Only thing is i remember reading somewhere about the need to tidy your welds for SVA. Is this true? If so, what is the best way to do it without weakening the weld?
Iv been out practicing my welding ready to finally start my build tomorrow
Only thing is i remember reading somewhere about the need to tidy your welds for SVA. Is this true? If so, what is the best way to do it without
weakening the weld?
i know a guy who done it to a new r1 as he was gold plating the frame for a show and most of the bike buying that diy gold plating kit thats on
ebay.
the frame cracked the first time he used it on the road at the front yoke, so i would dress it to remove any sharp bits but thats it . or it will fall
apart for sure.
Once your happy with your welding, you should really only be dressing back the odd blob of weld/spatter here and there. As you said, knock the obvious
bits off, sharp edges, etc and leave it, if your having problems getting neat strong welds first time, more practice would be better than grinding
loads of welds out
Cheers
David
and make sure it dont fail at a later date!
Buy yourself some anti-splatter spray before you start. Any small balls of weld will come off if you knock them off using the edge of a file at 90
degrees.
Make sure that you have enough gas and that you weld were there is no draught. That way you should have very little to clean up.
Once the machine is set up, you should have no problems.
Went on a welding course a couple of years back: even the pros have a short practise before beginning the job.
Also, if youre having a high current intense welding session, give the poor machine a break, as when run flatout, the transformers get fecking hot:
their resistance goes up, and your weld current goes DOWN!!
Result: poor metal penetration and weak welds. You'll notice it, cos the quality of your welds will deteriorate. Go indoors for a pie and a beer
for 10 minutes!
DIY machines do have a stated duty cycle, and its worth bearing in mind.
Also, avoid using an extension lead if you dont have to: a nice coil of wire gets a bit warm too...
only shite welds need dressing.
Thanks guys. I hardly had any spatter while i was practicing so i should be ok. 
What about the parts where the body pannels averlap the chassis. Should they be filed down?
quote:
Originally posted by speedyxjs
Thanks guys. I hardly had any spatter while i was practicing so i should be ok.
What about the parts where the body pannels averlap the chassis. Should they be filed down?
Do what Boyd Coddington does and slap a load of body filler over them! 