cb11acd
Part of things
Posts: 132
Club RR Member Number: 122
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Feb 26, 2020 20:43:48 GMT
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This thread is not helping my "need" for an R-tech..... Bits on the LR could do with 'improvement' but also lots of things round the house and garden could be hot glued as well. Have to see what the RR discount is and also permissions from the finance minister... James 0% finance.....
I have a Clarke 130en (or something) that I bought 10 years ago that has sat in the corner since, not really been used.
I now have a garage, and a project so now I need to learn how to weld.
I went to like a day "learn how to Mig" course about a year ago. it was OK but my issue was we were being taught on proper big old migs and not my small Clarke. no point in learning to weld with someone elses welder.
I have looked at if I could get a pro in to weld what I need doing. but there is so much of it and not all at once so would cost the same as a decent new welder and enough steel to just teach myself. What I have found now though is a place called The Mahcine Shop in Hinckley which is like a monthly subscription workshop. Like gym membership I suppose but for tools. They also do welding lessons, so I asked the guy if he could teach me on my machine. It is 1 on 1 and genuinly sounds really promising.
I havent signed up yet. but I will report back when I have done it. worth checking out the place anyway if your local.
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,160
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Feb 29, 2020 11:41:45 GMT
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The problem with Mig is it's gateway drug. Once you realise you've broken through the mental barrier from: 'will I set the car on fire and burn the house down?' to 'with enough grinding back that almost looks good', you start looking at piles of aluminium in the corner, youtubes of TIG welders, plasma cutters & units on the industrial estate with 3 phase power. This sounds like the last few years of my life summarised. I would add: - metal cutting tools - straight metal cutters - big manual steel sheet cutters - air shears - shrinkers - stretchers - planishing hammers - better mig welders - bigger mig welders - better electrics - bigger grinders - off road buggies - old Mercedes' projects - welding tables - off road vehicles - old lorries - off road lorries - old off road lorries - camper vans - expedition vehicles.. - .... The funny thing about this is that the next bunch of people to end up living in a hammock in their unit in a dodgy industrial estate with chained inbred guard dogs and those purple rainbow toxic puddles in the mud are reading this now. Probably thinking, "That's an exaggeration for comedic effect. Nobody like me with a white-collar job and nice patio would get sucked in. That just happens to other people". Here's an easy way to see if you are susceptible though. Have a look on your Ebay watchlist. Any parts for cars you don't own, tools for problems you don't have, cars you aren't buying yet but are just 'keeping an eye on' for some parallel world in your head. But, getting back to the subject. The outlay for a cheap but acceptable welder will likely be less than having the mobile welder come around for one or two repairs. You might not do a good job at first but you will if you keep trying. The mobile welder might not do a good job either so it kind of cancels out.
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,160
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Feb 29, 2020 11:45:01 GMT
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This thread is not helping my "need" for an R-tech..... Bits on the LR could do with 'improvement' but also lots of things round the house and garden could be hot glued as well. Have to see what the RR discount is and also permissions from the finance minister... James 0% finance..... I have a Clarke 130en (or something) that I bought 10 years ago that has sat in the corner since, not really been used.
I now have a garage, and a project so now I need to learn how to weld. I went to like a day "learn how to Mig" course about a year ago. it was OK but my issue was we were being taught on proper big old migs and not my small Clarke. no point in learning to weld with someone elses welder. I have looked at if I could get a pro in to weld what I need doing. but there is so much of it and not all at once so would cost the same as a decent new welder and enough steel to just teach myself. What I have found now though is a place called The Mahcine Shop in Hinckley which is like a monthly subscription workshop. Like gym membership I suppose but for tools. They also do welding lessons, so I asked the guy if he could teach me on my machine. It is 1 on 1 and genuinly sounds really promising.
I havent signed up yet. but I will report back when I have done it. worth checking out the place anyway if your local.
Why not buy a new reel of metal (about £5 from Machine mart) clean up some bits of scrap steel and have a go. Seriously, you have most of what you need. Worst you can do is waste some already scrap metal and a fiver. Tip with youtube, play at double speed to learn twice as fast. First videos two very similar, 3rd shows how the fear of blowing holes needn't be a worry as you can fill in holes and grind back. Seriously, spend 10 mins watching these three (at 2x speed) then try to replicate. Then repeat for butt welding.
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Last Edit: Feb 29, 2020 12:17:54 GMT by madmog
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,673
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Feb 29, 2020 18:49:47 GMT
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This thread is not helping my "need" for an R-tech..... Bits on the LR could do with 'improvement' but also lots of things round the house and garden could be hot glued as well. Have to see what the RR discount is and also permissions from the finance minister... James Nothing is ever fixed with 'hot glue'. despise the stuff!
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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BiAS
Club Retro Rides Member
Insert witty comment here
Posts: 2,231
Club RR Member Number: 147
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I'm self taught also, just been doing it for years. Nothing will teach you the retro repairing skills of welding rust to f*** all except doing it. We did a welding day at A52 years ago where I helped various folks from on here learn a bit of mig. The one thing I did though was got everyone to bring their own welder so that they could learn to get the best out of what they had. Nothing is more disheartening when you're starting than having a go on a decent mig on virgin steel then going home to your Clarke/Sip/Wolf hobby setup with rust, paint, variable thickness steel etc and not knowing whether the issues are down to you, the mig or the setup. Anyone down this end of the country is welcome to give me a message if they want an evening of getting the best out of their setup
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(car+wheels)-rideheight=WIN
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milk
Part of things
Posts: 102
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That is a really good idea Bias. when i dod a small amount of welding in college. afterwards i bought a used mig welder and my welding was curse word. because the college set up was so much better so teaching people on there own equipment will save a lot of frustration.
I'm stil figuring out TIG welding as it looks awful but practice helps.
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