The Renault Welding Thread

[Mark_L]

Why did the ally wheel arches/panels need replacing?

Old, it's cracking everywhere. I started repairing this earlier this year. Then they decided to go racing with it in bare Ali.

There's not actually a lot of the original left.

 

[gordini stu]

Quality engineering , this is the key to start it what’s the rest of it like

 

[DaveL485]

Quality engineering , this is the key to start it what’s the rest of it like View attachment 146555

Thats Quality, I would LOVE that to gift to my mate - he's a custom metal fabricator

 

[Gary]

Because if the chamfered edges and the thickness, you could run a root weld first and fill over it, don't be afraid to crank it up on thicker stuff

 

[DaveL485]

Hot (literally) off the press. 1mm mild to 0.8mm mild.

 

[Duncan Grier]

Looks good Dave

What is everyone's view on 0.6mm v 0.8mm wire for thin sheet / renault joys?

I am really tempted to get some in to try but welcome any experiances....especially bk to bk on the same machine / application

 

[Mark_L]

Looks good Dave

What is everyone's view on 0.6mm v 0.8mm wire for thin sheet / renault joys?

I am really tempted to get some in to try but welcome any experiances....especially bk to bk on the same machine / application

I always use 0.8mm wire, never had any issue's.

 

[Duncan Grier]

Cheers @Mark_L have to say so far happy with 0.8 and seems really good for the 1-3mm stuff playimg with. More curious on benefits or not for thin metal

 

[DaveL485]

I was using 0.6 because I thought the lower voltage needed would help me not blow holes, but changed to 0.8 on suggestion from @davemaygtt - it seems to pool better and floods the joint quicker. It felt like an improvement so I stuck with it.

R-Tech 0.8mm wire, Argoshield Light from BOC is working for me.

 

[Mark_L]

So I'm still playing with a certain section of this Cooper!
Had to redesign it as the diagonal is no longer on Rose joint so it can't move sideways and couldn't lift the body with it in place.

 

[Mark_L]

Just welded up a pair of midget suspension arms.

 

[DaveL485]

Show off

 

[gordini stu]

Cebora 195 welder ( 22 years old ) 0.8 mm all the way . Used 0.6 welding in the dreaded mk4 escort battery tray many years ago . Never again. I found it slow and inconsistent and slightest jam up in the torch it kinked at the wire feed. Use 1mm in my 350 migatronic welds up to 15mm no problem .
Some nice work going on above

 

[Duncan Grier]

Cheers all. Think I will save the ££ and just stay with 0.8 fitted

 

[Turbell]

I use 0.6 mini reels and I'm happy with what tat I turn out, I'd try 0.8 but I'm slightly concerned my cheap tack SIP would struggle turning a big 0.8 reel reliably , feed motors on small welders are tiny little affairs.
There's a mig welding forum that has loads of useful stuff on, I found some info about modifying the wire feed separately because of voltage drop when you first arc as cheap welders first turn the wire.......same as anything the more you look the more you learn.
There's a reason people can churn them out for 100-200 quid, there's nowt inside them, and a therefore a reason experienced welders ignore anything in that bracket.
Which brings me onto an issue I've had at the lower pikey end of welders, wire liners are usually poor, so if anyone is struggling with poor welds it's worth putting a new steel on in instead of plastic ones that come out of the box, it's a cheap easy mod.
A second hand 100 quid Clarke machine with the right set up can give most home eejiots a fair weld.
Any welder with the wrong set up and wrong technique will give shite results.......and I've done plenty of crap.

 

[gordini stu]

We use our small welder up to 6mm plate sometimes so the .8 wire is bang on for that . do a lot of 2mm steel gutters we weld stop ends and out lets in and send to be galvanised , I’ll try and take some pics next time if I have got my eye in and make a tidy job . I find good visibility is the key to good welding I have got a magnifying lens I can slip in my lid for delicate stuff . The older I get 10 mm plate is nearly on that list .

 

[DaveL485]

we weld stop ends and out lets in and send to be galvanised

I don't know what these are, pictures please!

 

[davemaygtt]

How about some pics of the underside of the welds? This can give a better indication than the top sometimes and different people seem to have different opinions on amount of penetration.
I normally aim for a similar finish to the top side but flatter on this thin stuff.



Long way from perfect but that's probably a silly aim on renault 5 floor pan. What does everyone else look for / aim for?

 

[ratmangta]

Very little gear but all the right idea... This guy is a great teacher.

 

[Dan5Gtt]

Love the thread...

So what thickness sheet metal are pople using for panel work? Want to get some so i can start getting some practise in with the correct stuff... fun times ahead this year!!!