Those are also a cool option. Although for how often id actually find myself welding on the trail, I may as well daisy chain some batteries.

Just thought that rechargeable, battery operated set-up was pretty sweet.

 

It is sweet...but highly overpriced, LOL

 

Thanks. I takes patience but once you know the principles the welding goes pretty quickly. Fitting the parts is what takes the most time. I should have mentioned that that repair piece started out as 1 sheet of 18g sheet metal about 16"x24". I sheared it into 2 pieces rolled one piece to the general shape and then formed the half crown on both pieces. As mentioned the weld was at the mid point of the crown which was the easiest and strongest place to do it. Looking at the pic again I realized that I did use a few spots of filler rod. I had to wire the edge for strength. That was the last step and I used a 1/8" dia. steel rod for that. I had to tack the end to hold it in place.

As with a lot of body work, make things bigger than you need them to be ... you can always trim the edges later.

 

I learned how to weld on with a Lincoln tombstone back when I was in high school in the mid to late '60s. My Dad had one and I built my first off road cars with it. GREAT welders!

As good as they are ... they're a pain to move around. I built a stand for mine that makes it a lot easier to roll around and to store the cables. I also cut my cables and used connectors just to save a bit of space. I think I posted it here somewhere but here it is again for info on the stand ...

 

I'll definitely be doing something like this, LOL...thank you for posting!

 

Wow. Awesome stuff. That's seriously an amazing skill to have learned that very very few people know how to do.

 

Thanks. I've always admired the work that real panel beaters (not me!) do and that they can do so much with pretty basic tools. After making the weld it's basically hammers, dollies, body files, etc.

 

x2 on that. Simple and very effective design. Very clean too!

Definitely fast-becoming a lost art. It's awesome to see metal take shape like that.

 

 

HOW BOUT DAH!?

 

exactly

 

.

 

Started welding up my rear bumper. I got to try tig welding for the first time today. My buddy said I did alright. Here are some shots I took.









Shot of some welds I felt proud of.

 

First time? That's pretty frickin decent for first time!

 

Thanks man.