I'm thinking about building a vehicle but I have never done any welding. The Locost books seems to suggest that most people would be able to learn from the instructions that come with a welder. Somebody I know thinks that I won't be able to do it without training. This person I know has a lot of welding experience, but no training and wouldn't be able to weld a chassis.

I know it won't be easy, but should I be able to learn to do welds that are safe enough for a chassis? I will be doing MIG welding (with gas, probably a Clarke 150).

I also got a 'How to weld' book, it looks really good, but I can't see anything in it about MIG welding, has anybody else got this book?

MIG welding is your best option, as it's "Semi-automatic", but i would suggest, at the very least, getting an experianced welder to just spend an hour or 2 showing you the ropes.

Then it's just practice, practice, practice
(Before you start the chassis)

Just get some scrap metal and practice, if some one local could set up your welder first to get it right that would help, practice and practice, post pictures on here and try and break off you welds, its not hard just get a decent mask so you see what you're doing clearly.

Oh and don't weld in your slippers like I did once!

Cheers

Rich

I'd say yes it is perfectly reasonable to learn yourself,but it'll save you a lot of time and waste if you can find someone who'll pop round for half an hour to help set your welder somewhere near,and after you've been practicing for a day or so come back and tell you where your going wrong if you haven't all ready sussed it yourself.if you understand the principles its just practice for any type of weldingi in my experience.

to me it's just a little worrying when you read that someone who admits he hasn't welded before wants to have a go at welding a chassis! there is a lot more to it than a couple of hours of practice, not enough penertration is just one of the mistakes the novice can easily make, if you are serious then take time out and get some training, there are lots of night classes etc who are more than willing to teach at least the basics.

For £100 I did a 10 week, 30 hour course at Brooklands College (with all the motorsport heritage that suggests) and learnt GAS, MIG, arc and TIG to a basic level. I signed on again and did sat and passed the City and Guilds qualification in both MIG and TIG.

I met some great people who were all into building cars and the instructors even let me build my chassis at the college which meant I got to use all their fantastic equipment.

Get yourself on a course! You *can* teach yourself and build the chassis but you'll learn a huge amount of good techniques on a course that you'll never forget and you'll have confidence that you have a decent, competently welded and straight(!) chassis!

Cheers,
James

I did a couple of 1-day courses at a local agricultural college, which was enough to get me started. Getting a skilled welder to set up your kit, watch you welding and check your test pieces is well worth it - even if you have to pay for his time!

Then, as said above, it was lots of practice on scrap tubing (similar to what I would be using on the chassis). I'd weld up a couple of pieces in typical configurations, then saw across the joint to check penetration. I'd also make a weld then try to beat it to death with a lump hammer to see how strong it was.

Finally, when welding the chassis itself, I was super-critical of my work and would grind out anything that I wasn't happy with.

Learn to weld doing some none important projects, welding table is a good one, welding gear trolly is a great 2nd one.

It will give you somewhere safe to make some mistakes.

You don't want to find out your crap at welding as you see your front wishbone fall apart at 80mph on a back road...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

invest in some 1/2 decent hobby gear and kit and you'll be fine.

I couldn't weld when I started, taught myself via the internet and specifically the forum I have listed above.

I'm still not great, but the joints hold up to the destruction test pretty well.

I agree. You are building a vehicle and are going to put this on the road, it HAS to be SAFE.

You are inexperienced, and its good that you recognise that.

I would take an evening class at a local college, and learn to weld correctly. After all you are resting YOUR LIFE and maybe other peoples as well on your welding skills.

Make sure you get it 110% right.
Getting it wrong could be the death of you, and / or someone else, or worse still be left severly disabled.

Apologies if I sound a bit harsh, its meant with the best intentions.
I was in your position 5 years ago. I paid out and bought my chassis so as to be safe on the road.

I have been learning to weld ever since. So far nothing has broken, although they are not the prettiest of welds!

My welder is the ONLY tool I have that has saved me more money than it cost. You dont have to do many job before it covers its costs.

Hope this helps.

You reminded me of an old arabic Proverb:

He who knows not, and knows that he knows not. Is a Student. Teach him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows - Is a Leader. Follow him.

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, - Is a FOOL. Dismiss him.

Ok, that's the sort of response I was expecting/hoping for.

Before I go anywhere near a chassis I will get lots of practice (and probably make a few non-car things like you suggested). I've got some time to practice because I'm not planing to start the car until next year now because it'll be Winter before I get anywhere.

I was planing to buy a welder, practice, test my welds (and post pictures) and then make a decision at some point to decide whether they are good enough. If they aren't good enough then I'd probably sell the welder, and give up on the project.

Where abouts are you mate? Maybe worth putting your location in your profile so we could help further...

Cheers

Rich

quote:

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Originally posted by James
For £100 I did a 10 week, 30 hour course at Brooklands College (with all the motorsport heritage that suggests) and learnt GAS, MIG, arc and TIG to a basic level. I signed on again and did sat and passed the City and Guilds qualification in both MIG and TIG.

I met some great people who were all into building cars and the instructors even let me build my chassis at the college which meant I got to use all their fantastic equipment.

Get yourself on a course! You *can* teach yourself and build the chassis but you'll learn a huge amount of good techniques on a course that you'll never forget and you'll have confidence that you have a decent, competently welded and straight(!) chassis!

Cheers,
James

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The local colleges around here don't seem to be doing welding courses (it's not on the websites anyway). I have found a couple of courses, but the cheapest was £500 and probably a bit too far to travel. I'll keep looking though.

quote:

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Originally posted by newtrikebuilder
.....and give up on the project.

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I also think making up a welding trolley / chassis stands / workshop table etc etc is a good start.

I've been welding for 3-4 years and I still wouldn't trust myself to weld a chassis.... Maybe I'm over cautious but you only find out your welding sucks with a chassis when it falls apart mid-corner (or you crash and it crumples like a load if tubes glued together with Uhu).

Dead right on the above. DONT give up... none of us would be here if we had given up, and we have all been at that stage at some time or another during the builds.

Thats exactly where this forum comes into play. It keeps your enthusiasm going, and guides you, and points out the pitfalls!

Even if you dont weld up your own chassis, a welder is still a good tool to have. I still use mine, and only last month I fixed a set of brackets onto a trailer so we could take more aerials to the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. I'm a Radio Ham and we spent a week contacting over 8000 other hams!

So.. dont despair and see how it goes. But dont give up.



EDIT:
Whihc book are you looking at, as there are two versions fo Ron Champions book whihc is a bit dated. The New Haynes Roadster book by Chris Gibbs is much better and caters for a Sierra donor car, as Escorts and cortinas are few and far between for donors. Just a thought.

[Edited on 31/5/2010 by wilkingj]