taught me hammer welding in the early '80s and I've always appreciated the time he spent with me.

 

hobart mvp 210, oparates at 110v and 220

hobart handler 140(machine i have)

miller 211(i want one of these, also dual voltage)

 

I have a 211...you won't be finding one at $500, though...but great machine

 

i missed the 500$ bug\dget the first time around,

my hobart140 has held up to everything done with it so far

 

Yeah the hobart 140 was actually the welder that keeps popping up due to price and ratings. I have a local welding supply that sells some refurbished welders with their own warranty so I may check them out as well.

 

Definitely do this...you may find a better welder for the same price...

Just yesterday, I scored this:







We have a guy who comes by every once in a while that repairs welders...he's serviced almost every machine in our shop at work. Knows his stuff, he's old school...guy can find any part for any machine. Long story short, he asked if anyone needed anything...so I asked him if he had a good tombstone...he said yeah I'll send you some pics...he's doing a complete refurb on it, cleaning it up as much as possible, and gonna warranty it for 2 years. $200. DONE, haha

 

That's pretty amazing stuff! Lots of patience goes into that, I'm sure.

Man... I'll have to check out the local shop here and see if they do this. Seems like every time someone sells something "used" around here, they're selling it for such a high price though, you may as well just buy a new one.

Bad ***, man! I've seen a few tombstones on Craigslist going for pretty cheap. I used to pass them right over, but lately I've been toying with the idea of picking one up.

 

So I just found that exact welder here on my craigslist for $100
https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/for/5987627395.html

Anyways I founds this duel input Lincoln for $275 and I shot him an email.
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/5950934573.html

 

Yeah I probably could have gotten one cheaper, but it came to me, and it's gonna be like new, and have a warranty. Worth it to me.

Good luck on your find!

 

We have a Lincoln tombstone here on the farm. it works awesome!

 

How sweet would one of these welders be for the trail?? Stick and tig, (up to 140amps) battery powered welder. I want one.... if only they weren't 3 grand.




http://www.weldingoutfitter.com/prod...d-stick-welder

 

...or you could do this at half that cost...

http://premierpowerwelder.com/shop/w...-power-welder/

Also lots of DIY options out there...