The new news 24 thread

[dollywobbler]

The chap who owns my old Mk1 BX estate uses gasless, and fully admits that it is hard to get good results. He manages but he is quite skilled. Which is why I'm glad he took it on!

[Bobthebeard]

Vulgalour has gone silent......

Hope he hasn't gone the gasless BIN route!

[vulgalour]

Well now I don't know wtf to do.

[Angrydicky]

As others have said, don't get gasless. Search nearest first on Ebay, decent secondhand makes such as Clarke and Sealey should be top of your list. My welder is an utterly knackered SIP Migmate 150, it's falling apart but just keeps going. It cost £127 off Ebay about five years ago, complete with gas and wire. Having said that I wouldn't recommend you get one as they need constant maintenance to keep them working and there are much better welders out there. You might get lucky and find something that comes with a bit of gas already to get you started. The disposable bottles are a false economy, but probably the best option to get you started and this job done quickly, as you need the car. Wire and grinding discs I buy online. 1.2 or 1.5mm sheet is best for sill and floor repairs. 1mm cutting discs are awesome but can shatter easily if you're not careful. Good luck! You're definitely going about this the right way.

 

Have a read of this for inspiration: http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/65793

[Bobthebeard]

Well now I don't know wtf to do.

You are welcome to borrow mine on a reasonably long term basis Vulg. Just needs picking up from Lytham. Could collect it next time I am passing wherever you are. Only outlay being your petrol and time.

[Ratdat]

Vulgalour, I have a Clarke 175TE you can have for free if you can pick it up. It works but I have upgraded to a super-duper new Portamig so have no use for it and it's just in the way. It looks shabby and the torch is held together with tape but it's functional and has served me pretty well. It needs a earth clamp fitting (or you can just attach the cable with some vise-grips like I did). All you'll need to sort then is gas and a roll of wire which your budget will easily cover. I might even have a reg but it'll be for argon mix.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Angrydicky is absolutely right, second hand is your best option.

 

Most decent sets can go down to 30 Amps, which should be good enough unless you intend to buy a 2CV. People love the old Clarke welders, but see what you can find locally and report back !

 

Edit : Just read Ed's post, I reckon he's made you an offer you can't refuse !!!

[Bobthebeard]

Over to you Vulg!

Autoshite folk to the rescue.

[stuboy]

ive always used gassed migs welder... heard gasless one were shit.. even my neighbour who bought a new gasless to learn to weld asked me to pop over with my gassed one to weld few bits..

 

on a plus note the rear beam if fecked on works peugeout partner... looking at either see whats kicking around up main campus we can pinch or lease something..

[vulgalour]

I'm glad I mentioned it here before hitting the BIN button.

 

I may well end up taking on RatDat's offer, I'm still hunting for something suitable but they're all miles and miles away from me making any potential bargain too expensive to collect and the harder I look, the more suitable RatDat's careworn example is looking.

 

I am feeling very painted into a corner at the moment.  This is a job I should have dealt with two years ago when I knew it was a small issue but I obviously prioritised all wrong by trying to make the car reliable instead.

[cort16]

There's a limit to the power of a mig when you're driving it off normal mains. I think it's 100 amps or there a outs. More than enough for cars.

[dollywobbler]

Forgot some other fleet news. The Sirion apparently returned 60mpg on the last tank of fuel! I have stopped the brakes from mildly seizing, and of course the fuel filler neck no longer leaks, so perhaps that explains the improvement. The worst I've seen it since I bought it is 43mpg, the previous best 54.

[vulgalour]

I've send Ratdat a PM about his welder, I can't really beat it as an offer and it gets me out of a hole.  Also, I really like Lincolnshire.

 

Top MPG news on the Sirion, for some reason I always thought they'd be thirstier.

[derskine]

Vulg definitely don't go for a gasless only mig, you'll regret it massively.

It can be a cheap alternative when money is tight but you'll kick yourself when money isn't tight that it isn't gas/gasless.

Though I don't see why you would with an offer like ratdat's on the table!

[garbaldy]

There's a limit to the power of a mig when you're driving it off normal mains. I think it's 100 amps or there a outs. More than enough for cars.

You could be right as I borrowed a 175te for a big job and it kept tripping fuses.

 

I can't understand why nobody can use a gasless mig they are a piece of pish to use and I've done shit loads of welding with one. I do have a clark 150 gas welder now and it does weld slightly better than the gasless one but I wouldn't kick one out of bed.

 

Shame you didn't live closer or I would have gladly welded it up for you.

[catsinthewelder]

I've had more luck stick welding cars than with a gasless mig (and that includes 80's Citroens).

 

If you make the repair panels out of decent, thick steel and keep the welding heat on them rather than the bodywork that you're welding to you could probably just arc weld it.

[vulgalour]

Would putting cats in the welder help?  It's okay though, looks like I'm going for Ratdat's gas MIG, he lives surprisingly close to my gran so it shouldn't be too much of a hardship to go and collect.  If I can convince the Princess to stop wetting herself via the thermostat housing I won't even have to ask Dad for a lift/use of his car.

[Pillock]

If you've got a socket on your cooker circuit with a red switch, it'll be 32A all by itself so less likely to trip.

 

If you use a standard mains socket, the whole circuit could be as low as 20A, even if its 30/32A it'll be sharing it.

[Ratdat]

That only really matters if you're thinking of knocking up an ocean liner or a new railway bridge or something. 

[derskine]

Never managed to blow any mains fuses using mine, not just in my garage either.

But that's not to say it can't happen, I don't tend to use anything but min/med power on mine.

[cort16]

Just been doing some digging on those 2.7 diesel 407 coupes.

 

33MPG

 

Car tax, 226 g/km, which mean £475 for a years tax, £261 for 6 months.

If it'd been 225 g/km it'd be half this.

 

FUCK THAT

 

I've also been looking at a Panda 100HP, which I'd love but I think I'm too fat and a nice looking Volvo D5 S60. I recon thats now favourite.

[Barry Cade]

PANDA!!!  DIET!!!

 

 

 

Hope you guys are doing it the real autoshite way and using old fire extinguishers with your MIG's...Fittings are the same, it's CO2 which is fine for cars and you usually get them for FREE. I've never paid for gas for years.

 

 

 

 

Hope we never have a fire at work though....

[trigger]

I've been told that my Cortina should be all ready for collection on Saturday 12th, It's having the wings fitted and all inside the door shuts painted tomorrow too, Mega excited now.

 

Also I've got hold of the blue plastic trim that runs around the seat base on the XL's and a pair of seat runners that I've been searching for for the last 2 years all of which arrived today meaning I can complete the interior on it now once the front seats are back from the trimmers, Yeah boi!

[cort16]

I fitted the new speed drive to my Cortina tonight. Got it up on stands at the back and bingo the speedo speedo'd. Yes! I recon it'll probably reads about 23mph when I'm doing 60 but it still moves.

I'll get it out on the road at the weekend and compare it with the gps thing on my phone to see how far off it.

[cort16]

PANDA!!!  DIET!!!

 

 

 

It;s a beauty as well. Just 43,000 miles

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/fiat/panda/fiat-panda-100hp-2007/2183978?isexperiment=true

[trigger]

^ I'd hit that, I've been looking at those Panda 100BHP's recently, I bet they are a right hoot to drive.

[Barry Cade]

Oh they are!

[philibusmo]

GET THE PANDA!

 

I haven't driven a Panda 100HP but I have driven my Mums 500 Sport with exactly the same engine and can confirm that it was a great drive and really good fun to barrel down the lanes in.

[Ratdat]

I was surprised at how light the Panda is for a modern car. There can't be many moderns that are around a tonne. 

[derskine]

Watched the Car SOS mk1 cortina gt last night and has gave me a bit of a kick up the arse to get my mk1 on the road.

Considering breaking the 340 for parts as I'm reckoning I've already got enough on my plate, with the 18 and polo both needing work too.

Will see how it works out though.