Don't become obsessed or it will erode any relationship.
David Jenkins - 7/3/03 at 08:42 AM
1. Don't buy anything until you need it - you may find that the bargain you bought many months ago is no longer what you want (you should see the size
of my "unused bits" box!
)
2. Sometimes the project drags on (5 years in my case!) - my solution was to go into the garage and do any little job instead of wasting my
time watching rubbish TV programmes. If you do one little fiddly job every time you go into the garage, then all of a sudden things get done. It
also means that if you get a whole day to work on the car, you can concentrate on the big jobs.
3. If you're welding the chassis, spend a bit of money to make life easier - false economies waste time and may risk your life. This includes:
a. Get a good mask - automatic if you can afford it, or try the BOC/ESAB ones (ithey have a very large window, most of which is 'gas welding'
grade. The bit you look through has an extra filter to protect your eyes. This means that you can tilt your head a little to aim, then tilt back &
weld).
b. Get good clothing - thick cotton overalls, good welding gloves, and a leather apron (this cost me a grand total of £20 at a show!). This will
protect you from burns - and more importantly, prevents the worry of burns while you're welding.
c. Get good gas - argon/CO2 mix - much easier than plain CO2. Both work, but the mix is easier for a novice.
d. Be very critical of your own welding - do loads of practice pieces, then saw them up or beat them senseless with a hammer. If the penetration is
poor, or they fall apart, then practice some more. If you suspect that a chassis weld is not up to standard then grind it out and do it again.
e. Get an angle grinder (and gloves and eye protection!). This tool is essential.
Phew!
David
MK9R - 7/3/03 at 09:10 AM
3 tips if your missus is a she devil. 
1. After returning from the the garage, show or anything kit car related:- Block all orifices, wear full body armour, do not speak unless an
emergency, buy her lots of expensive things.
2. Divide the actual amount you have spent by at least 4 before you tell her
3. Remove own testicles before embarking on project, it is a lot less painful if you use a sharp knife rather than the blunt razor she shaves her legs
with that she has in store for you
MK9R - 7/3/03 at 09:12 AM
oh yeah, and get a good lawyer!
Chris Leonard - 7/3/03 at 11:51 AM
My top tips:
1) do it or supervise it yourself: Went to work, with all good intentions the father in law went in the garage, that evening he came over and
anounced that he had the wiring loom out the car! - no labels just a pile of wires. Cant critise too much as he has been a good help but he is of the
rip it out and hit it with a big hammer brigade
2) Look after your eyes :as previoulsy mentioned - get a good welding mask. I took the lens out to clean it and must have left a little gap or
something when I put it back in. Believe me arc eye is f*~#ing painfull. Having your eye lids peeled inside out and the doctor probing around with a
stick incase it was metal splinters is not nice. Also make sure you use protective glasses when grinding
3) Buy the bits you need little and often - then the misses will have no idea how much this 250 car really costs
kingr - 7/3/03 at 12:48 PM
I'd agree with the health and safety comments. I have and use on a regular basis : Thick welding gloves, thin welding gloves, respirator, goggles, ear
protection, face protection, welding face protection. The worst thing is grinding and wire brushing, a lot of particulates, sparks, noise and risk of
injury. I use the thick welding gloves for grinding and general hand protection and the thin ones for welding, they give far better feel than thick
ones, and although feel isn't super critical in MIG, it helps more than you think. I don't have a lot of money to play with, but one thing I did spend
out on was an eland automatic variable colour face shield, it's just so convenient and quick to be able to see exactly what you're doing before,
during and after a weld. If you can, give one a try, you'll never want to go back to fixed colour lenses.
Kingr
stephen_gusterson - 7/3/03 at 07:56 PM
Firstly David....
Three points, with the last point being sub sectioned abcd is cheating and fools no one 
secondly, when you wear goggles make sure they are really tight fitting. I had a stray spark go under and into my eye a year ago. They get the metal
out with a hook. Not as bad as it sounds, but best avoided!
Keeping the wife happy is certainly something to watch.
atb
steve
Dick Axtell - 7/3/03 at 08:39 PM
From the ex-Army stores, buy some webbing gaiters. Very useful for protecting the zone between overall bottoms and boots/shoes. Welding sparks popping
down your footwear can be very uncomfortble.
David Jenkins - 7/3/03 at 08:48 PM
Steve: Pthpthpth (blowing large rasberry!)
Dick: I've got slightly over-large overalls that I let hang over the top of my steel-toecap boots. Seems to keep most of the spatter out of the way.
Mind you, on the hot summer days (when?) when I've not worn all the gear, I've ended up with a few holes in my socks! (the missus hasn't worked out
what's causing them...)
rgds,
David
Stu16v - 7/3/03 at 09:12 PM
quote:
Welding sparks popping down your footwear can be very uncomfortble.
Hehehe!!! Good one Dick! Had the blob of molten metal in the boot.... Looked like I was auditioning (badly) for Riverdance!
My tips...
When things are not going to plan, and you are wondering why the f**k you ever started the f**king thing in the first place, blag a ride in someone
elses car. Works wonders.....
If you are building your own kit (and to some extent, this applies to builds too) try and think/plan as far ahead as possible, and trial fit
components. How frustrating it is to find that the item you have spent hours making is no good, because it is in the way of something else...
Forget about deadlines. It would be great to have the car ready for the summer etc, but why compromise the build. Take your time, and make the car you
want. You will be kicking yourself for years after whilst putting things right....
Dont forget, it's (supposed to be) a hobby. Enjoy....
Get yourself a decent rollbar. See the MK rollover bar club for details....
Stu.
Wadders - 8/3/03 at 03:41 PM
1-Save money on fancy chrome bits, by simply saving all your used cooking foil and sellotaping it to the required parts.
2- Before putting on safety glasses,apply a blob of silicone behind each ear,that way you'll never forget to wear them.
3-Hacksaw all your spanners in half, then you will have twice as many at your disposal, and nuts will be impossible to overtighten.
Wadders.
Alan B - 8/3/03 at 05:33 PM
Sounds like someone's been reading Viz a lot....
Surely everyone has some spanners sawn in half???
Stu16v - 8/3/03 at 08:41 PM
quote:
Surely everyone has some spanners sawn in half???
Oh yes. And ones that are bent to go round corners!
